A few years ago I was walking down a street in Brooklyn with my boyfriend when a young man and women passed us. I was closest to the young man, and just as he was passing us he leaned close to me and whispered, “Mmm let me get that.”
This is a common tactic of street harassers in New York and it’s an attempt at gaslighting – usually no one else can hear what they say so when you yell at them, you look crazy. I yelled anyway, and thankfully my boyfriend – as well as the man selling Christmas trees down the block! – came to my defense, even when the girl threatened to fight me. I felt unsafe and disgusted, then relieved, and then just sad that it had to happen at all.
Optional: What’s one way you think we can make public places safer for everyone?
Honestly I think the best way to combat street harassment is to teach boys when they are young about consent and self control.
– Anonymous
Location: Brooklyn sidewalk, 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.
