This is not my story, but a friend showed me that she found this on Craigslist’s “Missed Connections.” This man’s perspective on what he can do to a woman and his thinking that she liked it is NYC street harassment epitomized. The full text has been copied below, and is also available here.
“You caught my attention when i saw you at w4 station when i was waiting for the F train. you walked by me and think you knew i was looking at you. we got in the same car n at some point of the ride i happened to be behind you. you had a hat, underneath (curly) hair parted around your neck. could see the bare back of the neck. it looked beautiful and i wanted kiss it so bad…. i couldnt. instead i blew my breath gently on it. i knew you could feel it and i think you liked it. we both got off on 2nd ave. i saw you climb the stairs cross the towards east and disappear. this is a looooong shot. hope you are reading this.”
Do you have any suggestions for dealing with harassers and/or ending street harassment in general?
I wish NYC had a campaign to raise awareness about the illegality of street harassment. Multiple times, I have responded to men who have harassed me or friends by calmly explaining that their behavior is sexist and illegal, only to be met with, “It’s a free country” followed by some derogatory term, usually “bitch” or “slut.” Men need to feel the pressure that this is punishable.
