I was walking home from work and I was approaching two guys who were walking in the opposite direction but on the same side of the street as I was. One of the guys said, “Hey girl, you look sexy”. I faced toward him and yelled, “Mind your own business!”

I know he got the point.

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

Educate boys and men about the right and wrong ways of interacting with women in public.

– Anonymous

Location: City

Share your street harassment story for the blog.
See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for more idea.

I’ve faced harassment at my gym, a running trail near my house, a Starbucks across from my house, as well as other public places. Men repeatedly make sexual comments. I also get sexual comments like, “I would like to ****” or “You’re easy” at my public gym. When I go to certain public places, men will gawk at me for an extended period and some men go as far as to stalk me at the grocery store.

I was sexually groped at a temporary assignment job and I never went back. Also at a part time job I had accepted, an old man kept stalking me on the first day on my job, repeatedly asking me out and calling me cute. I never went back again. Although I reported it to the manager he did not seem to take me seriously. He said he would call the union but he looked at me like I was his next meal.

I am so intimidated by men that I tend to plan where I will go, what I will wear, when I will l go there and have refused job offers based on my fears.

– NR

Location: Gym, jobs, grocery, Starbucks, public places

Share your street harassment story for the blog.
See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for more idea.

I performed as the only woman at an open mic, which is its own bad story. One comedian was so blatantly misogynist, but thought he was funny and meta, that I had to go outside to save myself from that toxic environment of drunk guys cheering him on and women looking away politely.

Outside the club, I got street harassed by two guys, throwing at me dirty looks, kisses and commenting my appearance. Even though I was alone, I talked back at them, “Stop harassing me, stop making women feel uncomfortable, don’t comment on my looks, leave me alone.”

I could see in their eyes that they didn’t expected my answers.

One then insulted me, “Bitchy, psycho, can’t take a compliment” and got so close I was afraid he was going to hurt me. He also said I was a racist (he said, he’s from another country). Three men passed by and LAUGHED at the situation of him threatening me. I felt like I was the only person on earth. I felt so hurt and alone.

I went back inside the club, because it’s dark in there, to go into the restroom and cry. Yes, a comic, who just made an entire room laugh, cries on the toilet.

I went back outside with swollen eyes because I wanted to just leave, but people held me up telling me how great my set was. I excuse my swollen eyes “because of allergies”. No one knew. Who could I have told this?

I cycled back home and got aggressively catcalled once more, alone in the dark street by a group of three men. I just wanted to be home and wash myself and, at that moment, die. My boyfriend texted me, “Are you sure it was this bad or bit of hormones as well”

Now, after getting this off my chest here, I’m writing my next comedy set to make people laugh again.

– Anonymous

Location: Outside a comedy show

Share your street harassment story for the blog.
See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for more idea.

I ordered pizza just last night so I wouldn’t have to go out late at night to get food. Obviously to dodge the trouble of sexual harassment and people following me to my apartment. So I ordered my food and a delivery man called me saying he’s outside. I go outside, pick up the food, and sign the receipt. As I give the man the receipt he looks at my legs and mumbles, “I could have cooked THAT for you”. I ask him to repeat that and he began to mumble the same quote again. Disgusted, I sped back inside and walked up to my apartment as I called the restaurant about their delivery person.

The woman on the phone never heard of cat-calling and it was hard for me to explain to her at the moment. I really did not think that woman took me seriously.

The fact that I researched for a delivery restaurant, ordered, and paid for delivery in order to avoid sexual harassment makes me really bothered that an employee on the job would give me such a disturbing and creepy comment like that and make me not want to order from that place again. To me, it seems there is no way of avoiding sexual harassment, but it’s always a challenge for me to get out of the house because of it. All because of the fear of being followed or attacked by someone who doesn’t like being rejected or ignored.

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

By influencing local businesses to be aware of cat-calling and take action in regards to the matter.

– Pepper

Location: Savannah, GA

Share your street harassment story for the blog.
See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for more idea.