I am a Muslim girl from Pakistan. I just want to share my story so people know how it feels. I am 19 now and this happened when I was in 8th grade.

I was at the market with my friend and it was quite crowded. We saw a man looking at us, as we were kids we didn’t get the signs and carried on with our exciting talk. Just as we passed him he quickly started to follow us and then out of nowhere a hand groped my butt. I was in shock but as my wits returned I went after him. I called out after him he started running and nobody stopped him. I was pissed off and I cried so much. I went home and told my parents, they too got worried.

It stressed me out and I got mentally sick. I even tried to commit suicide because of it. I never got out of the pain it caused. I will never forgive him for taking away my child self from me. It still hurts. I will avenge myself if I see him ever again. He caused me mental torture and he needs to pay.

– Anonymous

Location: Pakistan

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.

I was eating a donut by the window of a donut shop, and a guy stopped in front of me, pointed to me, pointed to his mouth, pointed to his crotch, and showed me a ten dollar bill. I had no idea what to do, so I just tried to avoid looking at him, but he wouldn’t go away. Luckily, there was a person next to me who shook his head no. I felt so helpless and uncomfortable.

– EK

Location: Buckeye Donuts in Columbus, OH, USA

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Wow, I was 10 and was at the park. I was playing with a friend and the park seemed empty so we were climbing on the monkey bars and sliding down the slides. I had a sun dress on and my friend had on shorts. Anyway like I said we didn’t see anyone around or I wouldn’t have been climbing around in a dress. We were hanging upside down on the monkey bar when I heard his voice. He said, “Hi” and “Are you girls wanting some fun?”

I freaked and attempted to keep my dress pushed up covering my panties as I was stuck in front of him hanging on the monkey bars. My friend who was 12 climbed down and held my dress in place as I got down from the hanging position. He kept talking and we started to walk away. He said things like we were cute and he had secret games. We left and were afraid to come back to the park all summer.

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

Not sure as a girl it has happened a few times. Guess people just need to stay aware. People say it doesn’t hurt anyone but if freaked me out.

– HY

Location: Oblong Illinois City Park

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

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I was cat called yesterday by a man in the passenger seat of a white van. I was on my way back to the car after work and minding my own business when he said “hello darling”. I wasn’t frightened, more angry. There is a girl’s school literally metres away and I wondered whether he did that, or worse, to the girls. I gave him a withering look, turned round and showed my middle finger before taking down the license plate of the van. Reported to the police. Pig.

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

Continuing to highlight how it affects women. I have read that some men think we like it, so they need to be told they are wrong.

– Heather

Location: Wokingham, UK

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.

To the man who groped me at Wal-Mart last week:

To you, I am just an x-chromosome
whose molecules were formed
to fit your whim.

I understand how my high-necked, long-sleeved blouse
in combination with my black work pants
were outrageously irresistible

or, most likely, how they flashed a sign that read:
“too nice to make a fuss.”

Were you surprised the way I yelled at you
and made a fuss?
Or how the sales associate, like spider-man, leaped across the aisle
and was by my side in an instant?

Did you think you were home free
when you left the Wal-Mart
exiting the doors like a normal customer
unscathed, uncaught, unpunished?

What went through your mind across the street at the Texaco
as you filled up to make your escape?
Was it McDonald’s, porn, or your next victim?

But what I really want to know
was what flashed through your mind
as you rolled down your window as the police asked for your license and registration
because even I didn’t believe how fast they responded
and caught you.

You didn’t have a mom like mine
or you wouldn’t have seen me
as an opportunity.

Instead, you might have seen me as
a teacher working nights
to pay students loans,

or a sister buying a bridal shower gift
for the bride-to-be,

or a daughter, who, after swimming for an hour with her mom
became sunburned
and only came into the store
for some aloe vera
to soothe her unseen pain.

Now, a shadow of you follows me,
despite my best efforts,
to not just stores, but work, home,
the bathroom, and as I lay down,
my bed.

Though I think I have forgiven you,
if you come near me again,
I must warn you
I have replayed what you did to me
on that aisle
with security cameras
and other shoppers around
1,000 times, and how I should have,
could have, would have reacted

so that next time you will carry me
like a shadow
chaining your hands to your side
and saving others from becoming
your victim, like me,
and from becoming part of the 87% statistic,
a club I joined without even signing up.

I still grieve the confidence you stole from me,
but I know, over time, I will get that back.

And I will heal.

You, on the other hand,
will probably take more than a lifetime
to understand the character you have built in me,
forged by stupidity, impulse, and selfishness.

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

Education, good families, love, respect, and for Jesus to come again.

– CS

Location: Wal-Mart in Payson, Utah

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.