Diana Shepherd

Here lies the materials of Catresponse, the physical movement platform designed by Diana Shepherd to give sufferers of verbal street harassment a way to respond, physically, and take back their power and autonomy. Created to be individualized and used by participants in their own space and way, Catresponse took form initially in workshops held around Europe. The 12 moves were developed through research into how those who have suffered catcalling responded, or how they would have liked to have responded. The video is a compilation of Diana’s individual practice, as well as footage from the workshops, and it also displays the 12 moves and how it is suggested to perform them, although interpretation is encouraged. The pamphlet is a written description of the practice and the 12 moves, with pictures, to go alongside the video as another tool. 

Diana developed this project while looking into socialized gender norms in public spaces, which lead to an interest in catcalling, and researching the responses available in public spaces to it. A catcall, as defined by Merriam-Webster, is “ a loud, sexually suggestive call or comment directed at someone publicly (as on the street)”. Having had these experiences personally, Diana started to collect experiences from other people and selecting the most common ones, translated them from emotions and words into physical actions, creating the 12 moves of Catresponse. Please feel free to watch the video, take a pamphlet, and physically express yourself, your autonomy, and take your power back!