I have always been able to walk my dog and feel safe, comfortable. I have even walked my dog at 10 pm. at times. But lately I have received cat calls from guys when I’m walking down the street. Cars Honk and whistle. I used to think nothing of it.

Then came the weird questions when the guys are driving. They ask stupid questions such as “you wanna fuck” and “how much do you charge.” At that time I just got nervous whenever it happened,

But lately guys have been coming up and started having conversations with me. I don’t know them but they come up and ask me questions I usually just ignore them, but then there like “don’t be like that, I’m just trying to get to know you” that’s when i usually speed walk out of there.

I don’t know why they talk to me. I’m not wearing anything hoochie I just wear t-shirts and sweats. I tried wearing jeans and t-shirt but they come even more, so eventually i went back to my old clothes. My family even says i dress like a hobo.I tried wearing jeans and t-shirt but they come even more, so eventually i went back to my old clothes.

The point is I want them to stop.

– Anonymous

Location: Chicago, IL

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I fought with my husband and walked down my street and sat down at the edge of the woods near the street, trying to get a moment’s peace and stop crying. Then I hear a dude behind me saying, “You okay, babe?” And I have to tell him I’m fine, then get up and find another spot where I might be left alone.

– Anonymous

Location: Pennsylvania

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I am a very curvy woman gifted in both top and bottom areas. No matter what I wear on my way to work ranging from khakis and a polo shirt to a business casual dress that is loose fitting to slightly hugging, I always get the chicken mumbles, baboon grumbles, and all other sorts of weird and rude sounds, noises, stares, and etc. It makes me feel like a piece of meat on the food stand or at the grocery store. Basically I feel as though I am an object and not a human being.

Weird perverts have played with themselves in front of me, licked the glass where I sit on the train, and have made all sorts of catcalls. I was even called a female dog (bit**) for not responding in the anticipated way by a man, of course with his friends around. In that circumstance I was also told, and I quote, “Well I wasn’t trying to talk to/holler at your ugly a** anyway.”

It really perplexes me and makes me scared and uncomfortable to dress the way I want and to be my self. I have always been a conservative person so I don’t wear particularly revealing outfits; however these insulting jeers makes me want to just completely cover myself as I stand there and blush in shame and embarrassment which some guys seem to get off on. I’m highly suspicious walking around men especially in or near crowds of men and I buy big bags I can hide behind to protect myself as a barrier.

– T.H.

Location: Redline train in Washington DC, near 20 Mass Ave NW, near home in hyattsville MD, at grocery stores in DC and MD (PG County) , and etc

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I live in a small town and have always enjoyed walking, and as long as I can remember this enjoyment has been dampened by catcalls and harassment regularly. I learned to “ignore it” because that was “just the way some guys are.”

I was taught to stay safe, avoid walking alone in certain neighborhoods and at night. I was taught that to say anything back when construction workers or drivers harassed me would provoke them further, so I accepted these tense moments during otherwise pleasant walks in my hometown.

One of the worst memories I have of street harassment was when I was walking home from a wonderfully calming yoga class, feeling all at peace and grateful for my life and my surroundings, when I started hearing men’s voices yelling and squealing the “p” word for a part of a woman’s anatomy. They yelled it over and over, and I felt degraded and afraid. I walked as fast as I could and called a friend the minute I got home to tell her what had happened. The guys were gone and I was safe but still felt horrible. This made me extremely angry.

A few days ago I was sitting in my parked car in a public parking lot in town, with my window down while I talked on the phone with a friend. Another car pulled up beside me, and a woman got out of the passenger side and walked into the store. The man who had been driving followed, and I kept on talking on the phone. Suddenly the man appeared in my window saying, “I don’t mean to scare you or anything but you are beautiful.” I told him, “That does scare me” as he hurried away. My friend said I should not have let him know I was afraid, but it was just what came out at that moment. I did drive away immediately after, though. We joked about what I should have said. (“I have an STD”??) But in all honesty this is not a laughing matter and men need to know that we do not like it or find it flattering when we are approached by strangers complimenting our appearances.

I put a “PSA” as my facebook status to the men about it. I think some guys feel obligated to do this, or that we need it to help our self esteem. For me it is extremely offensive that a man would think he has a right to say anything about my appearance when I don’t know him, let alone when I’m on the phone alone in my car.

I’m glad this is something that is being taken seriously. Too many guys think they are entitled to harass women or don’t even see what they are doing as harassment. I dream of a day when women can go about their business in the world without having to deal with this stuff. Thank you!

– Anonymous

Location: Pennsylvania

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