Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

“Hopefully that guy learned his lesson and didn’t harass any other women that night.”

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My most recent brush with Street Harassment was this last Tuesday aka, Mardi Gras. It actually turned out to be kind of funny.

So I was on my way to meet friends. Even though I live in NOLA, I still can forget where certain streets are. I had to back track to find them. As I’m passing a group of young guys one calls out to me, “You made a huge mistake walking by yourself little girl.”

I was actually on my cell at the time. The guy proceeds to lunge at me. I’m guessing I was supposed to jump or scream in fear. That kind of behavior pisses me off.

I responded with, “Get the F*#K away from me! Don’t ever think you can approach a woman like this again, you piece of sh*t! You’re lucky I don’t kick your ass … with heels on. Now shoo” (that’s my sanitized response, pretty sure I cursed a bit more).

His friend tried to block my way, I told him in my coldest voice to “Move” then, pushed him aside. They listened. They looked shocked, even a bit embarrassed.

My friend on the phone thought I was talking to him! I had to explain what happened – that was the funny part.

The reality is that certain guys get off on trying to intimidate women. They are sick. Hopefully, that guy learned his lesson and didn’t harass any other women that night.

– Megan

Location: Royal Street, New Orleans, LA

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Victory: “Sexual harassment is a crime leave me alone or I will report you.”

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After school yesterday I was walking to get on the Q train and some guy comes up to me and goes, “You got great legs baby!”

Ok im 15 he was like 43. Gross. So I said, “Excuse me, you probably have a daughter older than me.”

He goes, “Sorry you just look so sexy in that schoolgirl outfit I couldn’t help it and you do have great legs.”

So then I said, “Sexual harassment is a crime leave me alone or I will report you…”

He turned and walked the opposite direction in a very rapid fashion!

I count that as a win for me because I hear things like that all the time and I finally stood up for my self and said something. I shouldn’t have to feel dirty because of some asshole!

– Brittney

Location: Church Street, New York City

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Woman turns down job because of constant harassment in Jordan

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The Middle East seems to be breeding grounds central for street harassment and Jordan was no exception. I speak not only for myself but for all expat women who have lived, or still live in the Middle East, when I say that street harassment there is a problem we face multiple times every day and it slowly wears you away, grinding away your confidence and sense of security.

The harassment ranged from leering stares, cat calls, sexually explicit comments and sometimes grabbing and groping.
Given the chance to go back to a higher paying, wonderful job, I turned it down, as no doubt countless others have as well, in large part because I was tired of being harassed day in and day out. It does not matter what women wear, they all still get harassed. Responding in any way only seemed to egg the guys on, rendering us (rather) powerless in terms of finding a solution to the problem.

The slow erosion of self that many experience show the truly damaging effect street harassment of all levels can have.

– Anonymous

Location: Jordan

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Woman stops the harassment of her 13-year-old daughter

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I was crossing the road with my 13-year-old daughter, we were at the crossing waiting for the lights to turn red so we could cross.

A male hung out of the passenger side of a car shouting, “You in the white turn round” (my daughter was the one in white). I yelled back her age, and his driver friend looked mortified. I memorized the license plate number in a manner so that they could see and yelled NONCE (not of normal criminal evidence apparently). I was so angry.

He shouted that he “didn’t know!”

Oh so it’s ok to yell at females in the street and ask them to turn round so males like him can get a better look?

– Anonymous

Location: near my house

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Leerer at the ice skating rink

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I was ice skating and became aware of an adult man staring at me, and then moving to get in my way, and continuing to watch me for a very extended period of time. I went over and told him to stop, that I didn’t like it and it made me uncomfortable. Several minutes later a man, his ‘coach’, came out of the building and right over to me to ball me out, saying the guy was in a lesson and I had no right to talk to the man.

– Anonymous

Location: Wollman Skating Rink, New York City

Share your street harassment story today and help raise awareness about the problem. Find suggestions for what YOU can do about this human rights issue.

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