Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

“I am a grandma, for crying out loud”

By

I am a 46-year-old woman. I dress conservatively and changed from a skort to pants before leaving the house. While waiting for a bus on 118 Avenue in Edmonton, two separate cars with 60+ year-old men circled the block eying me and invited me into their vehicles. I was wearing no makeup and flaps. I am a grandma, for crying out loud. I felt unsafe, dirty, and angry. If i had a gun in my hand oh boy would there be hell to pay on that city street. How can I dress to avoid this?

– Anonymous

Location: 118 ave Edmonton Alberta, Canada

Share

“Please stop harassing the ladies walking down the street”

By

Went the Grand Pacific Hotel construction site today and read this notice:

“PLEASE STOP HARASSING THE LADIES WALKING DOWN THE STREET.

WE KNOW IT’S JUST FUN TO YOU FULLAS BUT TO THE LADIES IT’S NOT ALWAYS SO FUNNY.

WE HAVE HAD MORE THAN ONE COMPLAINT , IF IT CONTINUES, SOMEONE WILL BE MADE AN EXAMPLE AND TERMINATED!! (NO JOKE)”

I gotta say, I appreciate the fact that this construction company has made some sort effort in PREVENTING STREET HARASSMENT by it’s workers.

– Shyana, shared via the “Take Back the Streets” Facebook group

Location: The Fiji Islands

Share

“I have to be on guard”

By

I was walking to the train station to get to work this morning, when this dreadlocked guy walked by me and thumped his fist against his chest. I guess he assumed that because I also had dreadlocks that I’d reply back in kind, but I instead said, “Good morning.” This caused him to go, “Huh? Huh?”

I’ve seen this guy before a few weeks prior. I opened the door of a nearby 7-11 and he just walked right through it without saying “Thank you” and went to talk to his friend hanging out outside as if I didn’t exist. I said, “You’re welcome!” sarcastically a bunch of times until I finally got a “Thank you” from him.

Back to today. I don’t think that this guy was following me since he walked over to the street a block away (whereas I walk down another street and then turn towards this street when I get closer to the train station), but once I was on the same street he started yelling “Yo!” and “Psst!” as if he wanted my attention. He was not going to get it, but I kept looking back to see what this clod was up to, keeping one step ahead of him. I managed to get to the train station and on a train, and thankfully did not see this guy enter the train station.

This incident made me uncomfortable, and since I have a feeling that I may see this guy again, I have to be on guard. By his weird reaction to my “Good morning” and his lack of sense at the 7-11 a few weeks ago, I get the impression that this guy’s not in his right mind. I didn’t feel that this guy’s behavior warranted calling the police, but if it does get to that point I have no problem doing such.

– Anonymous

Location: Courthouse area (Arlington, VA)

Share your street harassment story today.

Share

USA: Sky’s Out, Thighs Out

By

By Lauren Duhon, SSH Correspondent

Unless you’ve been living under a rock for the past couple of weeks, spring is here, summer is right around the corner and the warmer weather is here to stay. With higher temperatures and sunnier days, it’s time to break out the short shorts, sundresses and swimsuits. Fewer clothes shouldn’t be a reason to justify sexual harassment, but all too frequently I hear men making comments, usually not in a discrete manner, as young women emerge from winter’s cold embrace.

Walking through campus on any given day, I’ve heard countless guys comment on the anatomy of female students; stripping them down with their minds bit by bit like they’re some type of prey for the taking. “Oh, man, did you see that ass?” Charming, isn’t it? A different situation happened to me the other day at a festival. I was wearing a dress when a guy walked up to me, looked right down my dress, made a comment about my breasts and then tried to strike up a conversation about my camera (I was taking photos for my university’s newspaper). The “best” (for lack of a better word) one I’ve heard is “sky’s out, thighs out,” which several of my friends use in reference to the female students and their shorter shorts during this time of year.

All too often I find myself looking into the mirror before I leave my apartment and wanting to put on more clothes in an attempt to avoid unnecessary commentary that I may come across during the day.  And, most of the time, I have grown to dislike the warmer months simply based on the fact that you are less covered and feel more vulnerable. As if I feel like I have to be more modest. Not everyone may feel this way, but I shouldn’t feel ashamed for my clothing decisions. What I choose to wear shouldn’t affect my day-to-day life, nor should some random man influence that decision.

I blame society for perpetuating the wrong idea. The way a woman dresses shouldn’t define or insinuate any sort of action from the opposite sex. Don’t say it’s okay or everyone does it, because it’s not and no one should. Everyone is naturally attracted to others, that’s the normal part. But, that doesn’t grant anyone a free pass to harass others as they please.

So, next time you see an attractive girl, please think about what you’re doing. Street harassment is not a compliment. No one wants to be catcalled or whistled at. Keep your thoughts to yourself and avoid making any vulgar comments. I’d like to walk down the street with confidence knowing I won’t feel attacked for my outfit of choice.

Lauren Duhon is a student journalist from LSU in Baton Rouge, La.

Share

“You should look where your walking or you might fall.”

By

I was walking with a girlfriend of mine and she was not showing any cleavage whatsoever. This man turns the corner and without being discreet starts staring at her boobs. The way he was staring was so blatantly obvious, like a hungry dog. As he walks pasts us, I say really loud, “You should look where your walking or you might fall.”

He looked back and I was staring and motioned to him in a funny way like, “Look where your walking,” and my girlfriend started laughing out loud. We both could tell he felt embarrassed.

– EM

Location: Dover, New Jersey

Share