I walked to Sainsbury’s to get a key chain. On the way back a man around 30yrs old slowed down his walking pace to mine. I crossed the road to get away from him, but shortly after I crossed he crossed over to me. He then said, “Did you get it?”
I said, “What?” I was quite annoyed by this point of being followed on my way home.
He then started to say the first digits of his number “07…,” and I just said, “Mate, I’m just trying to get home,” and walked ahead of him at a faster pace.
He then carried on saying, “What’s your name?”
And I replied, “No. Sorry. But just no,” and carried on walking ahead.
When I looked back he was gone, which means he would have had to walk in the opposite direction. It made me feel annoyed because this happens a lot when I’m just trying to do ordinary day-to-day things. I get tired of responding to these people and having to deal with these situations. I also feel annoyed that some people think this is okay to do, I feel powerless and I don’t know if things will ever change to stop men doing this. I also experience men making kissing or inappropriate sounds at me as well as following me.
Optional: What’s one way you think we can make public places safer for everyone?
People on the street reacting/helping others when they are being harassed.
– Hannah
Location: Near a Sainsbury’s in Barnet, London, UK
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.
