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

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

A family Member of mine accompanied me to the SPCA for a routine checkup of my cats. As we awaited the completion of the examination we sat on the steps and chatted. A guy with a cage said, “Hey what’s up ? How are you guys doing? ” and walked into the SPCA. When he came back out he whirled around and asked, “Do you guys need a ride?”

My family member said no. The guy argued a bit then got in his car. Five minutes later I saw the guy stick his head out the window at me. Then he turned his car around ALL THE WAY around at full speed into the opposite lane, parked his car in front of us and got out. Then he approached us and said, “You know it’s no big deal. I can give you a ride.” (He NEVER asked us where we had lived or which direction it was in!).

Then my family member basically verbally shooed him away and randomly said he just wanted me in the car.

– B. Burton

Location: ASPCA, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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My sorority sister took me dancing for my birthday. The DJ played a song I really liked and I danced with a guy to the song. At the end of the night, he asked for my number. I said no. I’m married. He said you better give me your number or I’ll bite you in your back.

– KD

Location: A bar

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this is for the person who has to smile
or shake their head
or walk faster
because of a follower who wants
to be
that person
who meets people
who women love
who doesn’t answer texts right away and
repeats lines from that actor and succeeds
in front of friends
in front of the street
and is recognized, validated
I’m a success,
people like me

colour by Elian

words by Liam Lachance, a writer at wordandcolour.com, who was inspired to write this piece after witnessing street harassment on a daily basis in Montréal, Québec.

Cross-posted with permission

Every day whenever I go to work and as I walk to the corner of our street to ride a jeepney, there will always be different men who will look at me and tell me “Good morning, Idol.”or “Good morning, baby.'” or “Ingat ka babe.” (Take care, babe) Sometimes they will really come right next to me to whisper those things and it makes me angry but I cannot do something.

Optional: Do you have any suggestions for dealing with harassers and/or ending street harassment in general?

I want to be able to do a flyering near at our area, do an online ad to have those people to be aware that what they are doing is wrong.

– Kat G

Location: La Loma, Quezon City, Philippines

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