I was walking through a mall parking lot on my way to work. I heard a man’s voice yell something at me. I couldn’t understand it at first because I was lost in thought and they were driving by in their white truck. Then the words came to me and I was instantly filled with rage. This man had yelled, “You need to lose weight bitch!” at me while driving by. I had ignored it and kept walking on my original path. But then it struck me that I couldn’t let it slide.
I ran towards his vehicle on to see him speed up and turn a corner. Once I got to where he had turned there was a sea of vehicles around me. And there were many white trucks parked. I walked to work defeated and told my coworkers about the incident.
This isn’t the first time I’ve been harassed at this mall. And two other men harassed me later on in the day at separate times. One guy sat very close to me on the bus and asked me if I “live in this area” as I got off the bus. I said “maybe” and he just stared at me until the doors opened and I exited. Then as I crossed the street to walk home another man waved to me from the opposite side of the street. I ignored him and then he started to make his way to my side of the street but luckily traffic stopped him. I’m sure he would have tried talking to me so I walked home faster than usual.
Three times in one day not counting the horn honks and piercing male glances at the bus stops. I felt angry, unsafe, annoyed, disrespected, and reduced to a piece of meat. I only wish they could treat me with the same respect they give to other men and let me commute to work peacefully without bother.
Optional: What’s one way you think we can make public places safer for everyone?
I think that making anti-street harassment laws and ordinances could make the streets safer for women. I think that ticketing men who publicly harass women could stop men from doing it publicly. I think that creating safe zones for women to commute to work would make them feel safer. I think their should be undercover anti-harassment officers on buses, trains, and trolleys in my city.
– Katalya
Location: San Antonio, TX, USA
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