Driving to work one beautiful day, windows down, a truck filled with four men pulled up in the lane next to me. The front passenger noticed me at a red light and started to shout the usual cat calls, ʺHey pretty, where are you going!?ʺ ect. I ignored it and drove off when the light turned green. The rest of them joined in, driving faster to catch up to my car, and then slowing down whenever I tried to lose them just to get a turn to yell something at me.
Usually I would flip a finger with my eyes forward but I didn’t feel like I owed them even that. The truck swerved into my lane due to the driver shouting at me and not paying attention to the road. At this point I was terrified. Being a woman, in her car, just driving to work is a terrifying experience?
When I continued to ignore them, their comments became more aggressive, using words like ʺbitchʺ and ʺcuntʺ to describe me. At that moment I braked and got behind them, my fear becoming anger. I followed them until they pulled into a mini mart and parked my car and got out outraged. My pride and respect for myself outreached my logic to ignore and keep my distance. I approached the truck and unleashed a lecture of a lifetime, describing their actions as dangerous, nauseating, and disrepectful. At first they began to laugh at me, I think because I took them by surprise by my confrontation. But by the end at least had one of the guys apologized for his actions. He apologized for his ʺfriendsʺ as well, and told me that he wasn’t like them. I told him he should pick better friends. It might have been reckless to approach them, but if I didn’t say anything, who would? Who else would protect my right just to drive to work without harassment?
Optional: What’s one way you think we can make public places safer for everyone?
Awareness, Not resorting to silence
– Emily Sharp
Location: East Nashville, TN
Share your street harassment story for the blog.
See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for more idea
