I’ve been street harassed lately. Some guys call me out as “Indian” “farmer” and “thug boy” only because I’m brunette. Women call me out as “looks like a child” “weirdo” and “autistic boy” because I avoid glancing other people in the streets. I feel demoralized and weak. I also feel more uncomfortable in the streets so I’d rather stay at home.

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

Posting ads in the buildings rooftops showing common slurs. That’d make people aware of this issue.

– Anonymous

Location: Colombia

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

One of my earliest harassment experiences was at about 15 years old. My girlfriend & I were walking along the road when one of four lads driving past in a car shouted, “Have you got hair on it yet Love?”

This was the first of too many to document!

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

Educate the perpetrators, as well as the victims, that what they are doing is harming all girls and women.

I think most men who harass women in the street do it “innocently” and genuinely think it is “a bit of fun.” Educate everyone on what harassment looks like, what it feels like.

When I have gently addressed a male’s belittling of harassment by asking them to put themselves in the victims shoes (eg, she is 5′, you are 6’2″ – if a big hairy bloke of 7’2″ put you on his knee & toyed with you like a doll?). They get it then!

Men think we have “taken it the wrong way,” because they don’t understand the culture they perpetuate. It is hard to change behaviour if the perpetrator (and sadly often the victim) sees it as the norm.

Legislate? Harder penalties for harassment? A man in a bar in Singapore grabbed my breasts, but my ex-pat male colleague made light of it, so I didn’t feel able or supported in calling the police. If it is law, it is harder to sweep aside.

– Michele Dougherty

Location: Larne, N. Ireland

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

“You have a beautiful smile.” I was talking to another person, so the remark didn’t quite register the first time. He said it again, and then a third, insisting that I acknowledge his compliment.

Why he felt that my replying to his compliment was more important than my conversation with another person is beyond me.

It’s not a big thing, in that he wasn’t hollering obscenities at me. But still, we are complete strangers, and I did not owe him my time.

– Anonymous

Location: San Diego, CA

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

It was in the middle of winter. I had long black coat and winter boots on and was fumbling to find a key of my building when a young man, early twenties approached to me and asked, ʺ Hi babe, would you like to touch my dick?ʺ

Me: ʺ No thank you, you’re too young for me.ʺ I entered the building and with both hands closed the door behind me. He was holding his dick in one hand so he stayed outside and said: ʺ You bitch.ʺ I flipped the bird at him and went in an elevator thinking how thick he must be to take his junk out in the middle of winter in Toronto. (It was around 4 pm)

– Branka

Location: Toronto, Canada

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

Street harassment was a constant in my life for as long as I can remember. I was 12 and waiting at the bus stop the first time it happened. Grown men..I am talking 40 and up, working on a construction site across the street would comment on me and my “nice body” on a daily basis. At 14 I was at a block party with my family when I was followed and harassed by a group of 20 something men.Every single time I would walk anywhere as a teen I would get honks and whistles. As a young mom, I was followed and harassed by a group of teenagers. Even today…in my forties, it happens.

– Lola

Location: the street, the store at work.

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