Tatyana Fazlalizadeh- Post 5

Simona Borkina

            Tatyana Fazlalizadeh, a 31-year-old artist, activist, and freelance illustrator started the poster campaign “Stop Telling Women To Smile” in 2012. Tatyana began this project in order to address the problem of street harassment and cat calling in a public manner, something that she has frequently experienced. Each of her posters include a portrait of a woman, along with captions that she took from interviewing women who have experienced street harassment. Tatyana’s approach to combating street harassment is unlike anything else I have seen. Rather than writing books and essays, she went straight to the source- the streets. Through art and her creative mind she has been able to garner a following of people who are moved by her work. Here are just a few of her posters:

            With the recent election, it is very clear that our country is divided and Tatyana used her creative intelligence to address the misogynistic, xenophobic, and racist rhetoric that was uttered by the Trump administration. She challenged the dominating white supremacy ideas in the red Republican state of Oklahoma and of the president-elect’s campaign.

"America is black. It is Native. It wears a hijab. It is a Spanish speaking tongue. It is migrant. It is a woman. It is here. Has been here. And it’s not going anywhere."

            The importance of Tatyana’s work is that she takes women’s voices, experiences, and faces, and creates a daring statement in public spaces where they at times may feel the most unsafe and uncomfortable. Living in New York City all my life, and being exposed to street harassment, The Stop Telling Women To Smile campaign has really empowered me. If I were to walk outside and see one of Tatyana’s posters, I would feel extremely empowered. Fortunately, a successful kick-starter campaign has allowed her to meet and draw more women from all around the country (Baltimore, Boston, Atlanta, and others). 

           This video does a spectacular job at highlighting Tatyana’s vision for the STWTS campaign as well as how she acquires the inspiration for each of her posters. I hope to stumble upon some of her work while strolling the streets of NYC.

Harassing Women Does Not Prove Your Masculinity

My Worth Extends Far Beyond My Body

 

Men Do Not Own The Streets || You Are Not Entitled To My Body

 Resources:
Tatyana's Campaign Summary 
Stop Telling Women To Smile Video
Tatyana's Campaign Website
Street Artist Delivers Powerful Message To White America

Public Art Project Addresses Gender-Based Street Harassment In A Big Way
An Artist Demands Civility on the Street With Grit and Buckets of Paste