I was getting lunch at the Wawa when a man who was working on the construction site next to the Wawa held the door for me to walk through. When I thanked him, he said, “You’re welcome beautiful,” so when I opened the second door I half closed it behind me before he went to walk through as a way to let him know that the behavior was unwanted. He followed me towards my car from a distance and whistled at me not once but twice. I felt disgusting and actually wanted to change my clothes even though there was nothing wrong with what I was wearing. I asked him what the F is wrong with him and told him that I am a human being not an object.

– MC

Location: Warminster, PA

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 was in a mall parking garage, walking to my car, when two men drove by me. One wolf whistled at me. I yelled at him to “f**k off,” and he yelled back at me: “I was calling you cute, f**king bitch!” I cried afterwards. I felt demeaned and objectified. I felt like a piece of meat. I cried over the fact I was scared and belittled, and reduced to a sexual OBJECT even though I am a human being. I cried over the fact that women are treated like this, and worse, every single day. I cried over the fact there are men in this world who hate women. I cried over the fact that there are people in power in the American government, the country that is supposed to be the most free in the world, who actively try to restrict women’s rights. I cried over the fact that I live in a sexist world.

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

Teach men to treat women with respect.

– Katy

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 have many stories of harassment. I live in St. Louis and ride the bus and walk a lot. I now no longer feel safe to do so and am trying to move.

The other day, I walked to a nearby gas station to get some snacks, and a man behind me said in a low voice, “I can get you more candy.” I ignored him and checked out. As I was walking back, he drove his car with tinted windows by me and tried to say something to me. I ignored him. I usually have my phone, but didn’t that day. I felt very vulnerable. He drove away, then as I rounded the corner, he pulled up beside me to cut me off. I walked to the other side of the street saying to myself, “Oh no you don’t” and he followed me home. I acted like I didn’t live there and kept on walking until he drove away. Scary stuff.

There are countless times I am in the bus and a man asks, “Do you need a boyfriend?” I instantly feel angry. One time, as a man sat next to me and asked that, I looked him straight in the eye and said no and told him that I think men need to respect women out here on the streets. He looked so serious, said he could tell I was serious and that he had never heard a woman say that before. I told him maybe he could go tell other men.

The thing that makes me feel so uncomfortable is when you walk and a man says hi while staring at your crotch or chest. I have had men try to talk to me at the bus stop, the whole time, staring at my crotch. I ignored it, but next time, want to head on say, “Stop staring at my crotch.”

I just enrolled in a kickboxing/ self defense class. I am a thin woman and have a sensitive and kind personality. I feel like living with all of this harassment for over 10 years is turning me into a person I am not really because as I walk, I pretend I am talking on the phone, avoid eye contact, and look above people. It has affected my relationships with other males in that I find it hard to trust them. This is why I know I need to move out of this area because it has taken a toll on my mental health to constantly be ‘hard’, hypervigilant, and on the defense.

– J

Location: St Louis, MO- Arsenal and Gravois, Kingshighway and Delmar, Chippewa and Oregon

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 was sitting reading a book on the train on my way back from school. This guy came and sat across from me and asked me what I was reading. I showed him the cover but didn’t reply, I just kept reading. He tried again, “You seem really interested in it.” Again, I ignored him and kept reading.

Not getting my attention, he tried another tactic. He placed his backpack next to me, boxing me in close to the window and spread himself across the whole seat in front of me. He moved his leg to touch mine. I moved my leg. He moved his leg again to touch mine. Again I moved. Again he moved his leg, and by this time I was scrunching myself into the corner. I was afraid to say something even though there were other people around. I froze. I just wanted to get out of there, so I gave him an angry look, put my bookmark in my book, stood up while holding my backpack and went to a different part of the train.

I saw a guy look from the man who harassed me, to me, then back to the guy. I think he saw what was happening but didn’t know what to do to help. I was so scared and angry and nervous that I was shaking when we reached my stop. He stood to get off at the same place. I stopped the closest normal-looking man standing up to exit the train. “Excuse me,” I said, “see that guy over there in the red and white striped shirt?” He nodded. “He is kind of harassing me. Can you keep an eye on him for me?” He nodded and we all got off the train. I walked to the indoor train station coffee shop and sat to wait until my brother could pick me up. I was still so scared. Turning my back to that guy to walk away terrified me. I hate feeling unsafe. That guy robbed me of my feeling of security. I cried for 20 minutes when I got home. I scrubbed and scrubbed the part of my leg he touched and immediately put my pants in the laundry. I felt like burning those pants. Nothing helped. I am dreading taking that same train again tomorrow.

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

Stay aware of what is happening around you. If you see somebody making advances, speak up! You never know when someone is too scared to do it themself.

– Anonymous

Location: RTD train in Denver, 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.