I was walking through a bar on the boardwalk.
I was going through a less crowded area when one of the two stocky guys standing against the wall yelled out to “sexy”. I continued to keep my eyes adverted and my head down.
A split second later when I had passed by, he yelled in a more aggressive tone that “I was a bitch for not saying thank you.”
I mumbled “Thank you” as I picked up my pace and was extremely shaken.
For a few years after I would respond immediately with “thank you” to any unsolicited cat call.
It wasn’t until a couple of years later that I realized I wasn’t the one who did something wrong! There’s a polite way to compliment someone and it’s rude to cat call. I don’t have to tolerate it and I surely do not need to thank anyone for that.
We must teach respect. Don’t treat people in a way that you wouldn’t want your mother, father, sister, brother, daughter, or son to be treated.
~ Anonymous
Location:
Ocean City, New Jersey
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.
Ashley Badgley is a DC-Based advocate who works in Program Management at the American University Washington College of Law Clinical Program. Ashley received her bachelor’s degree in Journalism in 2009 from Columbia College Chicago and received her master’s degree in Women’s Studies from The George Washington University in 2012. She has spent her career working primarily with survivors of domestic and sexual violence as well as immigrant populations seeking legal assistance in the DC region. As an avid bicyclist, she works to get more women on the saddle, exploring the streets of DC. She believes in equal access and opportunity for all.
Morgan Fincher is a DC-based international development professional who works on promoting good governance in Southeast Asia. As part of her work, she supports programming that builds the capacity of women members of parliament to govern effectively and advocate for the needs and interests of their constituents in emerging democracies. Recently, Morgan launched Whistles for Women, an advocacy effort to combat street harassment and keep women safe on the streets of Capitol Hill in DC. She received her Master’s degree in Security Studies from Georgetown University in 2018 and her Bachelor’s in International Relations from University of Redlands in 2013. In her free time, Morgan enjoys advocating the benefits of equality for all to anyone who will listen.
Lauren Pires
ary Washington and an MA in Global Affairs from George Mason University, and is is currently pursuing an MSc in Public Health through the London School of Hygiene and Public Health. Britnae has been volunteering with SSH since 2013 as blog correspondent and digital manager for International Anti-Street Harassment Week.
Nancy Xiong‘s work has been mainly in the higher education setting with women and gender issues and gender-based violence. She has organized events such as Take Back the Night, Fear 2 Freedom, Self Care, Self Love events, film screenings on domestic violence/sexual assault and Anti-Street Harassment Week at George Mason University. Academically, she has taught courses such as global representations of women, introduction to women and gender studies and healthy relationships. Nancy has worked, studied and/or lived in Burma, India, Japan, Laos, Nepal, and Thailand. Outside of work, she enjoys cultivating her artistic side by sewing, making art, and crafting, traveling, connecting with the world and just be. Currently, she’s interested in trauma and healing and ways to foster well-being, self-care, and self-love in everyday life.