Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

“I guess they respect the man who is with you”

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Between my best friend’s house and mine there is a building under construction. Whenever a girl passes by, the workers shout and catcall her. That happened to me a few times and it happened to a lot of other women. We live pretty close so I normally walk there daily, and it’s also my way to class. One day I realized the men recognized me as they knew I passed by everyday generally the same time and I started getting scared. Since then, I’ve asked my best friend to pick me up when I visit him and to go to class. I was never catcalled again. My best friend is a guy. I guess they respect the man who is with you.

– Anonymous

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

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“Not Your Baby” Tattoo

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Editor’s Note: My friend Lucé Tomlin-Brenner (watch her stand-up set about street harassment) posted this on her Facebook page this week and gave me permission to share it here.

LuceTattoo-March2016

I just got a beautiful new piece designed by Olivia Britz-Wheat at Blacklist Tattoo in Portland, Oregon, [based on Lucé’s concept] that means a great deal to me. Not only is it an homage to my dear friends War on Women and their anti-street harassment song “Broken Record,” but it is an act of defiance in the persistent face of rape culture.

I have been verbally, emotionally and sexually harassed by men I don’t know for more than half my life. It’s happened while walking down the street, riding on public transportation, working retail/service industry jobs, on college campuses, and while performing on stage. It’s happened in every city I’ve ever lived, visited, or worked in. It’s happened at punk shows that are supposed to be my safe places. These are not compliments, they are violations. They are threats to my mental and physical safety.

Today, March 8th, is International Women’s Day. This happens regularly to most women and girls across the world (and most members of the GLBTQ community as well). Street harassment crosses all socioeconomic and racial lines. It happens no matter what you’re wearing. This has to end. We cannot be fully free when we are scared to walk, bike, exist in public alone.

Stand up against street harassment everyday, any way you can, with any means necessary.

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“Threw his tongue inside my throat

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When I was 15, I went to a party with my friends and we were all dancing and stuff when a guy came up to talk to me. He asked me if I wanted to make out with him. I said no. He asked if I wanted to talk to him. I said no. He took me by my waist and threw his tongue inside my throat. All my girlfriends saw this and up to this day, they make fun of me for being a slut because I can’t name all of the guys whom I’ve kissed.

– Anonymous

Location: Country Club Niteroi, Niteroi, RJ, Brasil

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

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“Told him not to say that to me or anyone else”

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SMILE STENCILI was walking down the street to my car after work, and a guard at a parking garage I pass tells me to smile. I don’t remember the exact comment but it was one of those common ones, something like, “You’d look better with a smile.”

I ignored it and kept walking at first, but I stopped, turned around, and told him not to say that to me or anyone else. I also told him that it really doesn’t make someone feel good to hear that. It was a very light incident compared to many other stories, but I thought I’d share.

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

If it’s safe (and only if you feel safe), sometimes it helps to confront the person making these comments. They may not stop, but confrontation forces them to think about it.

– Anonymous

Location: Charlotte, NC

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

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“No one should be made to feel uncomfortable like that”

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I was walking in Egham on my way to Waitrose and two men where standing in the place where I was heading. As I approached them one of them said, “Oooo look at her, she’s amazing,” but in a sarcastic way and started laughing. As I finished my shopping, I walked past them again because they were on route and clearly waiting to harass me again and others. The same man said, “Isn’t she sexy pwoarr” again in a sarcastic manner.

I felt extremely uncomfortable and fairly upset over what happened and I wish I had stood up for myself in the moment. I’m not sure if it’s sexual harassment although the comments were aimed at my appearance and no one should be made to feel uncomfortable like that, ever.

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

Educate people on what harassment is, create awareness etc

– IAT

Location: Egham Surrey near Waitrose near a pub, UK

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

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