When I was living in Japan from 2002-2004, men grabbed my butt as I was walking about in public, or standing at a festival with my junior high students, or standing on the sidewalk asking someone for directions. These “men” would grab my butt and walk away without saying a word. It was completely degrading and gross. It made me feel like a piece of meat – what on Earth would make them think they had a right to touch me!?!?!?!

Optional: What’s one way you think we can make public places safer for everyone?

Keep talking about these instances, and helping people feel empowered to stand up and stop these people – scream, take a picture of them, stop them physically and call the police – whatever it takes – make a scene – embarrass the harassers!!

– Keryn S

Location: Throughout Japan

I was driving in north London yesterday afternoon by myself. It was a bit stuffy in my car so I opened my window. It was a two lane road and very shortly after, two men drove by in a white van and started cat calling me. They asked me lots of questions to which I didn’t reply but it made me feel very nervous. I did my best to drive carefully and as the lane merged into one, I thought I had been successful in getting away from them. However, shortly after the lanes became two again and somehow they were right beside me again. Although all my windows were now up, they made me feel terribly anxious as they were shouting out and me and laughing. It was such an uncomfortable experience for me that it has given me anxiety.

– Anonymous

Location: Hanger Lane Road, north London, UK

I was being stared and smiled at creepily by a staff from McDonald’s. This incident happened when I go to McDonald’s and this harasser was outside of the store, not greeting me when I arrived but he stared at me in an intimidating way and smiled creepily. While I was in the restaurant he would walked around and continued to stared and smiled at me in a very creepy way. I don’t think that’s the kind of friendly warm smile I should be receiving. I felt very very intimidated by this staff. I already raise my concern to the management however it seems like it was not taken seriously and I never heard from the McDonald’s management ever again. Just that if you are curious which McDonald’s I went to. I went to the McDonald’s in Malaysia, Penang.

– Jolyn

Location: Bayan baru, Penang, Malaysia

I am 15 years old, and I have been verbally harassed by the same man about three times, in the same place. This man is tall and quite large. He will often say things such as, “How you doing sweetie” , “Can I talk to you beautiful”, or “Psst, come here”.

It is extremely alarming, and makes me feel incredibly unsafe. What worries me even more is that he may be doing that to girls who are even younger than I am. Recently, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about how unsafe that action makes me feel. I’ve dealt with cat-callers since I was about 11 years old, but this seems different. More direct and real.

Optional: What’s one way you think we can make public places safer for everyone?

Create a map of sorts, for young men and women to avoid if there has been multiple cases of sexual harassment.

– Anonymous

Location: Toronto, Ontario, 504 St Clair Ave W, Toronto, ON M6C 1A2