Yesterday, Monday, May 11, 2015, I was running errands in my neighborhood after a yoga class. As I was walking, I saw a boy of about 13 or 14 years old walking towards me. He was holding an ice cream cone. As he approached me, he licked his cone, and then leaned towards me and stuck his ice-cream covered tongue out at me in a lewd, sexual manner. I turned around as he passed me and told him that was disgusting. He laughed at me and said, ʺI know, that’s why I did it.ʺ

This incident made me feel humiliated, powerless and also completely enraged. I have a right to walk in my neighborhood and my city without my dignity being infringed upon and made a mockery of by others.

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

Encourage men to speak out against, and confront street harassment when they see their peers committing these violations.

– LCS

Location: Upper West Side, NYC, NY

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

 

I’m moving immediately. I’ve lived all over the world and I’ve never encountered the type of men that are in Alabama. They’re vile, evil like vermin. They follow you around stores until you leave, sometimes even with groups of their friends. Can you imagine 6 guys following you around snickering, gawking, muttering rudest things they can think of just to see your reaction and mocking your attempts to make them leave.

I’ve had people follow me into parking lots , physically scrunching to peek into my car window, I’ve waited in long lines having to endure they’re commentary about me on how my face looks, how my boobs look , how fat I am, and I’ve even dealt with people taking my picture without my permission.

So I’m done. I’m moving. I am human and there is only so much I can take. I dealt with this for 3 years and I’m done, these men truly disgust me . They’ve been degrading my self worth and my sanity for a while now. I’m clinically depressed, agoraphobic, and have terrible anxiety issues and now I’m just… done. It’s tiring frustrating, and I don’t want to do it anymore so I’m moving to somewhere that I can live my life in peace.

*********************
& yes I know it’s not every man in Alabama

– Anonymous

Location: Huntsville, AL

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

My own neighbor harassed me at the beginning of my run today. He felt entitled to yell to me how I looked, like I was in good shape. So for the next hour I hypothesized all of the different responses I wish I’d given him. My favorite being me telling him to stfu, stop objectifying me, and then when he called me a bitch for that, me telling him that if having self-respect makes me a bitch, then hell yes I am.

There was also one that involved me running with a tranquilizer gun, but I figured I’d probably end up shooting myself in the leg, so I let that one go. Made for a good laugh. F*** him though. #everytimeirun #stopstreetharassment

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

By being a stronger, more close-knit community. If we were more in touch with each other, I’d hope that we’d have more respect for one another.

– Dani

Location: Columbus, OH

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

I was leaving a screening of “Out in the Night,” which is amazing and everyone should see it. We were even lucky to have the women on a panel for a Q&A. I was so moved.

As I was leaving and waiting on the corner for my ride a car full of boys pulled up and called me ʺbeautifulʺ etc etc (everyone on SSH can imagine what they said). For context, I am a teacher at this university and they could have easily been my students. I let them know I wasn’t interested and told them to go on their way. They did, briefly, then they stopped their car and went in reverse to return and harass me. Have you ever felt the panic of a car full of men reversing towards you? It wasn’t the first time for me but that doesn’t mean it isn’t terrifying.

This time I played along by asking if they were students. They said they were so I said ʺOk great. I’m a teacher here and I’ll be sure to remember your face. I’m sure I’ll grade your paper someday.ʺ They weren’t impressed. Called me an ugly cunt, bitch, etc. Drove away.

They circled back a third time and I hid. I hid because they were escalating and I didn’t know what they were going to do. I had just been inspired by “Out in the Night.” Maybe I would have hurt them.

I kinda wish I did.

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

Defend self defense. Street harassment is a promise of physical violence (sometimes literally, sometimes implied). We need a protected right to defend ourselves physically.

– Whitney

Location: Campus

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

Walking dog on street near my house. Came in to contact with three older men. One said I can tell your dog isn’t friendly but you look sweet. Told them not to come any closer that the dog will bite (he wouldn’t have). They stopped approaching me but then made lewd comments about my body. example: ʺdat ass tho.”

– Anonymous

Location: Louisville, KY

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