What do you do if someone you don’t know starts harassing you about something they don’t like you wearing?
By: The Observer
Picture this: you’re strolling down the street, minding your own business, rocking a bold hat or braids, when suddenly a stranger gets in your face, hurling insults or demanding you change. It’s unnerving, it’s invasive, and — let’s be honest — it’s downright bizarre.
But this is what purportedly happened to a young white woman in the USA recently when she was filming a video. Some are questioning whether the video was genuine, or was this a deliberately staged video to get TikTok follows.
The white girl in the video was obviously the target of a bigoted racist woman, whining like a petulant child who sees something she can never have. Her whiney voice was enough to make anyone reach for the barf bag!
But it got me thinking about our rights in public, so I started researching the laws in various countries to learn if they had laws that protect the right to walk down the street without being harassed. Surprisingly, almost every country in the world seems to laws protecting the rights of the individual to go about their life without being harassed by anyone, including the police.
Whether the video was genuine or not, it raises some very interesting questions about our rights and law. What are your rights in law? Can you actually charge the person harassing you with a crime?
What Right?
Let’s break it down in a way that makes sense, no matter where you are in the world.
Public spaces are where personal freedoms and social norms collide,
and sometimes that collision gets ugly.
First off, you’re not alone if this has happened to you. Public spaces are where personal freedoms and social norms collide, and sometimes that collision gets ugly.
The good news? Most countries recognize that you don’t have to put up with it.
Internationally, there’s a bedrock principle at play here: your right to personal autonomy and dignity. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted by the United Nations in 1948, sets the tone. Article 12 says no one should be subjected to “arbitrary interference” with their privacy, honor, or reputation. That’s a fancy way of saying you’ve got a right to be left alone — and to wear whatever you darn well please, as long as it’s legal.
So, what’s the deal when some random person crosses that line?
Legally, it depends on where you are, but there are common threads.
Harassment — whether it’s verbal abuse, threats, or persistent pestering — is recognized as a violation of your peace in most countries around the world today.
In the United States, for instance, if the harassment escalates to threats or creates a “reasonable fear” of harm, it could fall under assault laws (even without physical contact) or public disturbance statutes.
In the United Kingdom, the Public Order Act 1986 covers behavior that’s “abusive or insulting” and causes “distress.”
Over in Australia, it might be “offensive behavior” under state laws.
The point is, you’re not defenseless — there’s a legal framework to lean on.
But let’s get practical. Say this stranger is yelling about your neon green jacket, calling you names, and won’t back off.
Step one: stay calm and try to disengage. Walk away if you can. If they follow or escalate, your rights kick in harder. Many countries protect you under anti-harassment or anti-stalking laws.
The European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR), which applies to 46 countries, guarantees “respect for private life” under Article 8. If their behavior disrupts your peace to a serious degree, it’s not just rude — it’s actionable.
Can you charge them with a crime? Well, you don’t “charge” someone yourself — that’s for the police and prosecutors — but you can absolutely report it and push for action.
Here’s how it works. If the harassment includes threats (“Take that off or I’ll make you!”), it could be a criminal offense like intimidation or menacing behavior.
In Canada, for example, the Criminal Code covers “uttering threats,” with penalties up to five years in jail. If it’s just persistent insults, it might be a misdemeanor — think “disorderly conduct” in the U.S. or “breach of the peace” in Scotland. The key is evidence: witnesses, video (hello, smartphone), or even your own statement can build a case.
Let’s say you’re in a bustling market in Brazil, and this happens. Brazil’s Penal Code has a catch-all for “disturbing someone’s tranquility” through “shouting or disorderly conduct.” You’d head to a police station, file a report (called a boletim de ocorrência), and let the authorities decide if it’s worth pursuing.
In Japan, it might fall under “public nuisance” laws, and a quick call to the local koban (police box) could sort it out.
The process varies, but the principle doesn’t: you’ve got a right to not be tormented over your fashion choices.
Now, what if it’s not a one-off? If this stranger keeps targeting you — say, they spot you again the next day — it could escalate to stalking.
The Council of Europe’s Istanbul Convention, signed by dozens of countries, defines stalking as repeated unwanted behavior that causes fear or distress. That’s a crime with teeth: fines, restraining orders, even jail time. You’d document every encounter (dates, times, what they said), then take it to the cops.
In South Africa, the Protection from Harassment Act lets you get a court order to stop them, no lawyer required.
But here’s the kicker: enforcement isn’t always swift. Police might shrug at a single rant about your scarf unless it’s threatening. That’s where your voice matters — insist on a report being filed.
In many places, like India under Section 509 of the Penal Code, “insulting the modesty” of a person (yes, it’s gender-neutral now) can be prosecuted, but you’ve got to push. No evidence? It’s your word against theirs, and that’s trickier — but not impossible.
So, your playbook is simple: de-escalate if you can, document everything, and report it. Your rights to dignity and safety aren’t up for debate, whether it’s a snarky comment or a full-on tirade.
The UDHR’s got your back, and so do local laws, from New York to Nairobi.
Next time someone’s got a problem with your style, just smile, walk away, and — if they won’t quit — let the law remind them: your wardrobe, your rules.
