Walking home from doing charity work the other night, within a block, three people harassed me: someone honked, another whistled (several times because I ignored him), and another yelling “pussy.”
Until recently this was a decent area to walk.
But the following day between Elm Street and Crystal Park area, four more people harassed me while I was riding my bike. Two referenced my “pussy” (do they think they are going to be able to pick up someone that way? Felt like keying his shiny red truck), and two others yelled/honked.
I do not know what to do. Whether you ignore them or say something back, it just gets worse. I have reported it before when it happened on the bus, but nothing was done about it. I was told, “They do not mean any harm”…but don’t they???
Male friends have been with me when this stuff happens, and they claim they do not hear it, or that they did not notice it (if it was someone sizing me up).
I would like to set up a stand at the Farmer’s Market distributing information for stopstreetharrassment.com, but without the funds what can I do besides leave materials on bulletin boards?
– Anonymous
Location: 101 E Main St, Urbana, IL
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beckie says
First of all I am so so sorry all that harassment happened. And secondly, what A great idea to put stop street harassment info on bulletin boards. I’m going to put one up at our local market! Thirdly you just did two things, you told us, you didn’t remain silent, and you suggested a brilliant idea. Post stop street harassment information on bulletin boards! You are doing lots of great things to change the way things are. thank you for sharing and here’s to a harassment free world in our future because we will not stay silent!!
Alan says
How awful. the only correct answer for how to respond is, respond how you want (including keying the guy’s car). Unfortunately, there are consequences to responses that need to be considered. That is the really bad thing about street harassment, there are no (very few) consequences for the harasser!! I hope this website can give you a few options to use. I am mad at your male friends. I hope you can talk to them more about what happens, how to notice it, how it makes you feel and ask them to help you.