TikTok-viral 'subway shirts' won't stop harassment

Summer is coming in the northern hemisphere, which means more plans and fewer clothes to wear to said plans. Some women who take public transportation in New York City, however, are opting to don "subway shirts" over their outfits in an attempt to stop harassment from men. 

As explained on TikTok, a subway shirt, also known as an "outfit dampener"  (as explained by TikTok user @ideal.grace), is an oversized shirt or jacket thrown on so "strange men don't bother you on the train." 

"Stay Hot, stay sexy, stay safe from creeps," captioned a video from another user, @hanselkai. A third TikTokker, @fionaylin, said the subway shirt/jacket is to protect oneself.

Statistically speaking, the New York subway is safe, with crime in subways and in the city overall down from last year to this year (9.1 percent for the former and 5.6 percent the latter). Harassment, however, often goes unreported. 

It's understandable that women want to protect themselves from prying eyes, catcalling, or worse. The idea that wearing a bulky shirt will stop harassment, however, perpetuates myths: that clothes cause sexual harassment or assault, and that victims are to blame for what happens to them. 

From the time girls are subjected to dress codes in school, they — and everyone else — are told that their behavior somehow determines other people's actions. The belief that people "get what they deserve" in life (the just world theory) isn't only false, but also insidious when talking about assault. 

The truth is, assaulters cause assault. Rape and other forms of assault are about power and control over someone else, not about whether someone dressed "sexy"; in some cases, violence against women is caused by anger and hatred towards women. A 2008 paper outlined three different offender types: power, anger, and sadism. 

"What were you wearing" exhibits like that from the Dove Center, the United Nations, and various U.S. universities like Texas A&M University and Pennsylvania State University showcase that, oftentimes, women wear "frumpy" clothes when assaulted. 

Subway shirts, therefore, won't stop harassment.

"If you experience street harassment, remember that it is not your fault. Street harassment is never a compliment and is never OK," according to RAINN (the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network). 

If you just experienced such harassment, RAINN advises to go somewhere safe. Change subway cars, for instance, or get off at the next stop. Report it to the authorities, or a business if that's where it occurred. Ultimately, however, do what's best for you, whether that means reporting or not.

If you're witnessing harassment, feel safe to intervene, and are knowledgable on how to do so, then intervene. Organizations like Right to Be offer free bystander intervention trainings so you can help those getting harassed without escalating the situation. 

The concept of subway shirts comes from a place of wanting to be safe and protected, but it's misguided. It's when we, and society at large, puts responsibility on the harassers that this will change.

"This kinda leans on the logic that it matters what you wear," one commenter on @ideal.grace's TikTok said, "when in reality it doesn't."

"No person should be harassed for anything they're wearing," replied @ideal.grace. "You're right, it doesn't matter what we wear, we will still get harassed."

If you have experienced sexual abuse, call the free, confidential National Sexual Assault hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673), or access the 24-7 help online by visiting online.rainn.org.