Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

“Set an example that we are not toys”

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I’ve always worked in male-dominated industries (20 years), whether it’s when I was working with boats or now, as a partner in a contracting company. Almost every day, whether it’s walking through a hardware store or walking through the parking lot to get there or maybe just walking in the boatyard, someone feels the need to make a comment or do that weird stop twisting stare at your butt as you walk by thing, most the time, it’s both.

I dress for comfort based on my job and I shouldn’t have to wear clothes that make me sweat or feel too uncomfortable to work in… I am now 35 with two daughters and I still get unwanted cat calls on a regular basis. It makes me feel unsafe and disrespected. It saddens me as my children get older that I’m noticing people starting to look at them in the wrong way as they walk past.

I’ve noticed a drastic difference if I am walking with my husband – there are little to no comments but as soon as I turn a corner alone it’s like I’m a target. I don’t know what these people are trying to accomplish. I can’t imagine anyone would ever decide to go and introduce their self or maybe even go to lunch after being treated in that way.

I am pretty thick skinned, but today I had two different situations that upset me. One involved three gentleman, and I thought, “What should I do instead of pretending I can’t hear them? What if I were to tell them that it’s not OK?”

And then I realize as much as I want to, if these people don’t have enough sense of boundaries to keep their mouth closed, then they may not have enough boundaries to not hurt me. It’s sad that women feel so uncomfortable so many times a day. It would be nice to be able to walk somewhere alone and not have to worry about who is watching me.

Sometimes going through construction sites or when I worked at the boat manufacturing facility, I felt like I was walking through a prison and I was a sheep amongst hundreds of wolves. I hope for change in the future for myself, my daughters and all women. People need to teach their sons what is and what is not OK and set an example that we are not toys – we are people.

I saw that New York they have no cat calling signs I don’t know how effective they are but maybe a little food for thought would help?

~ KM

Location:

Summerville, South Carolina — Lowe’s parking lot, stores everywhere

Need support? Call the toll-free National Street Harassment hotline: 855-897-5910

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See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for ideas.

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“People don’t want to be treated as objects”

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One day I was coming home from my boyfriend’s house on the bus.

I had my earbuds in so I couldn’t really hear too much, but I started to hear what sounded like a voice.

I took an earbud out and the guy behind me was talking to me, telling me that, “I was a beautiful little girl and he would just love to bring me home”.

I got creeped out so I put my earbuds back in and he started talking louder and I heard him say, “good sexy girls don’t ignore their masters”.

So I moved to the front of the bus to go sit by a mom and children which is what I’ve always been told to do, and he followed me, then he tried to touch my butt.

I went and told the bus driver, and the creepy man yelled mean things at me as he was kicked off the bus.

It’s sad how if I had still been with my boyfriend none of this would have happened, and that we live in a world were this almost doesn’t even matter cause it happens so much.

I think ending catcalling starts with teaching younger children that it’s not okay. This should start by teaching them we are all equal and people don’t want to be treated as objects.

~ IB

Location:

In Oregon on the 4 bus line

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.

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“I feel uncomfortable around grown men”

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I’m 12 years old, and I’ve been catcalled numerous times, but this one is the first time it happened to me; I was in Taksim, a popular place for tourists in Turkey with my older cousin. A man was walking behind us, but it was daytime, crowded and everyone was walking at the same direction. So, I didn’t think much of it. I didn’t even notice him.

Then, I saw an interesting event so I turned around to record it. As I grabbed my phone, the guy (presumably in his 20s) whistled and winked at me. I’ve never been catcalled before, so I felt really scared, vulnerable, and small. Really, really small. I’m a strong, athletic girl, even compared to some adults I know, but when I was going through that, I felt so vulnerable. I’m only 12! What if he pulled out a knife? What if he drugged me? He continued to follow us for 10 minutes straight.

I didn’t show that I was scared, but it really struck me. I knew he couldn’t do anything, there were too many people around, but I couldn’t help but feel threatened. I was paranoid he was going to drug me since he was walking behind me. Since he followed me inside a few shops, I knew this wasn’t just an ordinary catcall. This guy was up to something, so I spoke out, “Can you leave me alone?” I said (in Turkish).

He laughed, blew me a kiss and left. I was so anxious the rest of the day. I didn’t make eye contact with anyone. Even though it wasn’t physical, it still affects me to this day. I’m still getting honked, barked at by guys in cars passing by at night. I really feel small and vulnerable, I might be strong compared to my peers, maybe I might be able to run away or defend myself, but it still gets me shaking whenever it happens.

Everything about rape, violence, kidnapping that I’ve seen or read just comes to my mind. What if I become the victim? What will they do to me? I can’t walk comfortably at night (or day) anymore and fyi, my clothing wasn’t even revealing. Maybe it showed my curves a little, but that still leaves them no right to commit these predatory actions.

I feel a little better when I see women fighting back against street harassment, it really helps me. But still, I feel uncomfortable around grown men.

– Anonymous

Location: Taksim, Turkey

Need support? Call the toll-free National Street Harassment hotline: 855-897-5910

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See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for ideas.

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“It is so pervasive and intimidating and insidious”

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I was honked at today, just like I was honked at last week and last month and on and on.

I was walking my dog, alone, in the early evening like I do absolutely every evening. I was wearing hiking shorts, sneakers and a flannel; obviously, dressed to impress. A dark grey Mercedes sedan drove up behind me and honked loudly as they passed. And like always, I was startled and scared. I clearly jumped because my otherwise calm dog barked, and as I turned to see what the commotion was about, the car’s passenger waived blithely at me as they sped away. Oh, and he had a pink rubber wrist band on the hand he was waving at me. So he … what? was supporting breast cancer awareness while simultaneously harassing random women on the street?

And honking seems like such a little thing – but it is also so pervasive and intimidating and insidious. Insidious because on a case by case basis, it’s no big deal. You walk it off, brush it off, shrug it off. But it happens ALL THE TIME. And for what? Have these d-bags ever once actually picked up a woman (who is obviously just going about her day) by honking at her or (the other fan fave) yelling at her from the open window. Doubtful. But it scares me every time. Every time.

– MC

Location: W Gray Street, Houston, Texas

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.

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“I was first catcalled when I was in 3rd grade”

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I am currently 13– Catcalling doesn’t happen much since I don’t walk places very much and I only go to school and back by a school bus.

I was first catcalled when I was in 3rd grade. I didn’t know what catcalling was so I thought it was just some idiot calling out to me from the safety of their car.

I continuously get called out to when I do walk uptown where I live.

I would be taking a walk just to get out of the house and I would be minding my own business when some older men think its ok to say “I’d love to beat that ass” and other inappropriate and unpleasant comments.

I know I don’t look but that definitely doesn’t mean when I’m walking down the street that  I’m giving you the right to say what you’d wish to do to a 13 year old girl and make her boyfriend punch holes in his wall because you can’t control your own mouth. Be a man, grow up.

I would say making it illegal to catcall, if it’s not a law already. If it is a law, we need to have stricter punishments.

— Bonnie “Dashe” C.

Location:

Greenwood, South Carolina, United States, Main Street

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.

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