Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

“I glanced behind me, only to see him reaching out to grab me.”

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I was on a quick run in a safe area, in front of a government building. That’s when I saw this scary, middle aged man come out of his house.

As I jogged past the area he tried to speak to me. But because of the vibe I got, I said, “Sorry I don’t understand what you said.” But I did.

He was asking how old I was is his own way, “How many years?”

He stared at me and smiled with his yellow teeth.

I started to run faster and called my grandmother, hoping hat being on the phone would deter him. Instead, he got on a bike and pedaled after me.

My grandmother got disconnected and I glanced behind me, only to see him reaching out to grab me. I ducked away from him and screamed, and ran onto the street, almost being hit by a car.

He kept riding past me, and turned around. I ran into a store and called my mom to pick me up. I was only 16.

– Anonymous

Location: New Jersey

Need support? Call the toll-free National Street Harassment hotline: 855-897-5910

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

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“[Boys] yell curses and slurs at me”

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I pass a group of boys on the way to school every day who yell curses and slurs at me. They get louder when I ignore them. I’m thirteen.

– Anonymous

Location: Decatur, GA

Need support? Call the toll-free National Street Harassment hotline: 855-897-5910

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

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Spring is the season of street harassment

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I hate catcalls.
I hate car horns.
I hate men shouting.
I hate being called beautiful.
I hate being told to smile.
I hate the eye-f**k.
I hate the lewd, sexual slurs.
Which means there’s a part of spring I hate.

Spring is the season of street harassment.

When both the hours of the day
and the catcalls from random men on the streets of America multiply.

– Michelle Marie Ryder

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“One of them slapped my butt and sped away”

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I was walking towards my college after helping a friend. It was around 7 pm. It was a little dark road and I was walking alone. There were people behind me and in front of me. And then this motorcycle comes from the back with 2-3 people on it and one of them slapped my butt and sped away. I just couldn’t understand for a second what happened. And I felt shaken and powerless and I couldn’t move. I feel so disgusted with myself. And I just keep thinking about how I could have done it differently. How I could have taken a different route. Or taken a cab. But I didn’t. And I feel so dumb. I don’t feel my butt is a part of my body anymore. There’s this weird tingling feeling that won’t go away. I don’t think it ever will.

– Anonymous

Location: Chennai, India

Need support? Call the toll-free National Street Harassment hotline: 855-897-5910

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

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“He wanted to take my undergarments and eat them”

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I was biking home from work and while stopped at a busy stoplight, a man on the street began yelling at me. He started by saying I looked like a very nice little girl who probably got good grades. When I did not respond, he continued to walk closer to me, and became increasingly aggressive and vulgar. He began talking about all the sexual/violent things he wanted to do to me, and that he wanted to take my undergarments and eat them. He got nearly within an arms reach of me before the light changed. I felt scared, violated, and disgusted at his actions. I felt disappointed that the people sitting safely in their cars around me looked away when I looked at them for support – men and women.

– AS

Location: Columbus, OH

Need support? Call the toll-free National Street Harassment hotline: 855-897-5910

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

Share