Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming
Some guys asked me how I was doing and after I walked by asked if I wanted to hang out. It made me feel kinda good when they said how are you, but when they talked to my back, I felt like they didn’t actually care how I was, just that I was a girl.
– Anonymous
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 targeted by a group of people because a crime of sexual violence that was committed against me and they attempted to slut shame me for being a survivor.
– Anonymous
Location: New Jersey
Optional: What’s one way you think we can make public places safer for everyone?
I think we need to educate the public about shaming women for the violence committed against them as not being okay/cool or acceptable under any given circumstance.
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 getting lunch at Wendy’s and a guy who was hanging out there asked me, “Do you want him to give you a foot massage along with that burger?” when the employee brought me my food. I told him, “Leave me alone.” When I asked for more ketchup because the machine was empty, the same guy said, “Oh here honey, I’LL help you” and grabbed a ridiculous amount of ketchup packets and put them on my tray, even as I was saying, “No, stop it.”
Optional: Do you have any suggestions for dealing with harassers and/or ending street harassment in general?
Don’t be afraid like I was! I should have confronted this creep more directly. What was he really going to try to do in the middle of the day in a busy fast food restaurant anyways?
– Anonymous
Location: St. Petersburg, FL
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 on my way from New York City, I take the train everyday from Penn Station. At rush hour, Penn station is busy and often people can find it overwhelming. It was a usual day, I was wearing some grey leggings, a white t-shirt and some sneakers. As usual I was waiting for my train’s platform to be announced so I stood in the crowd listening to my Ipod. Suddenly from behind someone grabbed my ass in a very aggressive and sexual manner. I was completely shocked and turned around quickly to identify who had done it. Penn Station is so busy, so I could not 100% identify who had touched me.
My first instinct was to go to the police who were standing relatively near me.. I told them I had been grabbed and they tried to help me identify who could have done it. As I was not 100% sure they said there was not much they could do. They made me feel safer and I was glad I told somebody, but I became increasingly upset and shocked. I had never experienced harassment like that before. The police escorted me to my platform in case my offender might follow me.
I got on my train a few minutes later and that was that. It was a horrible experience and I will never forget it. Since that experience, I have developed an increase in anxiety when navigating large crowds and being in busy public spaces.
– Anonymous
Location: Penn Station, NYC
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 out hunting for Pokemon, barely three blocks from my house when a car drove by me and a man yelled that, “I’d F*ck you, n*gger!” It wasn’t even 8 p.m. on a Monday.
Optional: Do you have any suggestions for dealing with harassers and/or ending street harassment in general?
I just wish it would stop happening to me.
– Cara
Location: Eugene, OR
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.