Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

“I am entitled to carry on with my day unencumbered”

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Last week at the grocery store, I was harassed by a complete stranger. I had just gotten in my car after loading all of my groceries up when I noticed a man walk by the car. He looked like he was looking in the car or that he was about to come up and approach me, but I did not want to be approached by a stranger as I never do at any time. After I saw him walk away, which was very close to the car, I started pull out. He appeared behind my car, like he was coming back to talk to me. I stopped my car to make sure that I didn’t hit him but he walked right up to the driver side window and gestured for me to roll it down. I did not do this because I do not feel obligated to talk to strange man that I do not know, I have a boyfriend and I would not be interested in getting picked up at a grocery store anyway.

He began cursing and swearing; he yelled something along lines of ‘fuck you, you fucking bitch’ etc., as well as displaying body language that show he was angry. He flailed his arms around and shook his head. When I got home I checked my groceries to see if I had left something and my wallet to see if I had dropped any money, because I was alarmed that he had gotten so angry and thought maybe he had been trying to help me. He wasn’t. I had everything I needed. He was mad because I would not roll down my window down to be hit on. It is scary to live in a world were strange men think that they are more entitled to talk to me than I am entitled to carry on with my day unencumbered.

– Anonymous

Location: Albertson’s parking lot, Lafayette, LA

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

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New Film: Out in the Night

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I’m teaching a “Representations of Women” class at George Mason University (GMU) where I am a new adjunct professor. A key lesson from my class is that women are, first of all, under-represented in most media (from tv shows and movies to op-eds and news articles) and a second lesson is that when they are there, they’re often sexualized or stereotyped.

GMU Professor Giovanna Chesler is the producer of a new film Out in the Night which encompasses both street harassment and representations of women in the media — and more.

Via Bitch Magazine:

“Who has the right to self-defense? How do race, class, sexuality, and gender expression affect what our society sees as violent? In 75 minutes, new documentary Out in the Night challenges us to consider these questions.

The film follows the case of Venice Brown, Terrain Dandridge, Renata Hill and Patreese Johnson, four women who became known as the New Jersey Four after they defended themselves against an assault on the streets of New York City’s West Village.

On August 18, 2006, seven young black lesbians friends from Newark, New Jersey, came to New York City’s West Village. As they walked down the street, they were harassed by a man named Duane Buckle. When they told him they were gay, he began threatening to rape them—then he physically attacked them, throwing his lit cigarette at them, ripping the hair from one woman’s head, and choking another woman. The women defended themselves and, at some point during the four-minute fight, two unknown men jumped in to assist them. As Buckle attempted to choke Renata Hill, Patreese Johnson stabbed him with a pen knife. The two unknown men left the scene, but when police arrived, they arrested the women. Buckle was taken to the hospital where he stated that men had attacked him. Nonetheless, the women were charged with assault and attempted murder.”

From the Out in the Night Facebook page:

“Out in the Night follows their journey to Rikers Island, to the courtroom, and through slanderous media coverage that labeled them a “Wolfpack” and “Lesbian Gang”. While exploring the fight from all sides through the security camera footage that captured it, that hot August night in 2006 can be seen from many perspectives. But our film’s purpose is to examine the events after the fight: biased media coverage likening the women to “man-hating” animals, and unprecedentedly harsh sentencing by the court. This story shows how four young, queer women of color were unfairly criminalized for defending themselves.”

The film team has been screening the documentary at film festivals (there are a few screenings coming up, see if there’s one near you!) and Professor Chesler and I plan to meet up upon her return. Stay tuned!

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“We told them no multiple times”

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Two guys cornering me and my female friend, in public, asking us to have a drink with them. We decline. they don’t stop asking as, trying to persuade us. We told them no multiple times. Then we implied that my friend and I were dating, and not interested in men, then they got angry insulted us as dirty lesbians, throwing other slurs at us and leaving.

‘Funny’ how harassers never seem to understand a ‘no’ but only a ‘claim on a women by another person’ and then they insult them.

– Anonymous

Location: Germany

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

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“Hey, How Much? … Hey, you, How MUCH?”

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I was walking with a friend in the city after an evening of summer festivities that always excites us, the Arts Festival. It was late, I’d say around 12:45 a.m. We were crossing the street and a man (or shall I say boy) yelled from the car at the stop light, “Hey, how much? … Hey, you, how MUCH? Fifty dollars for some head?”

The yelling continued as we crossed the street and proceeded down a trail that leads to the garage where we were parked. My heart was racing and I was in the midst of a panic attack when my friend told me to slow down. She continued to tell me that the more I look as if I’m affected by their comments the more they would continue to harass us. My fear was so intense I could feel my heartbeat work its way up my throat into my brain. I was filled with anger, near rage.

Once we reached the safety of my car, I burst into tears. I was hurt and offended. I even questioned the way I was dressed and asked my friend if I looked like a prostitute. Not that it should matter in anyway mind you, I was wearing an ankle length skirt and a long sleeved sweater. Again, not that what I WAS wearing matters.

I was relieved to see your article today as it mentions that fear is a normal response. Because I always become afraid in these scenarios and my friend does not I thought something was wrong with me . It is comforting to know that this is a normal response to what happened. I had to address the situation with my therapist. Thinking about the event still brings tears to my eyes.

– Anonymous

Location: Pittsburgh, PA

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