I was on my way out of a dairy at 10 p.m., just heading back to my car a few metres away. Four guys walking toward me stared at me. Most of them said something or laughed. One said ʺHey Sexyʺ. When I told them to leave me alone they found this more amusing. One of them said, “Ooooooh feistyʺ as if he enjoyed my discomfort or resistance.
It made me feel unsafe, angry and degraded, as if they were more powerful than me, which physically just one of them would have been and there was a group, which was frightening. I also felt like they thought I was out there for their viewing pleasure.
Optional: What’s one way you think we can make public places safer for everyone?
Bystanders speaking up. Men telling off their mates for doing this sort of thing. It’s mostly men that do it and their peers have power to influence their behaviour by expressing disapproval.
– Anonymous
Location: Dunedin, New Zealand
Share your street harassment story for the blog.
See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for more idea
