“I’ll pay you R$ 10 (US$ 4.91) if you come with me” — That’s what I heard when I was going to school in the morning, at the age of 13. I felt just like crap after that middle-aged man, a stranger, said this thing to me. Actually, I still do when I remember this and all the harassment that I’ve been through in life since my childhood…

– R

Location: São Paulo – Brazil

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I’ve spent the last two days coordinating a large conference at my university in London. This evening was the conference dinner, which included a nice public thank you and bunch of flowers for my work, so I was feeling pretty happy after a productive day.

Maybe creepy guys have some in-built monitor that tells them a woman’s had a good day and deserves to have it spoiled: I was two stops from home on the Piccadilly line when I noticed that the young guy next to me is turned right round staring into my face. I turn to face him with a death stare, at which point most normal people feel some embarrassment and look away.

Not so this one, who just carried on staring with such intensity that I had to ask him twice if he had a problem, at which point he took offense and looked away with a moody, “No!”

When I got off (he luckily wasn’t getting off at the same stop) he stared at me through the window with a look of real hatred and put his fingers to his head in some weird amalgamation of giving me the finger and making the symbol for a gun. Because, yes, it’s MY fault that you were caught being a creepy weirdo and MY fault that you can’t behave like a normal goddamn person.

– Jen

Location: Piccadilly line, Finsbury Park, London

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I am an Asian American living in Morocco. I get harassed by kids who follow me and make sounds that they think is Chinese mixed with animal noises that end up sounding like pigs. Men harass me by shouting words they learn in English, like “Go all night with me” and “Shake that ass for me.” Men follow me on bikes and in cars trying to talk to me.

– Anonymous

Location: Bir Jdid, Morocco

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I have two new incidents of street harassment to tell you about. Brilliant.

Harasser 1: I was on holiday in Brighton with my female friend. We had just been strolling along Brighton pier and were having a pleasant time. After winning a couple of things in the arcade, I was thrilled.

However, this feeling of contentment was cut short by some insensitive bastard who clearly had no respect or consideration for my feelings. As my friend and I walked through one of the lanes, this idiot passed me and as he did he looked at me, said, “Ew” and walked on casually. I didn’t have a chance to react. We walked on and I later told my friend what had happened (she didn’t hear him). I was left feeling mad and upset that some total stranger could be so disgusted with the way I look. It was yet another knock back on my self esteem. Something so minor but a major affect on me. Thanks for ruining the rest of my day, jerk.

Harasser 2: This happened today when I was on the bus. I was actually with my boyfriend. A middle aged man was sitting in the front (My bf and I were sitting on the side seats) and this creep proceeded to stare at me throughout the whole journey. Typically I was wearing a rather revealing top, again I will mention my boobs were not spilling out! Just showing some cleavage! It was just typical that I was wearing something that showed some flesh of an intimate part of my body which will get any pervert drooling. He made me feel uncomfortable during the entire journey. Even when I got off, he continued to leer at me, turning his neck as the bus drove off. What a slimeball.

Until next time (don’t be surprised if it’s next week)

– Clarice

Location: UK

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To set the tone of this conflict, please know that I am a women with short hair. I was wearing a simple t-shirt and lounge style shorts.

I was walking late at night to do some laundry downtown in Reed City. I noticed a group of men gathered outside the backdoor of a bar, at quite a distance as to obscure their features, who were smoking cigarettes. I was a little nervous at this point. I became hyper aware of statistics of violence against women and felt that it might be reasonable to stop slouching. Perhaps if I look confident then I won’t get attacked, I thought.

The closer that I got to them the more nervous I felt. I began to tread quickly, while hoping for the best. There was no point in turning back as I was halfway there. Besides, what if I had it all wrong? Or what if I ignited an animal desire within them to pursue me?

Just after I crossed Old 131 & The Pere Marquette Trail, one of the men yelled, “Hey, girl or guy?” I instinctively ignored him and kept walking. This was not a battle worth engaging in despite my deep feelings about rigid gender roles. As I disappeared behind a set of buildings lining the block I heard him say, “Yep, guy.”

Thankfully nothing else happened. This may not seem like a big deal to some, but I was scared that I was going to get assaulted for appearing differently than I should. It happens occasionally, especially to people who appear at all queer. I called a family member to give me a ride home after frantically texting a few people online for support. Those moments waiting for the arrival of my family member were frightening. I was seriously afraid for my safety, as the laundromat was deserted and the men were at a bar down the street.

All in all, I do feel like a dunce for walking so late at night alone. I likely won’t do such a thing again at all. I just assumed that it would be safer since it was a small town and I needed to squeeze some laundry in real quick before the next day.

I also feel conflicted about my appearance. I usually dress in a way that I find comfortable and admittedly don’t strive to appear like a woman “should”. The incident made me feel insecure about my appearance. I decided not to change myself, yet doubt still lingers about whether I should dress more feminine.

I feel that this incident has also changed the way that I feel about Reed City. I don’t feel like it would be safe to walk late at night around downtown anymore and I feel less welcome in the community even during the day.

– Anonymous

Location: Reed City, MI

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