As I left my workplace for lunch today, two men commented on my looks as I walked by. Unfortunately, this is commonplace in the area, so I ignored it as usual. Then, a man I walked past turned to walk with me for a whole block. He said, “You’re cute. You’re not Kim Kardashian or anything, but you have a cute mole,” referring to the birthmark on my face. I asked him to please stop following me, but he kept pace with me and kept making comments, so I turned around to walk the other way and went behind a building and cried. His backhanded compliments were unusual, but that wasn’t what made me cry. The feeling of helplessness as he followed me down the street and the unsolicited comments he made about my body made me feel violated. As if my body is not my own space. I haven’t had an experience yet that would make me exceptionally fearful for my physical safety on the street, but this feeling of violation and insignificance is commonplace and psychologically damaging.

– ALK

Location: Oakland, CA

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.

When I was walking towards the metro station, a guy leered at me the whole time. As I walked by, I didn’t turn when he said something to me. After I was a few feet away, he said, “Stuck up bitch” repeatedly. I was just trying to catch a train.

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

Other men need to speak up and say this is unacceptable

– Anonymous

Location: Suitland Metro, Maryland

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.

I’m all dressed in my dress for my senior prom and I’m getting a ride in my Mother’s car so she can drop me off at my friend’s house to take pictures. My house is on a busy street and as I’m walking with my 8-year-old brother to my Mom’s car, I hear a car that’s banging music loudly out of it’s car.

I get worried, as I had experienced street harassment before. The man in the car sees me and he screams, “Hey Caramel” multiple times as I try to ignore him. My 8-year-old brother is beyond confused and tells me the man is trying to talk to me. I tell my brother not to turn around or give him attention. When the car finally drives away, I feel disgusting on my special day. The fact the street harasser does it in front of my brother, got me heated. I tried my best to explain the situation to my brother, who I hope understands.

– AP

Location: Boston, MA

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

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I’m a 15 year old girl who lives in Belgium, in a small town near to Ghent where I have been harassed a lot.

The first time I was verbally harassed I was going to a local bakery. I wore black jeans, a very warm shirt and my coat with some black boots. I was 13-14 and I had never experienced a catcall towards me. While I was walking to the bakery, an old man with a beer can in his hand made this disgusting noise which made me feel very dirty as if I had done something to deserve that awful sound and the looks he gave me. When I was home I almost cried.

I know if people would read this they will say: “Well, he didn’t touch you or he didn’t rape you…He just complimented you on your looks”. No he didn’t rape me but does that mean that it has to go to that point to be a real problem? And no it is not a compliment I don’t need to be complimented by older men when I’m walking down the street so it could remind me that I am beautiful.

A couple of days ago I forgot my key so I had to wait on my brother in front of my front door until he came to let me in. So while I was waiting I remembered I was listening to ‘Since I’ve been loving you’ by Led Zeppelin because I remember that at my favorite line in the song I heard a car pulling up. There were at least 6 construction-workers in there, at that moment I knew they won’t let me just wait so while they passed me nothing happened but when they came back they honked at me. Again I felt disgusting, I just looked down at my phone thinking: “Not again.” Because at the same spot four weeks earlier I forgot my key (It happens sometimes) so I had to wait on my brother. A car full of construction-workers pulled up and honked.

I don’t know what they expect me to do, should I say: “Wow thank you sir for honking at me from your car, I feel so much better now!” Or should I just give them the finger, but no that is to dangerous so I just ignore it, but while I ignore it, I still don’t feel better.

When I get catcalled, I feel like there is something wrong with me. I get catcalled more here in the west than on holiday in my native country, Albania. Of course men there like to comment on women as well but I’ve never had an experiences that embarrassing other than here in Belgium.

I wanted to share a story from a friend of mine who at 15 was almost kidnapped on her way home. She was on her way home from a friend’s house while all of a sudden a car creeped next to her. He rolled down his window and said in Dutch: “What will you do for money?”

Of course she didn’t respond and she was really scared, so that’s when she walked faster. The man got out of his car and grabbed her hand. My friend was lucky that she had just passed a bar when the scene was happening so a guy stepped out of the bar and slammed him to the ground while another woman called the police. The man was not arrested but it was know that he had done such things before but the police didn’t have enough evidence to arrest him. It made me feel sick, I cried because that day it could’ve been the last time I would’ve seen my friend.

I’m sorry for the long post but I really wanted to share this story because it makes me feel really bad when I get these comments on the streets.

Greeting from Belgium

– HK

Location: Near Ghent, Belgium

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.

Today, three days after the explosion in Chelsea, NYC, I had an appointment on 23rd Street right across from where the bomb went off. There were cops everywhere today. As I exited the 23rd Street station there were four male cops standing on the stairway leading out of the subway talking to one another. Two on each side. As I got almost to the top of the stairs, one of the cops said, “Good morning”, but not in the tone where someone is genuinely wishing you a good morning. It was in the tone that meant something else entirely. It even had that inflection that suggested I owed him a reply. The other three just went quiet as I kept going. I was so annoyed that at a time when people are still somewhat on edge, the people that are supposed to be there to keep us safe make us feel just the opposite.

Of all the street harassment I experienced, I don’t want to have to add police officers to the list of people to avoid. In the larger scope of things it’s nothing compared to the reasons other people have to fear the police, but it’s just another way we are constantly made to feel unsafe in public spaces.

– Ali

Location: New York City, 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.