Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

Archives for March 2011

“Lose some weight you tramp!”

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Just before 5 p.m. on March 19th I was walking along Shude Hill in Manchester, next to the shopping centre. As I reached the crossing next to the bus station I became aware of a man standing alone on the other side shouting abuse at virtually every woman walking past. Anyone dressed up nicely was nasty, dirty, a slut, a whore, a tart etc, and I caught part of a bizarre threat involving rectal insertion directed at one teenage girl. As I walked past I got, “Lose some weight you tramp!” screamed right in my ear.

He was really close to me, and I just turned round and screamed ‘Who the **** are you?’ which did shut him up for about three seconds before he started on other women again. Everyone else just walked past ignoring him. He was just one guy on his own. I was terrified of what he might do after I shouted at him, but I was so angry that nobody was standing up to him. It took me about an hour to stop shaking.

– AJ

Location: Manchester, UK

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“The feeling of being trapped and helpless was quite strong.”

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Around 11:30 or 12 one night after work, I took a bus route that required me to walk a few blocks to my apartment. My building is right on a busy street and the front door was always unlocked. Among the people on the bus were a group of giddy young girls and an older, shady-looking man. He had been focused on the girls, but when I stood up for my stop, he got off the bus with me.

He followed me for three blocks, while I crossed and re-crossed the street and paused to see if he would pass (he didn’t). I reached my building but was afraid to go in because he would see it was unlocked. I waited at a well-lit bus stop, where a young man was waiting as well. The stalker remained across the street, occasionally staring at me (I stared back) and patiently waiting for me to move. I contemplated crossing the street to talk to him, but reflected the streets were quiet and he might be stronger (and faster) than he looked. I was stuck and helpless.

Fortunately, my live-in boyfriend was at home and came out to walk me around the back and inside my building, but otherwise, I would have had few options – nearly all the stores were closed and I didn’t have any friends nearby. The feeling of being trapped and helpless was quite strong. As a young woman, I am tired of being targeted by unsavory, creepy men. I shouldn’t have to walk around with a constant fear of being followed, watched or accosted.

– Victoria

Location: Eglinton Ave. W and Avenue Road, Toronto, Canada

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Crotch grabber in Istanbul

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I was with my Norwegian colleagues on the streets in Istanbul while we were waiting to get on a boat. I found a nut vender by the side of the street and went over to check out what he was selling. As I was standing there with a couple of other female colleagues, a man walks by and grabs my cooch from behind. It was so strange and quick, I thought it might have been an accident, so I just ignored it. But then, the same man walks by a second time and grabs me in the same spot! I was so stunned! I felt so helpless!

– Kiersten

Location: Istanbul, Turkey

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“Perverted creep comes on a bike and grabs my breasts”

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I was right on my street trying to check my pocket to see if i dropped the cash and one perverted creep comes on a bike and grabs my breasts. I scream and call him a fuckin asshole..and he comes back and says i will wait fa u…

never ever felt so helpless and so freaked…

– Angela

Location: r.m.v 2nd stage, Bangalore, India

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Global “Walk a Mile In Her Shoes”® Day

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Cross-Posted with Permission from Pixel Project:

This International Anti-Street Harassment Day, The Pixel Project, the global volunteer-led online non-profit working to end Violence Against Women (VAW), and Venture Humanity, the founders of Walk A Mile In Her Shoes®, are proud to announce the first ever Global “Walk A Mile In Her Shoes”® Day. This event, which will debut on Father’s Day 2011, aims to get men on board the cause to end VAW. It also provides VAW nonprofits worldwide with an opportunity to raise much-needed funds.

Global “Walk A Mile in Her Shoes”® Day is the first of several global events held in conjunction with The Pixel Project‘s Celebrity Male Role Model Pixel Reveal campaign which debuted on International Women’s Day 2011. The campaign aims to raise US$1 million for the cause to end VAW by getting a global audience to donate US$1 per pixel to reveal a million-pixel mystery collage of four world-famous male role models taken by award-winning international photographer, Jillian Edelstein. The distinguished line-up includes a Nobel Laureate, a Pulitzer Prize winner and a superstar Environmentalist.

Regina Yau, Founder and President of The Pixel Project, said: “For a decade, Walk a Mile in Her Shoes® has provided men in the United States with a positive platform for stepping up to end VAW. We hope the Global Walk will replicate this effect in communities across the world. Such a fun and inclusive campaign can only further galvanise widespread support for action to end gender-based violence which continues to affect millions of women and girls. Proceeds from the event will be shared between The Pixel Project and participating VAW nonprofits, so it’s win-win for everybody.”

Frank Baird, founder of Walk a Mile in Her Shoes®, said: “The most influential male role models in our lives are our fathers. Fathers who take part in this Global Walk on Father’s Day collectively send a powerful message to the world that says: ‘We, the male role models for our families, our communities and our society, step up to stand united with the women in our lives in our commitment to building a world without violence against women’. This is a fitting way to commemorate the tenth anniversary of the Walk.”

This focus on fathers as male role models will be amplified by the Pixel Reveal Male Role Models who have recorded exclusive public service announcements speaking out against VAW. These videos will be launched as each man is revealed. Regina Yau said: “We are aiming to get enough donations for pixels to unveil our Nobel Laureate just in time to have his public service announcement launched at the Global Walk, so we urge everybody to please donate to reveal pixels via our Pixel Reveal campaign website – even just US$5.00 count!”

For further information:

Please visit the Global “Walk A Mile in Her Shoes”® Day website at http://globalwalkamileday.thepixelproject.net

Media Inquiries:

The Bright One account team for The Pixel Project:

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