Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming
I was hitch hiking when I was 15. I was picked up by three women (over 19 years old). They poked prodded, grabbed, and kissed me. I got away but never reported it as I am a male and, I suppose, can’t be harassed by women.
– O.H.
Location: Long Island, NY
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.
I was eleven the first time I was harassed. Some guys in their twenties yelled at me as they drove by. I don’t remember the encounter very well, but I do remember them laughing as they saw the fear on my face. One of the the scariest moments of my life happened more recently. I was walking down a deserted street when several drunk guys screamed, “Hey baby! You want dick?” out of the window of their pickup. There was absolutely no one else around. I was scared out of my mind- I honestly thought I was going to raped, or worse.
This moment that those guys probably forgot about minutes later traumatized me. I didn’t tell anyone about it for a long time because I was afraid they would think I was ridiculous for being scared. How messed up is our world that I can be harassed and traumatized like that and then be scared to talk about it?
Optional: What’s one way you think we can make public places safer for everyone?
Encourage everyone, but especially men, to speak up and intervene when they see a women being harassed. Screw politeness!
– KR
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.
I was walking back to my car after work, and I walked through a small pedestrian street as I always do. There is a small smoke shop in this street and there are often people gathered outside. Tonight there was large group of men. They all started shouting things like, “Hey baby,” “Ooh sexy,” “I like your hair,” and grosser things that I would rather not say.
I steered clear of them, kept walking and didn’t make any eye contact. That was it.
This is just the most recent of the countless time that I have been catcalled. And this time, like every time, I was thinking, “What if they decide to approach me? Should I say something or will that make them feel invited to approach me? What if they hurt me? What if I die tonight?”
Catcalling is never a compliment. It’s an attack.
– CB
Location: Stamford, CT
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.
I’m 16, but when this happened, I was 14 or 15.
I was sitting in the passenger seat of my mom’s car while she was in the gas station close to our house. It was very hot out and our car doesn’t have a/c so I had all the windows rolled down. I was looking at myself in the mirror because I had something in my eye when this grown man easily in his 30’s called from his car, “Don’t worry, you still look good.”
I just turned to look at him and turned back because I was terrified, but as soon as those words left his mouth, I felt so sick to my stomach and I was shaking because he could have easily come over to the car and such… I still get sick thinking about it. I don’t go out a lot anymore but when I used to go out to the store, etc., I would constantly get unwanted comments, looks of lust, and attempts to talk to me. I may look a little older for my age but clearly I am underage…
– Addilyn
Location: In my home town
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.
I am a single parent, 46 years old. I was harassed daily by my neighbor for four years He lived across the street from me and yelled vulgar things and grabbed his genitals. I called the police but they did not care. He would follow me to the store and to my son’s bus stop. I know he was capable of violence. I was literally a prisoner in my own home. He and his friends would get drunk and sit in his carport across the street to intimidate me. Thank the Lord above, I was able to move to a better neighborhood. I moved two weeks ago. The trauma of what this idiot did to me has not left me though. It was very frustrating that the police said I needed “evidence”. I always had my phone on video. It was kind of hard to prove.
Optional: What’s one way you think we can make public places safer for everyone?
It starts at home. Teach your sons to respect women. Teach them to treat them the way they would want someone to treat their daughter. Teach them that women have souls, feelings, and deserve respect. Police should also take these issues seriously. They should have listened to me and handled the situation. They should patrol the streets and be aware of situations like this.
– Anonymous
Location: Griffin, Georgia
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.