Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

“Educate men that street harassment really has no point”

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I was walking home in broad daylight, on the sidewalk, through my very residential neighborhood, and I sensed a car slowing behind me. I kept walking. The man in the car slowed to talk to me and I thought that he might be asking me for directions. I couldn’t understand what he said initially, so I said, “Where are you trying to get to?” And he laughed and said, “No, I asked where you’re going” with a gross look on his face. I responded, “To my house. Alone.”

I started walking and he paused before driving, and I got out my phone with every intention of calling 911 if necessary.

This made me feel gross, like I must have done something to invite his attention, and a little concerned for my safety, as I was actually near my house and I was worried that he would see which driveway I turned into. I immediately texted my husband to tell him how awful I felt.

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

Educate men that street harassment really has no point–it’s offensive, it makes women feel like trash, it leads to safety issues, and (if they only care about themselves) it will not lead to a productive conversation or “hook up” with a woman.

– KL

Location: Indianapolis, IN

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

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International Museum of Women’s Exhibit “Imagining Equality”

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The International Museum of Women has a new online exhibit, Imagining Equality.

“Violence against women is one of the biggest barriers to gender inequality. But violence is not something men are born to commit, or women are born to be subject to. Violence is a social norm that too many cultures still tolerate or even cultivate. In this just-launched section of Imagining Equality about Violence, we hear from women survivors (and their male allies) around the world who reject victimhood, and instead are bravely confronting and advocating against violence – whether it be in their homes, their communities, or their nations.”

There is a section on #streetharassment.

“What would you say if you had an honest conversation with a street harrasser? Rebecca Audra Smith’s spoken word poem captures everything she’d say to the men who harrass women on the street, from sharing the collective struggle for women’s equality to reminding him of her individual humanity.”

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Will Kansas City Pass An Anti-Harassment Ordinance?

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Woo, great press this week for our Safe Public Spaces Mentees BikeWalkKC in Kansas City, Missouri, USA.

Via Kansas City Star:

“‘We’re encouraging people to walk and bike more,’ Kansas City Councilman John Sharp said, ‘and they certainly ought to be allowed to do that without harassment.’

Broad anti-harassment ordinances are already on the books in Kansas and Missouri.

But before the end of the month, Sharp, chairman of the council’s public safety and emergency services committee, hopes to pass an ordinance that would outlaw threatening and dangerous behavior to protect “vulnerable road users.” That includes everyone from bikers, walkers and cyclists to people in wheelchairs or waiting at bus stops.

The ordinance is based on similar ones passed in Columbia, St. Louis, Independence and Greenwood, Mo., in the last five years. Sharp and advocacy group BikeWalkKC hope to have Kansas City’s ordinance on the books by Oct. 8.

That’s International Walk to School Day. Fifty years ago, half of American school kids biked or walked to school. Now it’s less than 15 percent at a time when many children are overweight and need more exercise.

But attempts to reverse that trend aren’t going to work, Sharp said, unless parents believe the streets are safe. Nor will anyone other than the bravest cyclists use the new bike lanes the city is striping across town if they’re fearful of being run off the road by aggressive motorists.”

Via KC TV 5:

“The Kansas City Council is considering an ordinance to crack down on harassment and threats for those taking a stroll or riding a bicycle.

The ordinance amendment is sponsored by Councilman John Sharp. He said he hopes to protect anyone from being made to feel uncomfortable…

The council’s public safety committee will discuss the issue on Sept. 25. If it passes out of committee, the full council could take it up as soon as Sept. 26.

The following is the proposed ordinance:

 Sec. 50-205. Harassment of a Bicyclist, Pedestrian or Wheelchair Operator

(a) The following words, terms and phrases, when used in this section, shall have the meanings ascribed to them below, except where the context clearly indicates a different meaning:

Bicycle means any device upon which a person may ride, which is propelled by human power through a system of belts, chains, or gears, and may include an electric assist motor, and has wheels at least 16 inches in diameter and a frame size of at least 13 inches.

Wheelchair means any manual or motorized device designed specifically for use by a physically disabled person for means of conveyance.

(b) No person shall, for the purpose of frightening or injuring any person riding a bicycle, walking, running, or operating a wheelchair:

(1) Throw an object, direct a projectile, or operate a vehicle at or in such person’s direction; or

(2) Threaten such person; or

(3) Sound a horn, shout or otherwise direct loud or unusual sounds toward such person; or

(4) Place such person in apprehension of immediate physical danger; or

(5) Engage in conduct that creates a risk of death or serious physical injury to such person.

(c) Any person convicted of a violation of this chapter shall be punished for that violation by a fine of not less than $50, but not more than $500 or by imprisonment of not more than 180 days or by both such fine and imprisonment.”

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“That’s too bad, you sure you only play with girls?”

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I was walking to meet my partner one afternoon, and a man was walking behind me for a few minutes.  It seemed like he was trying to catch up to me and finally did, and asked me “Where are you going?”

I said I was going to meet up with my girlfriend, and he replied “a girlfriend girlfriend?? “I said “Yes” and he said, “That’s too bad, you sure you only play with girls?” I replied “yep” and started walking faster, to which he replied “Good-looking girl like you, you’ve got a nice ass”.

I was in complete shock and all I could muster out was “thanks”.  I couldn’t believe that happened.  After we both changed directions I was in shock and awe still that this complete stranger said this to me.

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

Raise our children, teach them that it is not acceptable behavior to cat-call or harass people.  The media plays a HUGE role in how men perceive women want to be treated.

– Emerald

Location: Street

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

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“Roll with me to the beach”

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One night I sat in downtown, Honolulu (Hawaii), waiting for my ride. Class had just finished at about 9 P.M., a stranger walks up to me and sits beside me, asks what I’m doing, then stares for awhile after I answer him. It got a bit awkward so I asked him a few questions, attempting small talk, he took awhile to answer my questions, often times asked me to repeat it then answer. As he sat on my right side, I asked his name and where he was from. What he was doing in town at night, holding a fire knife.

He hadn’t answered me, he continued to stare at me, and started jerking his head in a certain direction. I asked if he was okay and he replied, “Roll with me to the beach”. I said politely said, “No thanks, I’m waiting for my ride”. He then asked to move to the other side of me, I told him it was fine, not thinking anything of it.

I tried to talk to him some more but he wasn’t replying much at all. He then asked me once again, what I was doing and proclaimed for me to walk with him to the beach. So I asked, “What for? I told you I’m waiting for my ride”. He then replied, “So we can have sex on the beach and have a good time talking about it on the way”. I was shocked that he’d come directly with such a statement.

I then told him, “No! I don’t know what kind of girl you take me for but you’re mistaken”! I awkwardly stared away from him, then looking down at my bag in silence and noticed he had pulled down his zipper and was holding his appendage in his hand. I looked up and away to my right side fast, and what he was doing and for him to out it away. He told me to look down at it and I refused. I was very scared, not knowing what would happen next if I tried to run away, being that there was no one around. I ignored him for the next few minutes while he asked questions and then my ride pulled up. I haven’t spoken about it to anyone ’til now.

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

Making anywhere a safer place seems almost impossible because no matter the time or place, there are still sick people rooming around and in some circumstances, people aren’t walking around at night or certain times of the day.

– Anonymous

Location: Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.

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

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