It’s whenever I leave the house. I seem to have been born with a magnate for the entitled. I am not pretty, and I am overweight. So of course there is at least one person who feels the need to tell me these things. Or that I would be prettier if I lost some weight. Or that I am a c**t. Or, in one most recent case, a drunk guy at a bus stop told every one waiting that my tattoo must mean I tried to kill myself (after telling him that it had personal meaning).

I used to get men yell out car windows at me to “walk faster!”, “move that ass!”

Since I moved, I have copped considerably less, but it is still when ever I go out. There is always at least one person who insists on staring, commenting to their mates, or commenting to me how I shouldn’t wear something or that I need to lose weight. Or, in the case of one “friend” that I would need extensive plastic surgery to ever be attractive enough to find even a “shitty husband”

I have had an acute anxiety and panic disorder for life, and people wonder why I don’t want to leave the house.

– Anonymous

Location: Brisbane, Australia

In college I was walking down the street, running some errands, on a sunny Saturday afternoon. There were tons if people walking around in center city Philadelphia, but I happened to notice these two guys up ahead of me. I don’t know why they stuck out to me, but right after I passed them, they started cat calling and saying things to me. It started with a “hey beautiful” and other such statements, but as I kept ignoring them, not only did the comments get worse and worse, but I realized they were following me.

Finally, one of the men said “I would love to slide my dick inside those milky, white thighs.” I was so scared that I went into the nearest store and waited until I was sure they were gone. I was so worried they would come back that I didn’t finish my errands but just went home instead. Philly is pretty notorious for its level of danger, especially to women.

– Elana

Location: Center city, Philadelphia, near the 11th and Market subway stop

Everyday I pass through this situation of cat calling in public places. It is very disrespectful and unwelcome for me. This is the way I feel everyday. I feel very sacred because I have to pass through the same spot just to go to High School. I don’t know what to do or how to respond to them because I think they might do something that could hurt me. Even when I walk with my mom or sister. They still do it. And is around my community where there is cops but they don’t do nothing about it. This is very unsafe because it is a human rights issue.

– SG

Location: Brooklyn where I live

I live in Barbados and street harassment is a serious problem there. I have witnessed men blatantly calling women out their names and imposing their unwanted attention onto them. Leaving home one has to garner oneself in preparation for the onslaught of rude comments and suggestions that are sure to come. Verbal and physical harassment are so interwoven into the fabric of our culture that it has become accepted as the norm. So accepted that a song called “Meat gotta pull” actually got air play on the radios here.

There is a common expression in Barbados that Bajan women are unmannerly and difficult to approach but no exploration of how this came to be the case. I’ll be generous and say that at least half of your daily encounters with men here will end with some inappropriate and unwanted comment. So is it any wonder that females are apprehensive when males approach them?

The worst part is that I believe some of them think they’re flattering you.

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

I believe more people need to get involved when they witness street harassment taking place and be the keepers of our brothers and sisters. Men are the perpetrators in many cases but they are also the victims.

– Anonymous

Location: Barbados

I was walking towards my bank and a passing car slowed down. The driver brought out his head to tell me that I am a W#**e and a s**t and I should get in his car and let him f#@% me …

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

Strict laws to let them know that it is a crime and it causes women to feel unsafe walking down the streets

– Anonymous

Location: Tripoli-Libya