Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

“Unprintable comments from the young men”

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Do you have a story about street harassment during the global COVID-19 pandemic? Share it here and we’ll post it for International Anti-Street Harassment Week, April 19-25.

One day while going to the shops to buy some basic needs for breakfast, i passed a narrow corridor. At first i was scared because of the number of young men lined up. The street was narrow and it was the only route i could use to access the shop. i gathered courage and walked by. What followed was unprintable comments from the young men. One tried to touch my bum but i ran off hastily until i reached the shop. The comments were demeaning and it made me feel low and dirty i almost cried.

Amidst tears i told the shopkeeper what i needed, purchased them and got ready to go back home using the same route. as i walked back i could only ask myself questions, why do young men feel great when they harass young women? what can i do to stop this happening to me and other girls? How many girls are affected psychologically because of the unprintable comments? This needs to stop.

As i approached the corridor, i was lucky enough to see the young men disappear far off into an adjacent road. i passed by quickly, not knowing whether i should tell my mother or not.

– Elizabeth Apondi

Location: Kenya

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.

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“It makes me feel disgusting and degraded”

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Do you have a story about street harassment during the global COVID-19 pandemic? Share it here and we’ll post it for International Anti-Street Harassment Week, April 19-25.

Every day when I go out on walks near the downtown area, someone makes a comment out of their car window at me. They honk their horn or yell out something about my body, like the fact that I’m out there is an invitation. One time someone called me a whore and threw water on me. It makes me feel disgusting and degraded that people treat me like this just for leaving the house in shorts.

– Anonymous

Location: Richmond, KY

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.

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“[He] muttered some obscenities about me and licked his lips”

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Do you have a story about street harassment during the global COVID-19 pandemic? Share it here and we’ll post it for International Anti-Street Harassment Week, April 19-25.

I was walking home with both arms full of groceries and a man walking past me muttered some obscenities about me and licked his lips. I felt nervous and scared.

Optional: What’s one way you think we can make public places safer for everyone?

In general, I think bigger sidewalks, and less armed officers which would encourage more pedestrians on the street, and therefore more eyes on the street. At times like this, it would be ideal if the government implemented grocery and pharmaceutical delivery services so people could stay safely indoors.

– MP

Location: In front of my apartment building

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.

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Cheer Up Luv’s Pandemic SH Story

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This is a post for International Anti-Street Harassment Week and is shared with permission from Cheer Up Luv’s Instagram Account. They are based in the UK.

Is anyone else feeling slightly less safe on the streets lately – or is it just me? Obviously we should all be staying at home and going out as little as possible at the moment. But the few times I have popped to the shops, or been for a walk/run I have felt very vulnerable and visible in what were once extremely busy streets.

We are living in an especially strange time. As well as the rates of domestic violence increasing there has also been a slightly odd feeling on the streets. The fact that the streets are empty is a good thing, don’t get me wrong. But I have been hearing a lot of similar experiences lately of sexual harassment on the new deserted streets.

I was harassed the other day by a passing van, and there was no one around. Maybe the driver felt as though he could get away with it seeing as there was no one in sight? Maybe it was just like any other day and he didn’t think twice about it. Either way it left me thinking about it for a lot longer than I had to, and got me questioning a different kind of safety in this new time we are living through.

This isn’t the first kind account I have heard of this nature. For some, it seems the new restrictions are giving a freedom to harassers to do whatever they please, and not face the repercussions of their actions.

– Eliza Hatch, founder of Cheer Up Luv

Do you have a story about street harassment during the global COVID-19 pandemic? Share it here and we’ll post it for International Anti-Street Harassment Week, April 19-25.
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Street Harassment During a Pandemic

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Do you have a story about street harassment during the global COVID-19 pandemic? Share it here and we’ll post it for International Anti-Street Harassment Week, April 19-25.

Today, I went for my afternoon walk in the neighborhood as usual. My eyes for a second met the eyes of a young man wearing headphones who was sitting on the stoop. I immediately thought “I hope he doesn’t think I’m interested because I glanced at him.” He stared at me hard and then jumped up from the stoop and started walking in front of me. I slowed down to put distance between us.

He turned around to face me and started walking towards me. He was acting a little off, moving erratically and pointing at me. I crossed the street instantly, he followed me, this time less than a foot behind my body. & now I was scared. He punched a sign we walked by making a large bang. He was saying something to me, but I couldn’t hear anything, just fear ringing in my ears because the streets were empty and no one was around. I was thinking about running but could I outrun him, was looking for another person walking, or an open store – but only houses.

I finally got to an open corner store a couple blocks from my house and darted inside. He did too. Then I told him to fuck off and stop following me. He slammed the iron gate in a way that shook me. I rushed in — feeling the urgency to be around another person, but the store was empty. I saw the shop owner at the back and rushed towards her, but kept my 6ft. Exchanging a look between women that we all know too well.

She had seen the man follow me in and asked if I was okay. I burst into tears. She asked where I lived, locked up her store and walked me home. I wish I could’ve hugged her in that moment.

As a woman who has lived in big cities for most of my life, I’m used to street harassment. Street harassment during this pandemic is a whole ‘nother thing — there’s the extra fear of someone getting close to you, more fear when there aren’t witnesses, more fear when you can’t rush into an open store for help because most of the stores are closed.

But today, all I’m grateful for is Nani, a shop owner in my neighborhood who was ready to protect me and showed me the kindness I needed to rule out the fear. Stay safe, ladies. XO

Location: Washington, DC

– Anonymous

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.

Share