I have been harassed four times this week by men standing on scaffolding. This is something I have come to accept in daily life as the norm. My male friends seem not to know or understand that this is happening and my female friends don’t talk about it.
After these men shouted again today at me with more sexual profanities, I decided to call the police, once I took the long way home avoiding these men. Once I was through to the police, I was really happy to be talking to a woman. But not for long. The policewoman seemed to think I was blowing everything out of proportion and suggested I go up to these men in the street and tell them how it was making me feel and that they should stop.
Any woman who knows what type of situation this is will know that this will not only fan the flames and encourage them, but will bring the spotlight on me more. This will cause a scene and they will most likely laugh and shout more. I wouldn’t want them to see my face more and give them any kind of satisfaction from communicating with them. Plus, since they are only a few houses away, they will know where I live.
After I told the policewoman this, she said, “What are you even expecting them to do?”
I held onto the phone in silence, but in my mind I felt like shouting, “Rape me” “Follow me” “Harass me more.”
Isn’t it bad enough that they are already verbally abusing me everyday?
I said, “Sorry. I don’t understand, why are you not taking me seriously?”
I think she then was worried as she said she would look up the address and try and call the residence and tell them the police have had a complaint.
Since I was around 11, I have noticed and experienced this sort of abuse from men. After hearing a woman police officer sympathise with these men, I questioned it myself. Maybe I was being too much of a wimp or that I need to be stronger… but NO! it’s not right, and it never is. I say complain every time, tell people what happened, educate friends about what you have gone through and MAKE IT KNOWN.
– S
Location: Cumbia
Share your street harassment story for the blog.
See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for more ideas.
