It was midday of a summer day. I was standing with tens of other university students. We were all crowding around the board which held our final exam results. It was supposed to be a happy day for me, I got straight A’s and topped my class. Instead someone groped me seconds after I saw my results.
Happiness was replaced with confusion then fear, shame and guilt. I just pushed my way out of the crowd. I didn’t scream or even look back to see the guy’s face. I remember he laughed when I pushed him away and I am sure he went on to grope other girls in the same crowd.
Optional: Do you have any suggestions for dealing with harassers and/or ending street harassment in general
Raise awareness. Make more people understand that harassment is not a compliment, how scary it can feel and that they should stop blaming the victims or saying things like, “She shouldn’t dress like that” , “She shouldn’t go there alone”.. etc. Because even if harassers don’t stop, at least the victims would not be too afraid to speak up and get support, specially young teenage victims.
– Anonymous
Location: University of Khartoum central campus, Khartoum, Sudan
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.
