I was walking home late from class or work, getting off the train in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, where a man stopped me to ask for my number. I was flattered, but then he mentioned seeing me around catching the train in the morning and knew the street I lived on. Of course, now I grew concerned, said thank you, but no thanks and began to walk away.
This man began to follow me, ask why I wouldn’t give him a chance and what harm was there giving him my number. I continued to politely dismiss him hoping he will stop and walk away, but he didn’t. Now being two blocks from my home, I decided to walk in the backyard of some random house hoping he thought I lived there. I waited for an hour before going back out in the open. I knew trying to use my phone could have triggered something, so staying calm and playing dumb was what I thought at the time was my best chance of getting out of that situation.
No woman should have to behave around a human being as if he was a wild animal ready to attack, but that is what happened. I moved soon after because I began to collect more experiences like this one. I realize now that I am older how lucky I was to get out of situations that didn’t escalate. I really wouldn’t have to feel lucky if all men knew that harassment wasn’t right or acceptable anywhere.
Optional: What’s one way you think we can make public places safer for everyone?
We must educate our male counterparts and stop normalizing harassment and disrespect. We must heal the minds of those who think women in society as a whole no matter their ethnicity, culture, religion or sexual orientation are just objects that breathe.
– Majella Mark
Location: Brooklyn, NY
Need support? Call the toll-free National Street Harassment hotline: 855-897-5910
Share your street harassment story for the blog.
See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for ideas.
