I was 14 and walking down the street to the local store, and a guy drove by slowing and whistled at me. I brazenly yelled, “Shut the fuck up!” to which he frighteningly yelled back, “Who do you think you are??! Fucking bitch! You aren’t even all that!” and threatened to get out of his car. Luckily he drove off, but it was a close call that could have ended very violently.

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

Educate men all throughout school that it’s NOT OK, and have all men  go through mandatory sexual harassment situations.

– RS

Location: San Pedro, CA

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

 

Once again walking to my train along a main road. It’s summer.. so why am I wearing a suit jacket, knee-length skirt plus a scarf? Here’s why.

Along come two white vans. First one – no problems. Second one has three men in it who decide to start honking the horn, windows down, screaming at me over my headphones (which I use as a blocker).

Perhaps they wanted my autograph. Unfortunately all they got was me flipping the bird.

God I am SICK of this.

– SJJ

Location: Treforest, Wales, UK

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

Recently, a man drove past me as I was getting in my car. My car has had a ding in the front fender for several years. He called me Sweetie. He shouted for me to let him fix my car, explained that he didn’t have a business car, but that he worked at a body shop, but didn’t want to say which one, and that he was trying to save me a lot of money by banging out the ding on the street right that moment, if I would only let him, and that he would charge me a certain amount of money, but if that was too much, how much was I willing to offer. He was relentless.

He pulled up next to me, with a passive, much younger female in the passenger seat, who never looked at me. I said NO from the start, clearly and distinctly. I said: No, thank you, I’m not interested, I’ve had this ding for years and it doesn’t bother me, I don’t understand the process of what you want to do to my car, and I don’t know you, or where you work, or who you are.

Finally, after growing more and more irate, he drove away super aggressively, furious in his face, body language, driving. I felt assaulted. He started off calling me Sweetie, and yelling/patronizing/berating me that I should let him do something for me, or else I was in the wrong. It felt exactly like dates I’ve had where I was treated with rage for saying NO. A few days later, I was unloading my massage table (I’m a licensed massage therapist) from my car, and a very young man, perhaps half my age (I am 46), asked if I would like some help. I’ve unloaded my table thousands of times after fourteen years in practice. I am twice this kids age. Still, he got angry, too, and turned on his heel, and angrily said, “I was only trying to help you!”

Two times where men/boys were trying to help me and furious at me for not allowing them. The age difference added insult to injury for me. I’d actually prefer to be called ma’am then this crap. I used to be street harassed constantly in the summer, due to having a curvy figure, and am thrilled with growing more invisible with getting older. I’m too old for this shit.

– Anonymous

Location: Seattle, WA

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

I was taking the MARTA from my university (other alumni and current students would recognize which one right away) back to my car to drive home, and it was winter. It got dark a little faster, and sometimes male classmates would offer to walk some of us women to the station to avoid harassment. But I got on the train, and sat down and started flipping through some worksheets I had been given for homework. All of a sudden I hear, “Hey girl what’s your name?” and I said, “Sorry, I am busy” because I knew he wanted more than just a pleasant conversation from his gaze.

“I said what’s your name.” No question mark there. I didn’t reply. “Where you from?” “What’s your phone number?” I finally snapped my head up and looked him straight in the eyes and said, “I’m sorry, I said I am busy” in a stern voice.

I was then SCREAMED at, “FUCK YOU FUCK YOU STUPID BITCH” for the next 3 stops until he got off the train. The train was full. Everyone was staring and no one interfered. I wanted to cry, but I was too scared to react. I will never, ever forget that evening.

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

Post anti-harassment posters in public transportation. I think they might shame some people, maybe encourage others to interfere, but probably not others. Teach men how to approach a woman like an adult and that women are people with feelings too, not objects to scream “fuck you” at when encountering rejection.

– EB

Location: City Train Line

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

I was walking back from Subway after lunch and entered a specifically beautiful area of my neighborhood, so I decided to sit under a tree near a bunch of homes. After a while I noticed a guy walking down back and forth down neighboring streets.

When he spotted me across the street he said “Hey, sweetheart.” I told him, “I’m not your sweetheart,” but I don’t think I was loud enough.

Then he asked, “You got a minute.?”

I firmly shouted. “No!” Then he sucked his teeth and turned down some street. He looked maybe 10 years older than me and honestly looked like he was just outside because he had nothing else to do . There was nobody else around.

– B

Location: West oak lane, Philadelphia, PA

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