Yesterday I was walking home from the store and a man chased me down the street (running) and asked me to stop. He uncrumpled a dollar bill and awkwardly and without making eye contact said that he was conducting a survey and would pay me a dollar if I told him about the panties I was wearing. I told him I would not participate and dejectedly he asked if I still wanted the dollar. I said no and called the police as soon as I was home. I felt furious and afraid to go outside for the rest of the day.
I felt like a prisoner in my home who had no rights to go outside while someone else had the right to try to buy sexual fantasies from me. I also felt confused because when I refused that man my first thought was not to protect myself — it was that I would never sell such information and hurt my boyfriend. He’s a wonderful man and he deserves absolute loyalty. He helped me cope and feel safe after this event. But I should have thought of myself first.
Optional: What’s one way you think we can make public places safer for everyone?
I think that all public schools with children 13+ in them should have mandatory rape signage so people have resources and information. I remember that it wasn’t until years after being raped as a high schooler that I saw a poster that said, “It’s still rape even if they don’t say no.” and realized that I had in fact been raped even though I didn’t scream and fight back when I was ordered to have unwanted sex because I didn’t want to alert the perpetrator’s whole family.
– AN
Location: Mount Vernon, Washington
Share your street harassment story for the blog.
See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for more ideas.
