Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

Archives for September 2009

Harassed on the way to & at work

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I live in a rural suburb outside a very small WV town and that definitely doesn’t stop me being harassed on the street or even at work. I’ve had men yell out their cars at me, even had someone throw beer bottles at me two separate times.

However what happened today was at my work. I work at a fast food place and today took the cake for harassment of half the girls working that day. After one of my coworkers explained that we were out of chicken breasts for about 10 minutes to a customer, he looked her up and down and said, “Sure you have some, right there on your chest” he laughed and then left without buying anything.

Later two older men came in and asked the cashier (who is 17) why her name and number wasn’t on his reciept. The manager asked me to take something to their table later so the other girl wouldn’t have to and they asked me why they couldn’t have my name and number.

If I was the manager at a restaurant and someone treated my workers like that I would kick them out immediately but the manager just told us to ignore them because they were paying customers.

– anonymous

Location: West Virginia

Share your street harassment story today and help raise awareness about the problem. Include your location and it will be added to the Street Harassment Map.

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Don’t Touch Me

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Adams Morgan in Washington, DC is a nightmare on weekends so I try to avoid it like the plague. I live in the area so sometime I can’t help but walk past or up or down 18th street when it’s really busy. Every time I do I not only have to deal with comments, but with men who touch me. They’ll touch me in passing, my arm or my waist and it INFURIATES me. I ignore the comments, they don’t bother me as much as the the physical contact.

– anonymous

Location: Adams Morgan in Washington, DC

Share your street harassment story today and help raise awareness about the problem. Include your location and it will be added to the Street Harassment Map.

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Don't Touch Me

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Adams Morgan in Washington, DC is a nightmare on weekends so I try to avoid it like the plague. I live in the area so sometime I can’t help but walk past or up or down 18th street when it’s really busy. Every time I do I not only have to deal with comments, but with men who touch me. They’ll touch me in passing, my arm or my waist and it INFURIATES me. I ignore the comments, they don’t bother me as much as the the physical contact.

– anonymous

Location: Adams Morgan in Washington, DC

Share your street harassment story today and help raise awareness about the problem. Include your location and it will be added to the Street Harassment Map.

Share

Trustworthy Stranger

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Here’s another positive story from GivesMeHope.com about an interaction between strangers in public:

“When I was seven, my parents and I were travelling in New York and I rushed onto a subway just as the doors closed, leaving my family on the platform. I was absolutely terrified and hysterical, but one lady took the time to get off with me at the next stop and bring me back to the previous station. Sometimes strangers can be trusted. GMH.” – Kelly_kelly, July 6, 2009

Do you have a positive story you want to share about interactions with strangers in public? Submit it for inclusion on the blog.

(i dedicate this post to my partner, who is tired of hearing me tell depressing stories :/)

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