I was nineteen traveling on vacation in Mexico with my family. I love photography and veered off the path by myself for about an hour to take pictures of the beautiful city around me. I kept noticing a car driving slowly behind me then passing when I turned to look. Finally the third time the car came around I saw that it was a local man following me while masturbating as he drove. I quickly ran to find my family feeling absolutely sick to my stomach but didn’t tell them for ten years because I was so ashamed and thought it was my fault as a clueless young tourist.

– Linea

Location: Mazatlan, Mexico streets

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

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See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for ideas.

Years ago I was waiting at a bus stop in a mall terminal. There were 10 or 15 others waiting around me. It was summer and I was dressed accordingly. A car pulled up in the parking lot behind the terminal and a man yelled out at me to come over to his car. I said no, I had never seen the man before and felt uncomfortable. He went on to tell me he had something for me to just come over to his car so he could give it to me. I again said no, I didn’t want whatever it was.

He then got out of his car and came to speak to me. Holding something in his pocket he told me that it was a present for his girlfriend but that he wanted me to have it instead. The man was speaking loudly enough for people around me to hear, I was clearly uncomfortable (at the time I was 19 and looked 15) and yet no one around me interjected or asked if I was okay. This went on for 10-15 minutes this man was following me around the bus stop and parking lot trying to get me to take whatever was in his pocket and trying to convince me to get into his car.

I crossed the parking lot and he got into his car and drove it around to the side I fled to. Eventually he drove off. I called my parents who came to pick me up. I was shook and looking back shocked that not a single person witnessing this happen cared enough to ask me if I was okay. This man was frightening but the indifference of the people around me was equally as frightening. Maybe this is an extreme example but I’m sure I’m not the only one with an experience like this one. Let’s make it stop!

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

Standing together, encouraging people to take a stand, raise their voice, interject if you see it happening.

– Amber Farmer

Location: London / Ontario / Canada

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 was catcalled while walking down the street with friend of mine. A man rolled down his window, leaned out and yelled, “You have a nice ass!” I felt ridiculed, as this man was a complete stranger but felt as though he had the right to comment on my body.

– Hannah

Location: Madison, WI

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.

One night I was riding shotgun in my mom’s borrowed red truck and we were going to the library. (Keep in mind I’m a 15 year old girl and my mom is 49.) I was finishing the book I was going to return when two 20-year-old guys whistled at us and yelled. “Hey sexy things,” and continued to whistle even after we drove away. I felt disgusted because we were just DRIVING DOWN A ROAD, but I guess it can happen at any time or place. I didn’t react during the situation but after I mostly just felt angry because other women experience much worse and just that little taste of harassment made me feel kind of awful.

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

We could teach boys growing up now that catcalling and harassing women is not okay. Right now we could stick together as women and help each other if we are something happening to her.

– M

Location: Johnstown, PA

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.

A few years ago I was walking down a street in Brooklyn with my boyfriend when a young man and women passed us. I was closest to the young man, and just as he was passing us he leaned close to me and whispered, “Mmm let me get that.”

This is a common tactic of street harassers in New York and it’s an attempt at gaslighting – usually no one else can hear what they say so when you yell at them, you look crazy. I yelled anyway, and thankfully my boyfriend – as well as the man selling Christmas trees down the block! – came to my defense, even when the girl threatened to fight me. I felt unsafe and disgusted, then relieved, and then just sad that it had to happen at all.

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

Honestly I think the best way to combat street harassment is to teach boys when they are young about consent and self control.

– Anonymous

Location: Brooklyn sidewalk, NY

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.