I’m a 14 year old female. Summer is around the corner and the weather is perfect, I’m already out and about riding my bike, taking my dog for walk’s and hanging out with friends outdoors. But this is the first time ever in my life where I’ve felt fear and intimidation at the thought of going outside. You see, for the past month I have been a victim of street harassment.
One day I was walking to a local restaurant to meet up with some friends. I wore jean shorts and a muscle tank because it was scorching hot outside. On my way there, younger and middle aged men passed me in their vehicles about 7 of them whistled at me and made me feel uncomfortable by saying disrespectful comments such as “Hey hottie” or “What a babe!” or “Damn look at that a**!” In case you are not aware, these words can make someone feel very intimidated, frustrated, fearful, uncomfortable, worthless and small.
When they said these things I felt a bolt of helplessness run through me. I felt targeted and like I had no voice. Street harassment is wrong. No one should have to experience such disrespect regardless of how they look or what they wear. Street harassment can happen to anyone and be done by anyone. In result of my experience that has happened repeatedly in the past month I’ve grown an insecurity of walking or biking alone. I’ve grown a fear of being intimidated by others in public. I got scared of being a victim. I stopped going outside. My parents were concerned why I had stopped going out as much as I used to.
How did I regain my confidence and deal with the situation? First off, I decided I wouldn’t let some fear take over my life. I had to face my fears. I started walking and biking outside again, I held my head high and I ignored the bullies that tried to sexually harass me.
I paid no attention to them and I did not respond, they were not worth my attention or time. I didn’t let their words get to me. Pretty soon, I had all my confidence back and I was my old self again. It’s only if you focus on something that it becomes more and more apparent in your life. If you need to address the situation verbally then do it, you need to make a clear message that you will not tolerate being victim of street harassment.
Do you have any suggestions for dealing with harassers and/or ending street harassment in general?
Don’t stand for sexual harassment. Take control of the situation and keep moving forward. You deserve respect and you deserve to be treated fairly. You are not an OBJECT to be glorified, you are not EYE CANDY for pleasure, you are not a PIECE OF MEAT to be used. You are a human being who should not be publicly shamed based on gender. Most of important of all, never let someone blame you for their repulsive actions ex. “It’s not my fault I whistled and called her that, she was wearing that slutty skirt!”
That is the equivalent of saying, “It’s not my fault I raped her, she was asking for it by wearing that tight dress!”
– Anonymous
Location: Camrose, Alberta
