Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

College in Colorado

By

Though I grew up familiar with harassment I was still surprised how present it was at college. Durango, Colorado, is a small college town in the mountains full of people who want to change the world and Fort Lewis is an extraordinary college. However, within a year I had been followed across campus for asking a guy to move his truck so as not to take up two spaces and my roommate had a guy who called and texted her regularly, calling her sexy and whistling whenever she was near.

The one time I actually felt like I was in danger or the people near me were was driving through the nearby Cortez. A souped up truck with a loudspeaker on the top began following us, staying beside us and not letting me pull ahead or behind, all while shouting from their loudspeaker.

My usual way of dealing with sexual harassment is to get in the person’s face and show them that I’m anything but scared. This isn’t an option in a car and I had passengers who were in a delicate state. If it happens again I plan to pull over and see how tough they are outside their car.

– anonymous

Location: Cortez, CO

Share your street harassment story today and help raise awareness about the problem. Include your location and it will be added to the Street Harassment Map.

Share

“Sexy Walk” is not a name

By

On April 21, 2010, I was heading outside on a smoke break and this man who was behind me (also a delivery person to my building) says, “You have a sexy walk” I turned around and glared at him.

When I got outside I realized he was still following me and turned around. HE WAS STILL THERE and said, “Have a nice day, Sexy Walk”.

I was so angry, and scared. He was a big guy and I couldn’t say anything from fear.

I went inside feeling ashamed that I didn’t say anything and that i didn’t put him in his place. Fortunately, my coworkers made me feel better and said it is ok to be scared or shocked and that sometimes not saying anything is the better and safer option.

– JP

Share your street harassment story today and help raise awareness about the problem. Include your location and it will be added to the Street Harassment Map.

Share

Morning talk

By

I was going to work this morning with my iPod on, as usual. Because I am working in an office and that we have a dressing code, I always try to look nice. While I’m waiting at a subway station, a strange man came up to me and started taking to me, but I didn’t understand him because of my iPod. I caught cute, and baby, and I decided to move away because I didn’t feel like dealing with him or having to be in the same train then him the whole ride. When I turned away, he started yelling at me, calling me a bitch. I walked further. There were a lot of people waiting for the subway, and they all looked up. He didn’t follow me, and I wish I will never see him again.

– anonymous

Share your street harassment story today and help raise awareness about the problem. Include your location and it will be added to the Street Harassment Map.

Share

Leg stroking Metro harasser

By

Before I moved to Washington, DC, I was there visiting family. I got on the Metro at the Shady Grove Station. The car was empty except for me and then another man got on the car with me. I did not think anything of it, but he decided to sit right next to me and I thought that was odd considering it was a completely empty car.

He began to talking to me and I made polite conversation. Then he began stroking my bare leg (it was summer and I had on a skirt) and becoming more assertive in his intentions, asking where I was staying and if I was dating anyone. I remember thinking in that moment, that I should hit him, but I became scared, thinking that if I do not disable this person then he is going to harm me and we are trapped on this subway car together and there is nowhere or no one else to run to.

Thankfully, after passing through several stops on the red line going back toward DC more people got on and eventually he got off at a stop. I was left sitting there thankful for the additional people and thankful he did not ride all the way to my stop. To this day I question any person that is too chatty on Metro unless I know that they are a tourist.

– anonymous

Location: Washington, DC

Share your street harassment story today and help raise awareness about the problem. Include your location and it will be added to the Street Harassment Map.

Share

Don’t call me Sweetheart!

By

Just when I thought I could go almost two weeks free of nonsense!

This morning, I left my apartment to head to work and there was a moving truck outside. Three people (two men, one woman) were trying to help the truck park outside the apartment.

I continue walking, and I hear a loud “HAVE A NICE DAY, SWEETHEART!” barked at me. It was one of the moving men.

“Don’t call me sweetheart!” I snapped, not missing a beat.
“I was just trying to tell you have a nice day,” the guy says.

I hate when they do that. The same thing happened with another guy who was in front of Rosslyn Metro a few weeks back. He says the same thing, I had the same response, and his answer was “What? I can’t say hello?”

It’s as if these men are in denial of their actions. Did you not just call me “SWEETHEART” dummies? It’s not the fact that you said “hello” or “have a nice day” to me, it’s the fact that you had to call me “sweetheart” along with it. Do you not remember doing that?

In both instances, when they had “Can’t I just say hello?” or “I’m just trying to tell you to have a nice day!” responses, I responded back with “If you wanted to say ‘hello’ you would’ve just said hello” and “If you just wanted to wish me a nice day, you would’ve just said ‘have a nice day’.” These men are dense beyond reason.

Dear men who feel obliged to tell women they don’t know to have a nice day: Feel free to tell us to have a nice day, but don’t call us “sweetheart,” especially when we don’t know you.

– Tired of Being Harassed

Location: Arlington, VA

Share your street harassment story today and help raise awareness about the problem. Include your location and it will be added to the Street Harassment Map.

Share