Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

“The man grabbed her again”

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I was in a store with a friend once when a man put his hands on her and made a lewd comment. I told him, “Get your hands off her.”

He pushed me into a stack of boxes which knocked me and the boxes over. The owner kicked all three of us out of the store into the parking lot.

The man grabbed her again. Again I told him to stop. Again he knocked me over. We ran to the nearest house and banged on the door. They let us in thankfully where we stayed until we saw the man drive away. SCARY.

Obviously, I’ll never forget that even though it was decades ago.

– Anonymous

Location: Atlanta, GA

Need support? Call the toll-free National Street Harassment hotline: 855-897-5910

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

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“Sticking my middle finger up was a reflex action”

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I was out in a shopping centre with my boyfriend when two guys catcalled me as they walked past us. I turned around and they looked back laughing. I stopped and stuck my middle finger at them, and one of them got angry and came charging back at me. He said I was being disrespectful and I shouldn’t have stuck my middle finger up at him.

We ended up walking away from the situation, but I cried in frustration that this has happened over and over again since I turned 13.

I shouldn’t have stooped down to their level and ruined a lovely day out, but as an advocate for equality for women, sticking my middle finger up was a reflex action. Women should not have to go through this and then be made to feel like the bad person for retaliating. I just wish guys like that could be more respectful to women and keep their comments to themselves.

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

Better policing.

– Sami

Location: Xscape centre, Milton Keynes, UK

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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“I am still a child and I am being sexualized”

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First of all, I am thirteen. I was walking my dog around the block and a car filled with young men, possibly 16-22 whistled and shouted, “Damnnn” as I bent over fix my dog’s harness. I felt extremely violated and I still do. People comment on how I am so lucky to have larger hips, butt and thighs. But I am still a child and I am being sexualized. This needs to stop.

– 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.

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I said, “Please respect yourself.”

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I was heading home from school while wearing my Universal Camouflage Pattern ACU uniform because I am in the JROTC program. On my way, I faced a group of guys walking my way about 150 ft away. They start yelling, “Yo are you in the air force?”

Then they nudged each other and laughed, then repeated it all over again. From that, I learned that they just wanted to mess around, so I ignored them.

However, as I passed by, one of them said, “Look at them big juicy tits,” followed by “That ass should hop on my dick.”

And let me remind you, I was wearing an army uniform meaning that it is no way “sexual” or even appealing. Anyways, I continued walking because the words hadn’t registered in my mind yet. But once they did, I turned around and to my shock they’re standing right in their place looking back at me. So, I said, “Please respect yourself.”

They acted like they couldn’t hear and laughed. So, I turned around and continued on my way home and I balled my eyes out. I regretted my decision to speak back at them. I wished that I had ignored them.

Once I was home, I felt like I wanted to cry again, but I was just too tired. Instead of studying, I just sat on my bed thinking of the scene over and over again. Thinking of what I should have done and what should I do now. It’s the worst feeling on the planet. I told some adults, but all I received was “sorry”s and “shrug it off”s.

Actual help?

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

Teach boys not to sexualize women

– Anonymous

Location: Right outside school

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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“A hand grabbed my breast”

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I was walking down the street around 6 am to catch a bus, with earphones in my ears and jacket covering me. I only thought i needed protection from cold…How naive was I?

A bike pulled off near me and a hand grabbed my breast. I was in shock, utter humiliation and mad at myself for not being able to move an inch. He casually rode on his way, as if it was a day in the park.

– Anonymous

Location: Bangalore, India

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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