Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

Archives for November 2017

“Catcalling is never a compliment. It’s an attack”

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I was walking back to my car after work, and I walked through a small pedestrian street as I always do. There is a small smoke shop in this street and there are often people gathered outside. Tonight there was large group of men. They all started shouting things like, “Hey baby,” “Ooh sexy,” “I like your hair,” and grosser things that I would rather not say.

I steered clear of them, kept walking and didn’t make any eye contact. That was it.

This is just the most recent of the countless time that I have been catcalled. And this time, like every time, I was thinking, “What if they decide to approach me? Should I say something or will that make them feel invited to approach me? What if they hurt me? What if I die tonight?”

Catcalling is never a compliment. It’s an attack.

– CB

Location: Stamford, CT

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.

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A Talk Show Segment on Street Harassment

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Thanks so much Rctv28 and Elaine Espinola Keltz for hosting an important discussion this week on street harassment, including points like what’s a compliment and what’s not, how to deal with harassers & men’s roles in stopping harassment! It was great to be a guest alongside Noorjahan Akbar of Free Women Writers & Women for Women International and Jessica Raven of Collective Action for Safe Spaces.

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“I felt so sick to my stomach and I was shaking”

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I’m 16, but when this happened, I was 14 or 15.

I was sitting in the passenger seat of my mom’s car while she was in the gas station close to our house. It was very hot out and our car doesn’t have a/c so I had all the windows rolled down. I was looking at myself in the mirror because I had something in my eye when this grown man easily in his 30’s called from his car, “Don’t worry, you still look good.”

I just turned to look at him and turned back because I was terrified, but as soon as those words left his mouth, I felt so sick to my stomach and I was shaking because he could have easily come over to the car and such… I still get sick thinking about it. I don’t go out a lot anymore but when I used to go out to the store, etc., I would constantly get unwanted comments, looks of lust, and attempts to talk to me. I may look a little older for my age but clearly I am underage…

– Addilyn

Location: In my home town

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.

Share