I had to move because of street harassment. I am 46 year old female and single mother. I was asked if I was “working” (sex worker) when I walked to the store. I was followed, harassed, talked to with vulgar language, and insulted. It was so humiliating. A certain man constantly followed me and the police didn’t care. He followed me to my son’s bus stop ever morning.

Tell your sons not to degrade women this way.

I now live in a different neighborhood. Nobody does that here.

– Anonymous

Location: Griffin, Georgia

They’re doing construction outside my office. Every morning, the same a**hole tries to talk to me. Could you be any more of a stereotype? It distracts my entire day and makes me dread going into work.

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

We as a community need to do a better job of calling street harassers out and publicly shaming their behavior. Similar to what marketers have done with the smoking ads.

– Lauren

Location: NYC Union Square

I was waiting for the bus with a friend. A car driven by an old man stopped by to ask information about a street. I gave him this information, then he said ‘Do you enjoy sex?’. I was very embarrassed and I didn’t know what to say, then I realized that this man was asking me where he could find sex workers. Then he asked, ‘Does your boyfriend make you come?’

I had the strength to ask pointedly, ‘Do I have to call the police?’ and he left.

It was awful to stay silent, neither my friend could talk, we were speechless.

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

We can’t shape minds already poisoned by rape culture, but we can teach new generations to treat people with respect.

– FM

Location: Bus stop