Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

Man in his 40s Harasses 9- and 11-Year-Old Girls

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When I was 12 years old, I was walking down to the beach with my cousin who was 9 years old at the time. We were both wearing shorts with a bikini top on because we were going swimming. On our way down to the beach a man that looked around 45 whistled at us and kept on staring at me and my cousin.

At the time I only ever heard stories about cat calls and never had it done to me. When it happened, I got really scared my stomach felt like it dropped to my feet. Then my cousin asked why he whistled at us. I didn’t know what to say so I just said, “It was to someone else not us”.

That was a lie, but I didn’t want her to feel bad about what she was wearing and blame herself for that happening. I told her to not talk about it ever again. I never told anyone because I was embarrassed and felt like it was my fault for wearing shorts and a bikini.

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

I think one way to make public places feel safer would be that if you ever see anyone being cat called, make sure you let them know to not blame them-self. If you blame yourself you get an awful feeling inside that never goes away. Catcalling and harassment are NOT a compliment.

– MA

Location: Hastings, Oshawa, Canada, at a cottage

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

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The 7 Days of Anti-Street Harassment: A Vlog Series To Tackle The Issue

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International Anti-Street Harassment Week is once again upon us. For the past three years, I’ve done something to take action against street harassment, from sidewalk chalking, to hosting Tweet Chats, and this year, vlogging! I wanted to create a tool that would be relevant long after the week was over, that could break down the issue, while also giving a very human perspective and voice to street harassment.

I’ve been on the board of Stop Street Harassment for almost two years now and I’m constantly both inspired by the great work we’re doing as an organization, and horrified at the gap in knowledge that still exists for so many. The question of “What is street harassment?” Has started to become less prevalent in recent years as awareness increases, but there’s still a lot of work to be done.

This video series is going to focus on both of these things: the positive work of SSH and the work that still needs to be done. I wanted to be able to speak to both the common person and activists alike, including information and ideas that would be relevant to both. Together, I know we have the power to end street harassment and I hope to do my part in taking action through this video series.

You can expect to see a new video uploaded each day of International Anti-Street Harassment week to Stop Street Harassment’s YouTube channel (as well as my personal channel), so you should subscribe to see the videos pop up in your subscriptions each day. I would love to hear your perspectives, thoughts, and comments on the videos, so make sure to interact directly in the comments section of the videos, or tweet using the #EndSH hashtag and tag me @ErinMcKelle. The videos are going to cover a variety of subjects, from the findings of our 2014 national study, to easy ways to respond to street harassment, and my scariest experience of street harassment.

I’m excited to share these 7 days of International Street Harassment Week with you and hope you’ll tune in!

UPDATE: Here’s Day 1!

Erin McKelle is a SSH board member, previous blog correspondent and social media volunteer. She is a digital media consultant, writer, feminist blogger, entrepreneur, and creative evangelist. She divides her time between working as a consultant for clients ranging from startups to small non-profits, writing for popular online publications, and building her empire.

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“With or without a shirt, street harassment in San Francisco is a frightening”

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It’s legal for both men and women to be topless in San Francisco. On the rare occasion that I exercise this freedom by myself, I am met by hoards of street harassers, slut shamers, and “well-intended” warnings about how much exposed skin warrants me being raped.

In the middle of the day as I was walking home, a man followed me very closely for 5 blocks. I told him to go away, but he kept following me. I slowed down my pace. I sped up my pace. He matched it. I started recording him. Finally I decided I had no choice but to stop and scream. When I stopped in my tracks, he backed away, circled me grinning, and finally left.

With or without a shirt, street harassment in San Francisco is a frightening, day to day reality for women. But I won’t let a few slut shamers and street harassers keep my flat chest from taking in the rare San Francisco sun.

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

Encourage women to report and record harassers.

– Chelsea Ducote

Location: San Francisco, CA

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

 

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Chalking in Ohio to Raise Awareness

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Sarah Fick, a founding organizer of the People’s Justice League posted this last week on her Facebook page and gave me permission to share it on the SSH blog:

True story I wrote on the sidewalk earlier today. As I was taking this photo, two prim and proper looking college aged girls walked by.

Chalking in Athens, Ohio, by Sarah Fick.
Chalking in Athens, Ohio, by Sarah Fick.
Image by Sarah Fick
Image by Sarah Fick

One of them tossed their hair dismissively and said in a snotty tone to the other one, who was still looking at it, “That’s fake.” I’m not upset, because I have come to expect this sort of thing. I’m posting it so that folks can see how deep misogyny runs in this culture. Young women have internalized it so hard. They are taught not to believe each other, not to believe themselves even.

[On the positive side,] we also got a lot of positive comments, shared chalk with total strangers, and had a few engaged conversations about street harassment and Black Lives Matter.

People’s Justice League will be hosting sidewalk chalking in Athens, Ohio over International Anti-Street Harassment Week – April 8 at 10 a.m. and April 9 at 8 a.m. and April 16.

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