Just a few minutes ago, I was outside of a coffee shop during the day with cousin and we were about to part ways when a man asked us for change, we both politely said we didn’t have any, which was true. As I walked through the coffee shop I felt like someone was following me and it was the same man, out of the corner of my eye I saw him close behind me. I got into my car quickly and he came right up to my window, asking me for the time, I shouted it quickly through the closed window as I was backing out. He kept following the side of my car trying to block it as I was trying to back out. Really creepy and inappropriate.

Optional: Do you have any suggestions for dealing with harassers and/or ending street harassment in general?

Don’t be afraid to be “rude” since any sane, safe and aware male is not going to put a female in a position where she’s going to feel threatened or scared. If they are, there’s no need to be polite or worry about potentially offending them.

– Anonymous

Location: Pasadena, CA

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See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for more ideas

I was a 19 year old girl from a small town in the big city going to college.  I was already scared to death.  My apartment was 6 blocks from school and we walked every day.  Many times men shouted lewd things from cars or from construction jobs nearby.  It was a business college and we were required to wear dresses every day.

I always tried to walk to school as part of a group but one day during finals I was alone.  A car with several men in it drove by me slowly and shouted something about my “fine ass.'”  The went around the block and came by again slower, and shouted again, I was so scared, after they went by I ran the last couple of blocks in high heels.  I was 18 at the time, I’m 52 now and I can still remember this plain as day.

We do not or did NOT want the unwanted attention, it’s degrading, and inhumane!!  I felt like a piece of meat.

– Lynn

Location: Downtown St. Louis, MO

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I was standing at the bus stop waiting for my bus when this guy walked up too close and then crouched next to me in the bus shelter. He was acting really strange and “dropped” his lighter (more like tossed it out) so it would “fall” near my feet so he could try and look up my skirt when he grabbed it. He was so obvious about it too.

I was so disgusted and upset I couldn’t do anything but glare at him like he was trash and jump into the next bus that rolled up…

– Anonymous

Location: 2nd ave ext. and S Jackson stop, Seattle, WA

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I’m going to be a Sophomore in high school this year and I gotta say… I’m fed up with harassment.

When I walk down the halls guys won’t make eye contact, but instead look at my body. Some have even said things like, “”damn look at that aas””, “”I’d tap that””, or even “”that body is fine as hell.””

And hey I don’t shy away from people. I’m very outgoing, but when it comes from them I feel angry. Look at my face, get to know me and maybe you’ll figure out that I DON’T like your “compliments.”

Yes, you might perceive it as a compliment for me, but I surely do not!

– KMJ

Location: Harrisburg, PA, East High

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7/22/14. Today I was walking a few blocks to the grocery store after getting off from work. I heard a ʺWhoooooo!ʺ as I walked past a parked car on the left of me. I turned around and saw two young men sitting in the front seats of a car looking at me. I’ve been harassed many times before but never felt as safe responding as I did today, as it was daylight and there were other people around. I gave them a look, yelled back, ʺDon’t harass me!ʺ and kept walking.

A few seconds later I heard a car about to drive past me, and a ʺSorry!ʺ called out. I said thanks to the man in the passenger seat who apologized, and he told me to have a good day and I reciprocated.

As I shopped for my groceries, I was shaking a bit. I am proud of myself for responding to my harasser, and glad that I had said something short to say that got the point across that his actions were not acceptable. I am so happy he said sorry and turned his interaction with me around. His sincere apology makes me wonder if I could have handled the situation in an even better way, but I think I did a good job for my first firm response to a street harasser! Stopstreetharassment.com, thank you so much for your help in preparing me for this incident and giving me the confidence to execute my response.

– Anna H

Location: University Village, Seattle, WA

Share your street harassment story for the blog.
See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for more ideas