Archives for August 2014

Occasionally, on my walk home from school, I’d pop into my local corner shop to pick up some snacks. Being a regular, I often exchanged pleasantries with Darran (the guy that worked there). However, after a while, the situation turned into harassment.

It started at first by him stopping me from leaving the shop. It was a small, tight store, and when I was browsing products, he would come over and make sure my exit was blocked. I eventually was allowed to leave once I’d engaged in conversation with him. I thought this was weird, so I stopped going in there. He noticed my absence, and suddenly started asking all my friends where I was, where I lived and what my full name was.

I started to become scared, as at the time I was only 16 and he was around 35. I told teachers and friends, and they laughed it off as a joke, and that I should “take it as a compliment”. It got worse as he started to wait for me in his car outside the shop. When I walked past to go home, he would follow me the whole way to my house. I lived down a quiet dead-end road, and he followed me right to the end. When I got to my house, I debated whether to go in because then he would know where I lived, but I panicked and ran inside. This continued for three to four weeks.

Many people asked me ‘why didn’t you just change your route home?’. Firstly, there were only two routes. The one I was taking, or another that went through a quiet abandoned railway: not exactly a safe route for a solo 16 year old girl. But secondly, why should I have to justify the way I walk home? This is the way street harassment is viewed in England, as if the victim somehow chose to be harassed. I should be able to go where I want without being harassed.

When my parents got involved, the school took the incident more seriously. When questioned by police, he said that I had led him on and instigated the whole thing. He said the way I dressed (I wore school uniform which included a skirt), the way I walked past and the way I spoke to him all led him on. I was absolutely mortified. Not only was I terrified that he felt this way, but mortified that I think some of my teachers probably believed him, thinking I was an attention seeker.

As he never physically touched me, there wasn’t much the police or my teachers could do. He continued to drive down my road as I walked home, claiming he was doing a ‘paper-delivery’. I was becoming scared to leave my house, and eventually my mum took it into her own hands and we moved house and school completely.

I had to change my life because of this man, and because street harassment is not taken anywhere near as seriously as it should be.

Optional: Do you have any suggestions for dealing with harassers and/or ending street harassment in general?

I believe street harassment needs to be taken as seriously as other crimes. People seem to think it’s a ‘compliment’ or a joke? I can tell you for a victim, it is absolutely not seen as either of these. Awareness needs to be heightened, especially among education sectors.

– Hannah Spencer

Location: Hertfordshire, England

Share your street harassment story for the blog.
See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for more idea

I have learned to get used to the cat calls, the obscene gestures, the comments as “they” pass. One thing that I doubt I will ever get used to us the offer of a ride.

The time it takes as I’m walking down the street for them to stop, turn around if necessary and proceed to ask me if I need a ride, blows my mind and scares me senseless at the same time. What is stopping this person from getting out and simply forcing me to go with him. This happens frequently, one time scared me the most.

As I was leaving work, it was dark, I was hailing a cab as this car passes. Only he doesn’t pass, he pulls over yelling something at me as I tried to avoid eye contact and pretend as if I didn’t realize he was talking to me. I simply told him no when I had no choice but to respond in fear that I may make him angry if I didn’t. He proceeded to yell things at me from his car not accepting no for an answer. It was not until I was able to get into a cab that he finally drove away.

– Taylor

Location: Calgary, Canada

Share your street harassment story for the blog.
See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for more idea

Mi nombre es Keyla, hoy tengo 22, a penas tenía 13 cuando regresaba de la casa de un amiga … era invierno … no estaba descubierta ni provocativa como suelen aludir a veces para justificar el problema. En la Lima gris (Lima, Perú), de aquella época, caminaba hacia mi casa, pase por la esquina de siempre cuando regresaba del colegio, estaba un anciano sentado aparentemente durmiendo, pase por su lado y me golpeó las nalgas … solo atiné a decirle una grosería pero nadie no me hizo caso, la calle era solitaria y fue la primer experiencia que tuve, tenía mucho miedo y asco. Le comente a mis padres y me dijeron que intentará no pasar por allí en las tardes ni noches, que la calle era solitaria y oscura y que evitara esas situaciones. Hoy tengo 22 años y subo al bus todos los días para ir a la universidad (estudio sociología) y sucede lo mismo, los roces y las m iradas incómodas … el hey nena! hola muñeca! … no faltan en mi rutina diaria, pero hoy con más conocimiento y mas herramientas puedo defenderme y poner un stop a este problema social que es invisibilizado por la gran mayoría.

Optional: Do you have any suggestions for dealing with harassers and/or ending street harassment in general?

Prevención y tratar el tema como lo que es un problema, no exageraciones de un grupo de feministas, no exageraciones de un grupo de resentidas … no es así. Trata el tema como un problema real, no de hoy pero tomado con mayor relevancia hoy en día. Construir una bese legislativa adecuada, en mi país se evalúa aún el hecho de penalizar esta situación. Educar a las mujeres, dotarlas de herramientas para enfrentar la situación, empoderarlas!!! Hacerles saber que no son ellas las culpables, que no es provocación. Hacer visible el problema en las escuelas y la comunidad.

– Kly

Location: En la calle, Lima, Peru

Share your street harassment story for the blog.
See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for more idea

The first time I was harassed on the street I was only 12. My friends and I were walking down a busy street, I was wearing a sun dress and my friends were in shorts. All of the sudden we hear two old men in a truck whistling at us, calling us baby. I was horrified, and on the brink of tears. I turned to my friends for some comfort or anything that could help and all they did was shrug. When we finally got to the restaurant, I broke down into tears. All I could think was, “How could they even do that!! Couldn’t they tell I was only 12?” The saddest part was that the girls who were with me were younger, and even they knew we couldn’t do much.

– Anonymous

Location: Colorado Blv. Denver, CO

Share your street harassment story for the blog.
See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for more idea

I was around 10 years old when my Aunt and I were going to the mall. But then while I was walking, I saw a group of old people winking at me or like whistling I guess. But during that time, everything around me slowed and I really can’t forget their faces. Then I noticed my aunt was so ahead of me so I ran towards her and told her about it. She said that I shouldn’t mind them and stay strong. I was wearing simple clothes during that time. Just a t-shirt and jeans. I don’t get why would they do that to me, I was just 10 years old during that time. But I am actually starting to wonder if that was because of my necklace. I don’t really know.

Writing this, I am now 14 yrs. old. When I heard about this blog, I remembered the first time I was harassed. I don’t think I remember being harassed after that. But hopefully I wouldn’t be harassed again.

– Anonymous

Location: Singapore

Share your street harassment story for the blog.
See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for more idea