I was recently waiting at a bus stop on my way back from the doctors. I was wearing black leggings, a shirt and a big cardigan as it was a little chilly. My bus was very late so I was daydreaming and had my head turned round looking at something else.

I was startled by someone beeping crazily at me. It was a young lad on his own in a black BMW. He was yelling at me while cruising past really slowly. The beeping made me jump and he was telling me how sexy I was so I stuck my middle finger up at him. In response to this he slammed his breaks on, climbed half way out his window and shouted at me, “Don’t dress like such a dirty little SLAG if you don’t want the attention then you stupid bitch,” and he drove off yelling.

This was in the middle of no where and the fact he stopped to shout at me was obviously very unsettling.

I frequently get yelled at and stick my fingers up, only to guys getting angry I don’t want to jump in their van and have it off there and then! I am sick of being treated this way, it’s as if I am made to feel I deserve this 24/7 harassment just because I am blonde or whatever.

– Emily Denton

Location: Norwich, Norfolk, England

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A man groped my bum as I was walking out of the tube on my way to my rape counselling session. I felt violated, bewildered and too stunned to react. By the time I’d composed myself to think of something to say it was too late. I walked to my session in tears.

– Anonymous

Location: Seven Sisters, UK

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My boyfriend and I went on holiday to Blackpool last week. There were a few incidents of harassment and I have to say one of them really upset me….

As usual I got a few funny looks off people (I should be used to it by now) the odd “Ew” muttered as I walked past but what really struck me down was when I was walking through the town centre, near the Blackpool tower and a man walked past me looking me up and down then said “fucking hell” in a what I would describe a “disgusted” tone. It happened so quickly and unexpected. I turned around to look at him and he kept looking back at me with a smirk on his face. I felt absolutely awful. I was full up with a cold and was already feeling miserable because it wore me down when I was supposed to be enjoying myself.

My boyfriend didn’t see it happen because he was a few metres ahead of me. I told him and he just told me that people like him are idiots. Yes that’s true but that “idiot” ruined the rest of my day. I didn’t feel like doing anything else and just wanted to go straight back to the hotel and cry out of frustration. But for his sake I swallowed my anger and continued “enjoying” our day.

Just to note, I know I shouldn’t have to justify myself but no I am not the most attractive woman. I am slightly overweight, taller than the average female, have my hair natural because straightening it takes up too much time and wear light make up. I don’t doll myself up like most women my age do (I’m 21) I never even used to wear make up but I’m self conscious of my pale face so I wear some light foundation. I love my long red wavy hair but sometimes it gets frizzy. Because I was feeling under the weather that day I didn’t look my best.

I am so sick of constantly feeling worried about the way I look. Just because I’m a woman, I have to look pretty despite how I’m feeling otherwise I am going to be judged. That is exactly what happened that day. Fed up isn’t the word.

– Clarice

Location: Blackpool, UK

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I just went to the supermarket, and on my way home I got cat-called from a car. I told a female friend this yesterday and her first response was, “Oh my god, what were you wearing?” so I’ll address that completely irrelevant question here: long-sleeved baggy top, baggy jeans; it was laundry day so I looked awful.

Anyway what really bothers me about it is that it knocked me back for all of about three seconds while I glared at the car and then I went back to my usual bubbly self – which is fine, that’s great – but I thought to myself, “Well, at least being catcalled from a (fast-moving car is like the least scary form of street harassment.” Even I’M normalising this stuff now. That can’t be a good thing.

It’s not normal, it’s not acceptable, and it’s sleazy as all get-out, so guys: I’m not saying “if you’re going to catcall, do it from a car.” I’m saying, “Please. Just. Stop.” I don’t have time to waste on dealing with your rubbish. I’m just trying to do my shopping.

– Anonymous

Location: Canterbury, UK

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