The 5 Ds of Bystander Intervention

You've probably heard us mention the 5 Ds of bystander intervention if you have attended any of our panels. We use a slightly modified version of Right to Be's 5 Ds that we tailored toward in-person events. These 5 Ds create a simple, effective anti-harassment tool if you see someone being harassed at an event.

1. Direct Confrontation: This technique is rather self-explanatory. If you see someone being harassed, you would respond by directly confronting the harasser and calling them out for their bad behavior. Short, declarative statements are often the best, such as "Hey, that person told you 'no.'" Although this technique can be the most efficient way to stop harassment, it also carries the greatest risk of the harasser turning on you. Before intervening, make certain that both you and the victim are physically safe and that the situation is unlikely to escalate.

2. Divert [Right to Be refers to this as Distract]: This technique is probably the most effective option if you are not comfortable with direct confrontation. The goal is to break the dynamic between the harasser and the victim by diverting the conversation into a neutral topic between you and the victim. The most important component is to address the victim, not the harasser. Some examples of neutral topics might include: -- Asking the victim for the time -- Pretending to be lost and asking the victim for directions

   -- Pretending the victim is a friend you are greeting.

3. Document: If you are not comfortable with either direct confrontation or diverting the victim's attention, you can still help stop harassment. Documenting an incident by capturing video on your smartphone can help clarify what actually happened. Of course, you should still be mindful of your safety and that of the victim. This video from WITNESS has some helpful tips on documenting harassment.

4. Delegate: This technique works best if there are two or more people who see someone being harassed. In this case, you might delegate somebody to go find event security while you document the incident or directly confront the harasser.

5. Delay: This technique is used to help someone after they have been harassed. Some incidents happen so quickly that you may not have time to intervene before they occur. However, you can still help the victim by asking what help they might need and affirming that their harassment was not OK. In these situations, it is vital to not pressure the victim, but instead let them tell you what they need.

And there you have it -- five ways in which you can intervene to protect someone against harassment.