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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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

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My friend and I decided to go shopping in the city one day and everything was going well until a man, in his late 40s/50s, came up behind me, touched my butt and told me he liked my pants. We rushed into a store and I had to hold back my tears. I felt dirty and upset and spent the rest of the day with my jacket tied around my waist to try to avoid any further harassment. I felt as though it was my fault, that I shouldn’t have worn my high-waisted pants, that they were too ‘slutty’. I still feel uncomfortable about the situation. I am 15-years-old and these occurrences happen almost every time I go into the city.

– Anonymous

Location: City

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Just a few minutes ago, I was outside of a coffee shop during the day with cousin and we were about to part ways when a man asked us for change, we both politely said we didn’t have any, which was true. As I walked through the coffee shop I felt like someone was following me and it was the same man, out of the corner of my eye I saw him close behind me. I got into my car quickly and he came right up to my window, asking me for the time, I shouted it quickly through the closed window as I was backing out. He kept following the side of my car trying to block it as I was trying to back out. Really creepy and inappropriate.

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

Don’t be afraid to be “rude” since any sane, safe and aware male is not going to put a female in a position where she’s going to feel threatened or scared. If they are, there’s no need to be polite or worry about potentially offending them.

– Anonymous

Location: Pasadena, CA

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I was a 19 year old girl from a small town in the big city going to college.  I was already scared to death.  My apartment was 6 blocks from school and we walked every day.  Many times men shouted lewd things from cars or from construction jobs nearby.  It was a business college and we were required to wear dresses every day.

I always tried to walk to school as part of a group but one day during finals I was alone.  A car with several men in it drove by me slowly and shouted something about my “fine ass.'”  The went around the block and came by again slower, and shouted again, I was so scared, after they went by I ran the last couple of blocks in high heels.  I was 18 at the time, I’m 52 now and I can still remember this plain as day.

We do not or did NOT want the unwanted attention, it’s degrading, and inhumane!!  I felt like a piece of meat.

– Lynn

Location: Downtown St. Louis, MO

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