Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

Comments about breast size in Berlin

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Ich verließ das Haus in dem ich wohne. Eine Gruppe männlicher Jugendlicher lief an mir vorbei und einer von ihnen rief mir “Du hast nicht besonders große Brüste.” hinterher.

Ich habe ihm gesagt, dass er das lassen soll. Dass er Frauen mit Respekt behandeln soll. Die Gruppe Jungen sagte mir, dass das nicht stimmt und dass sie die Meinungsfreiheit haben mir zu sagen, dass meine Brüste wie auch immer seien. Dann sagten sie mir, ich sei hässlich. Ich wiedersprach ihnen und rief ihnen “Fickt euch” hinterher.

– Anonymous

Location: Berlin, Germany

Using Google Translate:

I left the house in which I live. A group of male youths ran past me and one of them called me, “You do not have particularly large breasts.” Afterwards, I told him that he should let it be. That he should treat women with respect. The group of boys told me that this is not true and that they have the freedom to tell me about my breasts. Then they told me I was ugly. I again spoke to them and said to them “Fuck you” afterwards.

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Street harassment snapshot: April 24, 2011

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After a short hiatus during a hectic travel/speaking month for me, I’m back with this weekly series. Read stories, news articles, blog posts, and tweets about street harassment from the past week and find relevant announcements and upcoming street harassment events.

Street Harassment Stories:

I accept street harassment submissions from anywhere in the world. Share your story!

You can read new street harassment stories on the Web from the past week at:

Street Harassment in the News, on the Blogs:

Announcements:

New:

On-going:

10 Tweets from the Week:

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Harasser uses loudspeaker in a grocery store parking lot

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When I got out of my car I heard someone on a loud speaker say, “Have a nice day,” which has never happened before. Some new gimmick? At 10pm? No.

Walking from my car to the store, the voice starts to address me…”Looking good ma’am, with those silver shoes. I see you rockin’ them silver shoes.”

I realized the voice was coming from a cluster of three automobiles, one of which was an old van with tinted windows. Nice. I sped up and ignored whatever else he said. As I entered the store, I heard him calling out some other hapless patron. ‘What a wack-job,’ I thought. I told the cashier, who said she was leaving soon, so she’d tell the on duty cop. I was relieved.

As I left, I was more curious than anything, so as soon as I heard the voice, I looked for the speaker’s silhouette. This must have encouraged him, because he really locked onto me. Now he was talking about the “Girl with the striped shirt, with the brown pants, in them striped silver shoes, I see you looking good. Damn. Can I have your number?”

I felt completely exposed. It was so creepy. I wanted to do something to shut him up but I also felt like getting away as quick as I could, so I calmly drove away. I didn’t want to give him any more reason to take interest in me. What if he followed me home? Doesn’t he just sound like a Junior Serial Killer, playing a little cat and mouse game of voyeur?

So, now I don’t feel safe while making a run to the local grocery store on a Thursday night. That’s pretty ridiculous.

– Snackrun

Location: The Kroger grocery store down the hill from our town.

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Judge resigns over subway sexual harassment

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Via The Korea Herald:

“A 42-year-old judge resigned after being accused of harassing a woman on the subway, officials at the Supreme Court said Friday.

The incumbent judge at the Seoul High Court, surnamed Hwang, was investigated by police on charges of harassing a woman in her 20s on a crowded subway during Thursday morning rush hour, according to police.

Hwang was caught in the very act by a patrol police officer who followed him after feeling suspicious about what he witnessed, they said, noting that Hwang confessed to the act on the spot and was released soon after a police investigation.

Although he is not subject to criminal punishment as the victim agreed to drop the case, Hwang offered to resign from his job, which was swiftly accepted by the top court.

“We have immediately accepted his resignation considering the seriousness of the matter,” said Hong Dong-ki, a top court spokesman.”

Wow. Nice work, police officer. CRAP job, judge.

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How much street harassment can a person deal with across 3 miles?!

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I had two errands to do at lunch today: Mail a package at the post office next to the Alamo, then grab a shared-bicycle at the corner of Houston and Alamo, ride down Houston street, park the bike near a bus stop, and walk two blocks to a county office for new license plates.

Two skeezed-out looking guys at the bus stop outright grunted and howled at me for 5 minutes straight until I disappeared around the corner, and threw out obscene suggestions, too.

Though the two dudes on the bench on Houston and Alamo when I was waiting to cross to the post office had a nicer tactic (“Hey beautiful. Man you have a beautiful smile. Mmm mmmm what a smile”), it is still embarassing as hell. Especially when I got the bike 10 minutes later and got out into the lane and they hollered after me, “Hey hey there Miss America!” (it’s 90 degree out already in April in Texas, and my tattoo is showing in my tank top).

Riding down Houston Street on the way to the bus stop where I kept my head low and made eye contact with no one, a man leaned out his the open window of his truck and honked and said, “Ay-chihahau!”

All in a 3 mile roundtrip to the post office and a county office.

– Anonymous

Location: San Antonio, Texas

Share your street harassment story today and help raise awareness about the problem. Find suggestions for what YOU can do about this human rights issue.

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