I had an idiot pull up in his car and ask me if I wanted to “go on a date”.  I ignored him so he screamed at the top of his lungs “How much do you charge?” – I got hit on a lot on the streets because I was beautiful; however, my looks disappeared when I hit my 40’s; but it’s nice to be invisible…older women are just not seen….

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

Men still haven’t got it.  We need to start raising boys differently.  Pure and simple it has to start in childhood.

– Diva

Location: San Francisco’s Delores Street, CA

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

 

Today on the way to work, a guy came up behind me on the subway and whispered, “Your legs made me miss my stop. I ain’t even mad.”

I want to bathe in acid.

– Bonnie

Location: NYC Subway

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

Today, I was walking home from my campus when I had to pass the usual street that leads to my house. There has been a construction site on that street for around three months, and I have been catcalled several times by the workers on that site. This time one when I passed, one of them said “Hey” and looked at me with the most disgusting lecherous look ever. I decided I have had enough so I confronted them and asked, “Why did you call me??”

He looked confused, and then he said “No”. Then I asked louder “Why did you call me???”

He looked at his friend and then said “No” again. After that I walked away feeling happy and relieved because I just confronted my bully.

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

Raising awareness by doing campaigns to let men know that: No, we are NOT flattered.

– FD

Location: Near a construction site

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

I am so damn sick of this happening to me. Today while outside I experienced getting harassed twice and each and every time that it has happened I have tried to ignore it and even stand up to it, but I have then realized that there is no use in me even wasting my time or breath to try and make these guys understand how small, degraded, disrespected and angry I feel.

They seem to get this sick and twisted perverted pleasure out of it and I’m tired of being ignored and humored and I am tired of people turning a blind eye to it. The sad part is when I try and stand up for myself, I am the one who is punished. I’m the one who has to suffer and pay for it. I didn’t ask for this. I try to come outside and leave the house for some fresh air but I can’t go anywhere in peace without being bothered. I am mainly experiencing this everyday. I don’t know nor understand this and why me? Do I have some type of stamp on my forehead?

Location: One incident occurred outside my local library. The other was while I was coming out of the bank.

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Biking from school (art school is open till late) at 22.00, it was raining cats and dogs. Since I didn’t got a raincoat, I could feel the water running down my skin into my shoes. In an attempt not to get to grumpy, I started to sing. Almost home, I needed to enter several tunnels and here there was a man looking for some shelter. Being polite, I smiled and immediately I regreted my kindness.

He started shouting at me, HE WET PUSSY! and so on. The harder I biked away, more demented his voice became. Not sure if he even ran after me for a bit. It made me so angry, aggressive even, but I was definitely no match for him. I said something like: Let it be!

It was like oil on a campfire. As if my response gives him all reason and meaning to what he did and he shouted even more. Luckily I could escape this time. But I do fear the next encounter, since this is the second time seeing him.

What can I do? Change course? That feels like surrender and takes me even longer through the dark. Same way to night/next week?

I’m scared he’ll rape me. I feel ashamed for my kindness and guilty that I put myself in danger after being raped before. Despair for not having control over my own safety, where people say its a save country and where I should be grateful for my rights. Right? To hell with that!!! All this, because it rained…

Zula

Location: Netherlands

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