Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

“I now wear a jacket to cover myself no matter how hot it gets”

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I have depression, serve loneliness and social anxiety. I don’t look like something’s wrong with me that is why they think it’s easy to talk to me. I get guys slowing down there cars next to me and getting honked and harassed about how “pretty” I am. I don’t dress provoking. The only thing I don’t cover is my arms. It’s 99 degrees outside and I now wear a jacket to cover myself no matter how hot it gets. I’m 18.

– Anonymous

Location: Irving, Texas

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

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Egyptians address street harassment over Eid

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For Muslims, the Eid-al-Fitr holiday ending the holy month of Ramadan should be a joyous one, but in Egypt, there always seems to be a spike in street harassment.

For two years, the group Shoft Taharosh (I Saw Harassment) has taken it upon themselves to monitor high trafficked areas to look out for harassment so they can prevent it or intervene. They said they intervened in 35 incidents during the three days of Eid, Monday to Wednesday, meaning they either prevented an incident or rescued a victim. They also distributed 4,000 leaflets about the legal penalties against street sexual offeses and numbers of hotlines.

The Egyptian government has been addressing this problem too.

The Interior Ministry, in charge of security in Egypt, set up an anti-harassment unit — “Department of Combat of Violence against Women”. The unit was deployed on busy streets and outside theaters during the three-day Eid. “These forces, supported by female police, will eliminate the phenomenon of harassment and violence against women,” Interior Minister Mohammad Ibrahim said. On Monday alone, they arrested six young men.

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“I just awkwardly stood there with a straight face”

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I’m 18 years old and a senior in high school. I was waiting at the bus stop, and a car drove by me and a guy made kissy noises with his mouth from the passenger seat. i ignored him, but i looked to my left and he was making a U-turn just to drive by me and do it again. I’m very awkward so i just awkwardly stood there with a straight face.

I get honked at everyday, and i do not dress provoking. i wear very pale looking clothes.i don’t know if it’s my long hair or my curves. its not fair that i have to deal with this everywhere i go. i wanna feel and look pretty for myself but i feel that it’s a crime to do so.

– Anonymous

Location: Bus stop

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

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“They knew I was in trouble”

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As I was walking to my job training I noticed a tall man was following behind me. Realizing that I’m a slow walker I moved to give him enough space to pass me and yet he continued to follow. I thought if I slowed down he would just pass yet he slowed down as well. Finally I stopped and so did he…right on my heels. As I said excuse me to pass him he started to verbally assault me calling me stupid and making references towards my body. Feeling scared I crossed the street and he creepily followed. As I was about to begin to run I saw an older couple and decided to ask for help. By the look on my face they knew I was in trouble. They waited with me as the man finally kept walking and they even escorted me to my training.

Lesson learned? YES. I will be buying mace and an ice pick…just in case.

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

Awareness in important in ending street harassment but if you’re in this situation or a similar one find people!! Find anyone who can stand with you even if it’s only for a couple of minutes. This was the only thing that seemed to make him stop following me, also carry mace and be ready to use it and make a dash to a public area. Most importantly try not to engage.

– PL

Location: Chicago, IL

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

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