Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

Archives for May 2010

“It’s not okay to say things like that to strangers”

By

I was swiping my card to exit the U Street metro in DC, and a guy standing at the turnstile says, “Hey, why don’t you smile beautiful?” I kept walking but turned around to look at him as I walked away. I was speechless but I wanted him to know that I was watching him. It’s not okay to say things like that to strangers. This is why I wear sunglasses in public–I don’t want their attention!!

– SD

Location: U Street Metro,  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

Constant harassment in San Francisco

By

I’ve been living in San Francisco, CA, for a couple of years. I’ve been harassed a few times and I have heard a lot of stories from female friends who have been harassed on the streets of SF.

The first two times, I was visiting SF. I was harassed twice a few days apart. The creeps must have seen that I was a tourist, and figured that I was easy prey. The first guy was standing next to me at a stop light and said he liked my outfit. I said “thank you” and then I ignored him. Next he said that my outfit was “sexy” and when I got peeved he said that I “must want to be looked or I wouldn’t dress like that” and that “I should go hang out with the rest of the whores”.

Afterwards, I felt both shocked and vulnerable and I never wore the same outfit again, even though it wasn’t revealing at all.

The next time, some creep asked me if I needed directions and when I replied, “No, thanks. I’m fine,” he got really irritated and began mocking me.

The third time, a guy saw me reading a map and he was very adamant about giving me a ride in his car to where he was going. He seemed very friendly, but thankfully, I had the common sense of saying no.

The train can be scary, because you can’t easily get away from a guy who, for e.g., says you look good in your leggings or whatever and then gets peeved when you give him the cold shoulder.

Once, on the train, a guy was standing right next to me, it was very crowded, and I had to pretend the whole time that I couldn’t hear him talking to his friend about what my “p***y” must look like.

Another time the train was extremely crowded, and the guy behind me was “bouncing” more than the train was, and I felt something hard on my thigh.

Countless times, I have been hollared at on the street and stared at very inappropriately.

I wish there was something to do, besides ignore these guys, but I feel like there is a long way to go before women can feel safe and respected on the streets here, regardless of their age, looks, outfit etc.

– K.

Location: San Francisco, CA

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

Prey

By

I was walking home in NYC on a Saturday night on a residential street. The street was not deserted. A man walking towards me stopped and followed me for a few blocks. When I quickly turned down another street to walk next to another woman, he pushed in between us, groped me, and then quickly walked away.

While he was first following me, I was afraid and was mostly concerned about ducking into a store and getting away. After he groped me I was completely stunned and angry that I didn’t get a chance to fight back. I felt powerless.

– anonymous

Location: New York City, NY

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

Harassers’ rating? 0

By

When I walk to and from work, when I run to the bike path, when I walk to friends’ houses for dinner – essentially whenever I go anywhere alone, aside from class, I hear some obnoxious/offensive/fear-inducing comment. I’ve gotten the, “Hey baby,” and,  “Come suck my cock.” Some assholes outside a bar shouted out my rating on a scale from 1-10…

I am sick of it.

– anonymous

Location: Columbus, OH

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

Get her

By

I was walking alone in Tempe, Arizona, on Mill Avenue, just north of University, heading to dinner with my friends, when I saw two guys approaching me, staring at me. One of them was gesturing at me. I immediately felt uncomfortable and made sure my purse was closed and secure on my arm. I looked straight ahead so they wouldn’t see my fear, but I think checking my purse undercut that idea.

The one who was gesturing started saying loudly to the other, “Go get her, go get her, she’s tasty, she’s sick, go get her” over and over again. I felt a rush of fear and shame, clutched my purse in front of me and looked around to see if other people were nearby. There were a few people on the other side of the street, which made me feel a little better, so I decided to keep walking instead of ducking into the nearest shop. I quickened my pace and walked into the restaurant without looking back until I was safely inside. I felt sort of sick.

– anonymous

Location: Mill Ave, Tempe, AZ

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