Yesterday I was walking across Castro in San Francisco. I had my headphones in (as usual) but I could hear a guy catcalling me and trying to get my attention. I kept walking even as he kept calling after me. When I reached the end of the block I checked to see if he had followed me, but thankfully he had not. Street harassment for me has never become ugly or violent, so I count myself extremely lucky for that. However, a moment like that made me wonder if it could.

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

A woman doesn’t owe a man her time or attention, especially that of a stranger. We need to teach boys from a young age that catcalling is completely inappropriate to do to any woman. It makes women feel uncomfortable and unsafe in public spaces.

– Elle Cee

Location: San Francisco, CA

Need support? Call the toll-free National Street Harassment hotline: 855-897-5910

Share your street harassment story for the blog.
See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for ideas.

i first got catcalled at 12 years old, it was by an older man around 30ish who wolf whistled me whilst getting on a train. I was always taught, “That’s just what men are like and you should get used to it.”

I have been catcalled hundreds of times since then, all by older men. whilst in my school uniform even. A majority of them are in cars. The other day me and my friend were walking to McDonald’s and two workers in a van honked their horn at me and her and rolled down their window yelling, “Lift your skirt up a bit higher, love.” We were clearly in school uniform and my skirt is always mid-thigh (and no i won’t roll it down because that has n0 effect on whether they still do it).

Honestly, I’m 15 now and it’s sad how I have gotten used to it and I pray that my daughter one day will never have to go through it, but you never know anymore since it’s never a topic of discussion! We’re taught to let it just slide into our daily lives because it’s “nothing new.” It’s honestly so shit.

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

Honestly there’s no way other than to discuss it in schools from year 5 (ages 9-10) all the way up to year 11 (ages 15-16), yearly to ingrain it into peoples heads that catcalling is vile.

– PC

Location: Scotland

Need support? Call the toll-free National Street Harassment hotline: 855-897-5910

Share your street harassment story for the blog.
See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for ideas.