I was sitting at a cafe, minding my own business, when a man started talking to me. At first the conversation was simple, pleasant. But then he started asking invasive questions about my marital status and where I live. He then asked for my number- I declined. He asked me out- I said no. But he kept asking and wouldn’t leave me alone until he had to go. I didn’t know what to do; I was trapped and felt cornered. I didn’t want to leave because I had work to do and had just gotten to the place, but I felt like running away.

– Anonymous

Location: Azerbaijan

I have been barked at while walking down the street with my husband, yelled at from cars “Nice labia!”, laughed at by teens who claimed I was a man (they were seated at the table next to me in a fast food restaurant). I have had people direct gender-speculative comments at me on the street, in a restaurant while I was out with my family for Mother’s day, in front of my apartment building, in the hallway of my apartment building, at bars…bars are the worst. I have had my path blocked by a man in a van who propositioned me for sex and have been told to smile by complete strangers.

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

I always chose to ignore street harassment. Except for the harassers in the restaurant on Mother’s Day. Those men were sitting at a long table with several women and the owner of the restaurant, whom I knew from years back while working for the company. I didn’t have the nerve to confront them at the time, but instead wrote an anonymous letter to the restaurant owner detailing the harassment and how I had decided to share the burden of their unkind behavior. In the future I will meet it head on because harassers get pleasure out of soliciting discomfort and silence. In fact I now see silence as involuntary agreement that deeply affects your emotional well-being.

– Anonymous

Location: Where hasn’t it happened?

Saturday night at 1:30 a.m., I was walking to my apartment from the train. It’s about a 10 minute walk, so I was already very alert and armed with pepper spray just in case. I experienced 4 (4!!!) different incidents of harassment on my way home. I think what upset me the most about it was that I was alone and already nervous about my walk home, but to add disgusting sexual catcalls in the mix just enraged me. How dare these strangers make me feel so afraid and nervous walking through my own neighborhood in my own city. I want it to stop. I want to feel safe enough to take the train home instead of paying for a cab that I can’t afford.

– Ellen

Location: New York City – Harlem

I was sitting on the bus and this scary man who had clearly been chasing the bus for a few blocks runs on to the bus goes in for the kill aka me and tells me ” I’m the most perfect thing he’s seen” then proceeds to kiss my hand and run off screaming “GOD DAMN F***ING BEAUTIFUL!”

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

Learn to make your permanent bitch face on point and wear it proud and everywhere.

– TM

Location: The bus in MKE