Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

It just felt good to fight back finally

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There has been a union protest going on near my building for the past couple of months. Generally two men at a time stand on the sidewalk in front of the building they are protesting, all except one are always polite and stand at opposite sides of the sidewalk in order to let pedestrians get on with their business. This one I have had the displeasure of dealing with several times.

This stretch of sidewalk is on my way to the grocery store, so you can imagine how often I have to go down it. I always wear my full Goth regalia to the store because homeless live around the grocery store and sometimes try to mug people- I have found from past experience they are afraid of Goths. Mind you, I am completely covered from the neck down, so it’s not like this guy has much reason to bother me in the first place. Well, each time I would walk past he would try to pick me up.

“Hey baby, where you goin’ in those big ass boots?”
“Hey puss in boots!”
“Hey sexy dom girl!”

I finally had it one day and had already been rehearsing some choice responses in my head. The older gentleman that was standing with the offender had seen this guy harass me before, and upon seeing my approaching turned to the offender and said “Dude, just don’t. She’s not interested.”

This did not deter him of course, since it’s obvious that he is an idiot. He opened his mouth and had the gall to ask, “Can I have your number, babe?”

I turned heel, the first time I had actually stopped in front of him, and yelled, “No! Would you fuck off?”

He laughed and then said “Oh, yeah, well…I have bigger boots than yours at home!”

I turned and started walking away as the older gentleman shook his head, his hand over his eyes in disgust. I called over my shoulder, “I’m sure you do, we all need to compensate for something, don’t we?”

Thankfully I haven’t seen him since. I’m sure the older gentleman reported this idiot to the union and they somehow had him removed. It just felt good to fight back finally.

– anonymous

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Constant harassment on vacation in The Gambia

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The GambiaEvery other male I met “Had a go” – walking with me, telling me I should leave my boyfriend in favour of the harasser, asking me if I wanted Gambian babies, refusing to go away when I asked politely and getting angry with me. And I was modestly dressed in baggy trousers and long-sleeved tops, often with my head covered too, but it made no difference. I was on holiday for two weeks, but I didn’t leave the hotel room for the second week because it was so bad, even from the hotel staff. Women – just don’t go to the Gambia!

– Crystal

Location: Banjul, The Gambia

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Not even safe at a kids’ softball game

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I am a 42 year old mother. I didn’t realize “it” was on-going for the past 3 softball games. First day it started from one man, a divorced father of a female player. It was ten thousand questions, why isn’t your husband here, doesn’t he come to your daughter’s games? Invasive questions, why haven’t I see you here before? Are you happy in your marriage? Where did you go to university, how long have you been in this borough? I tried to deflect these increasingly uncomfortable questions.

Then it was you look pretty today. How is “Suz” today? I felt that he was leering at me during each game, while I attempted to watch my daughter play ball.

The third game was tonight. The girls were along the grassy area waiting for their turn at bat. I heard a few of them giggling and then one said the term “Justin Bieber lesbian web site”? (who knows what that meant) So I immediately got up to quietly remind them for speaking of inappropriate things during a public ball game.

When I returned to my “camp” chair, the accident/malpractice attorney father of one of the teenage players (that I barely know, only in that our daughter’s are on the same team) leaned over and said, “I guess she found your web site?” (Wink, wink) He thought it was hysterical.

I did get up tell him how offended I was, even challenged him in calling it sexual harassment and I spoke loudly in front of the other “posturing” men in suits along the grassy parent area. I called my husband, who came right down to the field and challenged the attorney that his behavior was unbecoming of an officer of the courts. I urged the attorney to look into some diversity/sexual harassment training program for his law firm.

But the bottom line, his behavior made me feel bad, dirty and sad even after I realized that it wasn’t me, it was harassment. I got this turned around feeling in my stomach and here it is almost midnight & I am left to “google” sexual harassment in public places, which lead me to find your website.

🙁

– Suz

Location: Pittsburgh, PA

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They all have no respect for women

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I was riding my bike home. I saw a group of young men sitting on a stoop. I knew they would say something so I just rode on by like I wasn’t paying attention. One guy said, “What ya’ doing?”

I did not reply… then he yelled, “F**k You!”

I hate stupid ghetto men…

On the same bike ride home an older yard worker kept yelling, ‘Hey girl” at me…. I guess it doesn’t matter if the guy is older… they all have no respect for women. Btw… I was wearing shorts and a long sleeve baggy t shirt. Nothing fancy.

– North

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No longer immune

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I’ve been fairly insulated from street harassment for the past few years because of a few factors. For one, I’ve been living in a very small university/government town, which I think helps. Two, I was quite overweight for a long time. In the past few months, I’ve lost 25 lbs, about half of what I’ve gained over the years. Clearly it has made a difference. I was standing outside a coffee shop, on the phone with my mom when some guy drove by in his car. He stuck his head and hand out of the window and shouted something at me. I wasn’t really paying attention and he had a green light so he couldn’t stop. Before I found this site, it might not have made an impression on me. I guess now begins my time as a victim. That makes me feel just super about losing weight.

– Not Guilty

Share your street harassment story today and help raise awareness about the problem. Include your location and it will be added to the Street Harassment Map.

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