A woman whose photo appeared on a site featuring pictures of unsuspecting female passengers eating on the Tube has called for an end to the “humiliating game”.
Journalist Sophie Wilkinson was victim to the new trend of ‘stranger shaming’ – where photos are secretly taken of people in public places – when she innocently ate a salad during a Tube journey.
Her photo was uploaded by a stranger onto a Facebook group entitled ‘Women Who Eat on Tubes’, which has more than 15,000 members.
The page says it is “observational not judgemental” adding that it “doesn’t intimidate or bully” but when Miss Wilkinson was alerted to her photo by a friend she found a barrage of abusive comments.
The 26-year-old told the Standard: “I felt victimised and hurt. It is almost like a game, you spot someone eating and go up to them and take a photo and you have to do it stealthily. It is still incredibly prolific. There are lots of people reading about it and thinking it is quite funny.”
The group’s creator, Tony Burke, has claimed “it isn’t about women” and that “the gender aspect is a random coincidence.”
But Miss Wilkinson rebutted this, saying: “It is clearly about women. I don’t think shaming strangers is a gender-specific issue but this particular issue is one.”
In retaliation she contacted the man who secretly photographed her, had the photo removed and posted an article on online magazine The Debrief, where she is news editor, about the ordeal.
“I have had an overwhelmingly positive response from people saying it has happened to them and saying it was good that I went public and tried to reverse the shame of it on to the guy who posted my picture,” she said.
Transport for London is now encouraging women to contact British Transport Police if they feel threatened at having their picture used on the Facebook group.
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Although it is not illegal to take picture on the Tube, it has urged people to have “common sense and respect for other passengers”.
Director of enforcement and on-street operations Steve Burton said: “If someone doesn’t want their photo taken it is obviously inappropriate to do so.”
