Every time I walk by a group of men selling tickets for tours to the Statue of Liberty down in Battery Park, I brace myself for the impending harassment. Without fail, one or a few of the men in the group try to get my attention, holler at me, say lewd things as I walk past, and once, one even grabbed my waist when we were in a crowd of people and I didn’t have an escape route. I try to not let it get to me, but it’s infuriating. The worst part is that it’s not an isolated incident, and I have no idea if it’s ever the same men saying those things because I try to avoid looking at them. I feel so angry. Angry that it affects me and even more angry that it’s a societal issue that I have to accept and just “let go.”

– TC

Location: 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 am a freshman in college at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and on a Friday, I had to go to the library to print out papers. On my way there, this older man around 40 came up to me and he introduced himself. I thought he just needed directions to somewhere on campus, but no. When I shook his hand, it took him awhile to let go, which made warning signs go off in my head. Then he started walking with me telling me I have a nice walk. I didn’t want to be mean and say f**k off, even thought that’s what I wanted to say. But then he asked if I had a boyfriend and that’s when I told him that he was way too old for me and that he was being creepy.

Then as I was waking away, he said, “You can call me daddy.”

And that made me mad and uncomfortable at the same time, so I just kept walking away. It just makes me feel upset that some men look at women as sex objects. At the end, I felt disrespected and humiliated.

– Anonymous

Location: University of Nevada, Las Vegas

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 a subway in New York City when I was 15 years old in the summer holidays in the middle of the day with my sister my mum, my dad and our friend. We got to a stop and an old man probably about 65 looked me up and down and said, “Very pretty! Ooh if only I was 45 years younger!”

And then continued to look at me for the rest of the journey. I felt so uncomfortable I had to get off the train and wait for the next one.

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

We need to educate young children so that they don’t grow up to be so ignorant towards people’s feelings and how their actions can make someone afraid.

– LH

Location: 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.

In Tijuana there are a lot of street vendors at traffic light stops. A lot of them are very talented and fun. I live in Playas de Tijuana and here there is a Haitian man in particular who is not talented, not fun and not nice at all. He barks at me every time I have to pass by him on the street as a pedestrian. He constantly is making lewd comments and undressing me with his eyes as I eagerly wait for the light to turn green so I cross and get away from him trying to sell whatever disgusting processed stale food he has to cars at the light. It’s really bad with him in particular. Most of the street vendors outside of hassling you for money are pretty decent people. However, this man in particular at the traffic light in the first main intersecting by Taconazdo in Playas de Tijuana is using his street vendor role as a cover to harass women everyday.
Be aware of him. He is very crude and cruel.

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

I have been ignoring it like millions of other women. At times when it gets really bad I yell back and demand respect. This still doesn’t change anything but sometimes I’m sick of predators having their way with women in public.

– Anonymous

Location: Tijuana

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 9th Jan 2019. I was heading towards my college. I usually avail public transport and it was 15 minutes walk from bus stop to my college. I was walking on a foot path the road was deserted than suddenly a car stop near by me. The windows of car went down there was a guy who seemed decent and educated to me. He asked me, “Drop hona hai?”

I replied, “No Thank you.”

And than he asked me, “Do you know the address of this place?” He points towards the road.

I replied, “Which place?”

He replied in a very low tone, “This place.”

I wanted to him to be clear, so I came near the window of his car and than he showed me his penis and said, “This.”

When I looked I lost my senses. I ran away because I got so sacred and a lot of thoughts came into my mind. What if he pulled me into his car? What if would rape me? The road was empty at that time.

I seriously thought he must be honest and genuinely asking me about an address. That incident shatters me. It breaks my confidence level.

– Anonymous

Location: 7th Avenue, Islamabad, Pakistan

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.