I was walking around at night by myself. As I walked past this one house, two guys came out onto the porch. I’m sure they were drunk. They were also in their forties. I’m 23. I didn’t even acknowledge them, but one said, “Hello” and the other, “How YOU doin?!” in a really creepy sexy voice.

I never stopped walking, but I turned slightly and said, “F**k off.” Maybe not the best response, but I’m simply sick of guys using my being outside as an excuse to him on me. Especially since they’re twice my age. That’s super creepy and disgusting.

The one started screaming at me, “What the f**k did you just say to me?! Come back here!” I told him no and kept walking. He got off his porch and started coming after me. I yelled at him that I had mace and I’d mace him if he didn’t leave me alone, but he keeping coming after me. So I just walked away as fast as I could. He kept telling me to come back. He followed me for a block or two. Then we came up to an intersection where there were a few people across the street. At that point, I called back, “Just leave me the f**k alone!” And he finally said ok and backed off.

But I’m afraid the only reason he did was because those other people. I was scared out of my mind. I had no idea what would happen, what he would do if he got close to me. But I just knew I couldn’t let him get that close. I was disgusted that he had the audacity to try to flirt with me when I was just trying to walk. But once he started coming after me, I was terrified the whole time. I was terrified that he was going to beat the shit out of me, or worse rape me…

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

I’m not sure. I think one of the main problems is that women aren’t respected and are simply viewed as property. If we could change that view, I think the streets would be a lot safer.

– Irena

Location: Out on the street, Latrobe PA USA

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.

Today as I was walking to meet my boyfriend, a car drove past me with two young men in and beeped at me. The car then did a U-turn and drove back down the road so that they could drive back up it again. They then drove onto the pavement, blocked my way and said, “Oi, come on, get in the car”. I backed away and began to ring my boyfriend. They then reversed and sped off.

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

Introduce a scheme “safety zones” which is a place that people can run to if they are being harassed (like a nearby corner shop) and can be comforted and be safe. There could also be things in the streets which you could run to if you’re being harassed and call the police and then this could spot the areas where street harassment is more common so more could be done about it.

– PB

Location: Leicester, UK

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 am a 51 year old woman and last week a young (I’d say early twenties) man started talking to me at a crowded transit stop in broad daylight during the afternoon rush hour. I am actually getting used to the invisibility of middle-aged womanhood so I was surprised that this happened to me – it has been a while. He had been talking to some other women when I walked up but the women were speaking Spanish so I suspect that they did not reply to him.

After engaging in an innocuous conversation about when the next bus was expected and the weather (it was very hot) he asked me if hot humid weather makes me horny and shared that it made him horny all day. I didn’t have a clue how to respond but wanted to end any conversation and looked in the opposite direction, but he kept talking (to the back of my head) about sweaty sex. Ugh.

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

I think men need to know that women find it aggressive and threatening and not at all complimentary or attractive. My husband would never do something like this, so he assumes that most other men don’t/won’t. I have also made sure that my teenage son understands a woman’s perspective on this – I wish more wives/girlfriends/mothers would share their thoughts with the men they live with.

– CD

Location: Downtown Toronto (Chinatown)

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.

It was midday of a summer day. I was standing with tens of other university students. We were all crowding around the board which held our final exam results. It was supposed to be a happy day for me, I got straight A’s and topped my class. Instead someone groped me seconds after I saw my results.

Happiness was replaced with confusion then fear, shame and guilt. I just pushed my way out of the crowd. I didn’t scream or even look back to see the guy’s face. I remember he laughed when I pushed him away and I am sure he went on to grope other girls in the same crowd.

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

Raise awareness. Make more people understand that harassment is not a compliment, how scary it can feel and that they should stop blaming the victims or saying things like, “She shouldn’t dress like that” , “She shouldn’t go there alone”.. etc. Because even if harassers don’t stop, at least the victims would not be too afraid to speak up and get support, specially young teenage victims.

– Anonymous

Location: University of Khartoum central campus, Khartoum, Sudan

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.