Wow! share my story hmmmm! for many years I have had a lot to say on this subject among close friends or just within my own thoughts. The start of my Street Harassment started around the age of ten.
I attended a private school for girls in Brooklyn, New York. Our class was on the way to Manhattan for a class trip. Unlike the public schools that had their own yellow buses for transport we had to take the New York Subway. We were a class of at least 24 girls with one adult in charge, our teacher a Nun.
We marched lined up paired with a partner according to height. I was the tallest and for me most times I had no partner. This, I felt, left me more available for the wolves to harass.
At first it seemed that the comments were harmless. They came from older men that reminded me of a father or grandfather. Saying little comments like good morning, where are you going today, can I come with you.
But I wasn’t a clueless child. I was also a ten year old who was developed and was already wearing a bra. My early development added to the harassment.
I never liked their attention I was young but smart enough to know it wasn’t right. The things I was told or asked was purely sinful. Always annoyed, I hated to go on school trips if we had to use public transportation. Most of all I never told anyone not even my teacher.
The classmates that heard the comments, well some laughed it off and others paid no mind. The comments that came from those men were horrible for a ten year old girl to have to hear.
I remember wanted to scream at them and ask them,”How would feel if their own family member, their own daughter had to deal with this.”
I was forced to grow up very early because of this. This story was just the beginning of many experiences due to Street Harassment. No one should have to deal with Street Harassment, no one.
– HCH
Location: Brooklyn, New York
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