Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

“You ungrateful bitch”

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Another day as a woman in New York City: a man on the street screams at me, “You are beautiful,” and when I don’t respond he screams, “That’s it, that’s as far as I’m going to go, you ungrateful bitch.”

Where??? Do??? Men??? Learn??? This??? Behavior??? How is this an acceptable thing to do?!?!?

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

Not electing Donald Trump.

– Maddie

Location: Midtown East, Manhattan, NY

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.

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“I leaned away and shook my head but he didn’t stop”

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I was about 15 years old, riding a bus at night with a female friend. It was before 9 p.m. at night in a Denver suburb. A man sat right next to me, against my body, and was touching my cheek. I leaned away and shook my head but he didn’t stop. I thought he had a knife in his other hand but I cant be sure. There were very few people on the bus. One man told him to leave me alone, and told the bus driver to do something. He didn’t stop and the driver didn’t do anything. Thankfully he didn’t get off the bus when we did. Maybe they told him not to.

– Anonymous

Location: Denver suburbs, Arapahoe County, Colorado

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.

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“How creepy it was that an 80 year old man had stopped a child”

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I was 12. I was walking to church on my own since I lived only two blocks away. I was wearing my best church dress, a very modest but beautiful black dress, and I was excited to see all of my friends at church. When I was about to walk through the parking lot, an older man grabbed my arm and told me that I was beautiful and that he wished there were girls as beautiful as me back in his day. At the time I said thank you politely and walked away, but it took me a while to realize how creepy it was that an 80 year old man had stopped a child to say that he wished I could have lived in his time. I also realized that I could have been in danger if I had responded negatively because of the tight grip he held on my arm.

I am 17 now, and I have been cat called more in my life between the ages of 10-14 than I do now, which is terrifying.

Optional: Do you have any suggestions for dealing with harassers and/or ending street harassment in general?

Be assertive, look for people around you and call to them for help if needed.

– Anonymous

Location: Outside of my church

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.

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“I didn’t know if they had plans of attacking me”

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We were looking for a place and I had to use my phone and was scrambling to get directions on phone. A guy said, “Her pussy wet very wet and so on” and he didn’t stop until I lost him and his friend when I crossed the street. I got scared. I didn’t know if they had plans of attacking me if I confronted them. I didn’t want to look back all I know was whatever I would do if ever they would retaliate I wouldn’t win the fight and get into more trouble.

– Anonymous

Location: Hollywood, CA

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.

Share

“I am so much more than a person to be honked and hissed at by a stranger”

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A man has been driving by for the past few weeks and hissing or honking at me. I am adult, it is 7 in the morning as I’m walking to the train in a quiet suburban town. I feel like he thinks it’s OK to engage in this way because women or no more than sexual objects that exist for his pleasure. I am a daughter, a wife, an aunt, a human being. I am so much more than a person to be honked and hissed at by a stranger.

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

Why do people do this? Do they think it makes someone feel good? No, it makes us feel threatened. Is it something taught by their parents/peers? Then raise more awareness and really drive the message home in schools.

– EG

Location: Westchester, NY

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.

Share