The 'Mashers' of the Shopping District
An editorial calls for public accountability for men who harass women in Tacoma's downtown streets.
The story, cleaned up
A cleaned-up reading of the newspaper page: spelling and layout repaired, one story lifted off a crowded page. It follows the original closely but it is not a transcription. The original page is below; read it if a detail matters.
With the arrival of spring, the 'mashers' have emerged to ply their degenerate trade in the shopping district. These men, often well-dressed and bold, make a habit of following women for blocks, ignoring rebuffs, and hanging around store entrances when clerks leave for the day. For years, the question of how to handle this harassment has persisted. Because it is embarrassing for a modest woman to make a scene, many suffer in silence. The Times argues it is time to make an example of these 'human pests.' Since the average masher is a coward, the paper suggests that women should be protected by all men who are worthy of the name, and that society should hold these harassers to account for their behavior.
“Every woman who respects herself is deserving of the respect of everybody.”
This piece highlights the early 20th-century struggle for women's right to occupy public space without harassment. It mirrors modern discussions about street safety and the societal pressure placed on victims of harassment to remain silent to preserve their reputations.
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