Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming
So I’m sitting at the bus stop and this guy just starts tossing off next to me………..eeeeewwww
I froze, i didnt know what to do…then all his gunk starting flicking around…before i knew it he was gone and there was some on my coat.
– Anonymous
Location: London, UK
Share your street harassment story today and help raise awareness about the problem. Include your location and it will be added to the Street Harassment Map.
In Independence, Missouri, there’s a new ordinance making it illegal for people in cars to harass pedestrians and cyclists!
Hooray! This is the type of harassment I personally experience the most and I find it’s really dis-empowering because the idiot is able to get away before I can even respond.
While this blog focuses on women harassed by men because of their gender, I know there are plenty of men who also deal with drive-by harassment. They may be targeted for being or being perceived to be gay, for having a disability, for their race, etc. So this law sounds like a win for everyone who wants to be able to walk or cycle down the street in peace!
“If you are caught in Independence yelling at or harassing someone from your vehicle, you could be fined up to $500 or sent to jail, depending on the severity of the violation.
Independence City Manager Robert Heacock would like to see stiffer penalties.
‘I think it’s something we need to look at, the severity of what’s involved in harassing, possibly injuring someone, I think, warrants some further discussion as to the proper fine level,’ Heacock said.”
I wonder if any other cities will follow suit?
o(Thanks Violet from HollaBack NYC for the tip!)
I was sitting in my car at an intersection, when a truck full of guys pulls up and noticed me and my sister next to them. One of the guys started yelling out his car at us, the whole, “Hey ladies, how you doing” scenario. We ignored him, which must have embarrassed him in front of his friends because then he yelled, “Hey I just made your day”. Not a chance.
– Anonymous
Location: Massachusetts
Share your street harassment story today and help raise awareness about the problem. Include your location and it will be added to the Street Harassment Map.
I had just gotten lunch and I was headed to Union Square Park to eat. I was waiting at the corner (at about where Broadway intersects 14th St), looking at my phone, when a thin older man rode by very slowly on a bike. As he passed me, I could feel him staring me in the face and at my chest (even though it doesn’t matter, I’ll mention the fact that I wasn’t even wearing a shirt where you could really SEE my chest!). Then he murmured, “You’re beautiful.”
I looked up at him, scowling, and he’d turned around to look back at me. He winked and made a kissy face as I gave him my most murderous glare.
He said, “It’s a compliment!”
I replied, “I don’t see it as a compliment – I see it as RUDE!”
He obviously did not like the way I responded, because he circled his bike around as if to say something more to me but thought better of it and kept going. Fortunately there were a lot of people around, otherwise I would’ve panicked when he’d turned around.
This is one of the first times I’ve worked up the nerve to say something to a street harasser, and I felt SO empowered in doing it! Unfortunately I’m going to think twice about doing it if I’m alone…
– Anonymous
Location: Broadway and 14th St, Union Square, New York City, NY
Share your street harassment story today and help raise awareness about the problem. Include your location and it will be added to the Street Harassment Map.
Story Submissions Recap:
I accept street harassment submissions from anywhere in the world. Share your story!
In the News, On the Blogs:
BBC Radio 4, Woman’s Hour did a segment about street harassmentAnnouncements:
10 Tweets from the Week:
Resource of the Week:
Check out these new button, stickers, and magnets you can use to declare your dislike of street harassment and to brand/shame street harassers!!
