Tonight I was wearing a dress and walking my dog, at around 7 pm. I walked past a certain house and I heard one man yell to me, “10 bucks.” Then I heard his friend say, “5 bucks.”
As if they were ranking my sexual attractiveness. I found this to be quite insulting. First, of all what right does someone have to determine my value? Second, by saying 10 bucks assumes that I would give them permission to touch me for that amount, or that they have a right to touch my body even without my consent. Finally, I was minding my own business and did not deserve intrusive insults about my perceived sexuality. It made me feel devalued, valued according to attractiveness, violated and emotionally upset.
Optional: What’s one way you think we can make public places safer for everyone?
Make laws preventing sexual harassment, end male entitlement, and the objectification of women’s bodies.
– Anonymous
Location: Canada
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.
