I’ve been travelling with my boyfriend for an entire summer, and we have traveled together every day. We’ve visited Indonesia, India, Morocco, and France so far. In our travels, I have received absolutely 0 street harassment because I have been accompanied 100% of the time by a man – my partner.

Today was the first day that we ventured out on our own; I walked around the city and visited a few cafes. For the first time in months, I experienced four instances of unwanted street harassment. We’ve been in vastly different parts of the world this summer, and I am horrified to realize that I’ve basically been chaperoned the entire time – temporarily veiling me from the street harassment I’m otherwise accustomed to living in Washington, DC.

I’ve gotten used to the surreal, problematic feeling of having a man ever-present, shielding me from objectification by other men. This summer, I’d forgotten what it feels like to walk around afraid. Why should I need a chaperone to move about the world? When I’m not accompanied by a man, why do I become fair game like a deer strolling through an open meadow? I’m disgusted. I’m even more disgusted that when I turned to my boyfriend for support once we got back to our apartment, almost in tears from rage at these advances, he paid me little attention. He washed his face, got ready for bed nonchalantly, looked at his Instagram.

WHERE ARE OUR ALLIES? WHERE ARE OUR MALE COMRADES? The solution lies with all of us, but most certainly with them. We can’t continue moving through a world where our safe harbor from “bad” men is only promised at a dock tended by “good” men. Ending street harassment is a question of recalling humanity.

We need those in positions of power and privilege (MEN) to act courageously – on a systemic AND a day-to-day basis – to create an environment where women feel safe in every space. This ear th was intended for us all to walk upon with safe passage.

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

Call back. Keep calling back. Fight back, short-term and long-term. Carry rocks and knives.

– RLM

Location: Paris, France

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 walking down 5th Avenue on my lunch break when I was approached by two large men trying to sell demo CDs. One tried to hand the CD to me and I said, ‘No thank you’ and continued walking. Both followed me and yelled at me and called me a stupid slut when I didn’t respond. This is on ultra-busy 5th Avenue in Midtown Manhattan on a weekday during lunch an no one said anything to these men. It took me 20 minutes to stop shaking.

– LH

Location: 5th Avenue between 37th and 38th Street, 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.

You probably have already forgotten what happened when I was happily walking to prom last night. You and your friends got back home together, maybe had a drink or two and then slept from midnight until ten this morning. You certainly told your girlfriend you had a great time with your friends and then spent the day with her. You may not even remember my face, my voice or my tears.

The thing is that I can’t forget. I remember every word you said and every physical contact you tried to have with me. I remember some of your friends laughing. I remember my legs shaking and the tears running on my cheeks. I remember my voice trying to tell you to go away.

You told me I was a whore and then that I probably never had sex and blamed me for that. My vagina is mine, not yours. Don’t try to make me ashamed of it. You told me I was a bum because I wouldn’t let you “seduce” me. If you call harassment “seduction”, then you are totally wrong. You told me I was worthless because I didn’t want you to take me home. You told me you hoped I would die because I didn’t want to suck your dick. You told me so much things that I won’t ever forget.

I had four panic attacks since you harassed me at 8:45 pm. I tried to enjoy prom but I couldn’t because I was terrified. Terrified you would come back. Terrified because it was the first time a guy would be so violent with me in the street, even if it had already happened before. Terrified because I’m only 17 and I know it certainly won’t be the last time. I have been trying to sleep but the words you threw me turn in a loop in my head.

I know I am not the first you harassed.

I know I am not the last.

You may have thought you would drag me so down I wouldn’t say anything and would never try to defend myself in such situations. You were wrong.

Your violence gave me so much strength and anger to fight over and over.

– L

Location: Grenoble, France

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 walking my aunt’s dog when a teenager yelled out the window of his van,” Lick my ****.”I was too shocked to say anything and it put me in a horrible mood. He came out of his van to apologize, saying that he meant to say it to the girl across the street. Just because it wasn’t particularly aimed at me, doesn’t make it right to say. I know that and I’m only 12, so why don’t guys understand?

– 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.