Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

“Damn, you’re making me hot!”

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A few days ago, a group of my female friends and I were sitting on a bench in Dupont Circle in Washington, DC. It was about 8:30 p.m. and there were about 30 or so people sitting around the fountain just hanging out with friends and significant others. My three friends and I were just talking and laughing when a man came up to us and started talking.

Here’s the conversation:
Man: “You ladies are having too much fun. Are you two sisters?” (Asking me and my friend who had her hand on my shoulder)
Friend: (nervous laugh) “Ha, no. We’re just friends.”
Man: “Well you guys are sexy! Damn, you’re making me hot!” (Talking directly to me) “Mmm big girl, I’d fuck that pussy up! Damn! I have to leave, you are making me hot! Damn!”

As he walked away he kept turning to look back at us. We all sat there in disbelief. One of my friends, who has a blackbelt in Karate, looked like she was about to go beat him up. At the time, I was completely shocked and thrown off guard. In retrospect, I wish I had said something to him or told him to leave. My friends and I felt completely violated, dirty, and uncomfortable. I’ve been cat-called at before but this was definitely the most disgusting and explicit experience I’ve had.

– anonymous

Location: Dupont Circle, Washington, DC

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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"Damn, you're making me hot!"

By

A few days ago, a group of my female friends and I were sitting on a bench in Dupont Circle in Washington, DC. It was about 8:30 p.m. and there were about 30 or so people sitting around the fountain just hanging out with friends and significant others. My three friends and I were just talking and laughing when a man came up to us and started talking.

Here’s the conversation:
Man: “You ladies are having too much fun. Are you two sisters?” (Asking me and my friend who had her hand on my shoulder)
Friend: (nervous laugh) “Ha, no. We’re just friends.”
Man: “Well you guys are sexy! Damn, you’re making me hot!” (Talking directly to me) “Mmm big girl, I’d fuck that pussy up! Damn! I have to leave, you are making me hot! Damn!”

As he walked away he kept turning to look back at us. We all sat there in disbelief. One of my friends, who has a blackbelt in Karate, looked like she was about to go beat him up. At the time, I was completely shocked and thrown off guard. In retrospect, I wish I had said something to him or told him to leave. My friends and I felt completely violated, dirty, and uncomfortable. I’ve been cat-called at before but this was definitely the most disgusting and explicit experience I’ve had.

– anonymous

Location: Dupont Circle, Washington, DC

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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“Fine ass ho”

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In Athens, Ohio, USA, I was having an evening workout around 7 PM. I was running in shorts and a tank top, minding my own business when a group of teenage boys in a sedan slowed down next to me. One of them said in a sing-songy voice:

“There she go, the fine ass ho.”

I WAS 15. I froze. I didn’t know what to say, so I said nothing while they drove off laughing. I was scared to death, I wanted to cry, and most of all, I couldn’t understand why anyone in their right mind would terrorize a girl like that. Now that I’m 22, I realize that my offense was being in public while female. And, even more egregious was the offense of wearing shorts and a tank top while young and attractive.

I wish I could say that I reacted strongly every time I’ve been harassed since then, but it’s not that simple. You can never be prepared to react to a harasser, because it is impossible to tell which man will be the next perpetrator. So these days, I just stare straight ahead and stomp my ass off. Nothing scares harassers more than confidence. But, when men harass me anyway, I still find myself at a loss, frozen, scared, with no sense of how to react until after the fact.

– A.G.

Location: Athens, OH

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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"Fine ass ho"

By

In Athens, Ohio, USA, I was having an evening workout around 7 PM. I was running in shorts and a tank top, minding my own business when a group of teenage boys in a sedan slowed down next to me. One of them said in a sing-songy voice:

“There she go, the fine ass ho.”

I WAS 15. I froze. I didn’t know what to say, so I said nothing while they drove off laughing. I was scared to death, I wanted to cry, and most of all, I couldn’t understand why anyone in their right mind would terrorize a girl like that. Now that I’m 22, I realize that my offense was being in public while female. And, even more egregious was the offense of wearing shorts and a tank top while young and attractive.

I wish I could say that I reacted strongly every time I’ve been harassed since then, but it’s not that simple. You can never be prepared to react to a harasser, because it is impossible to tell which man will be the next perpetrator. So these days, I just stare straight ahead and stomp my ass off. Nothing scares harassers more than confidence. But, when men harass me anyway, I still find myself at a loss, frozen, scared, with no sense of how to react until after the fact.

– A.G.

Location: Athens, OH

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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Multi-culturalism vs Universal Respect for Women

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I had recently moved into an immigrant neighborhood in NYC. I was excited about moving to this neighborhood because I love the diversity of immigrant cultures. I have always wanted to live in a multi-cultural society that respects the differences certain people’s backgrounds. However, after a few months I have drawn a different conclusion.

Unfortunately, I was harassed by Hispanic men on a daily basis. I suffered hissing, sucking noises, and even physical touching every day often more than once. I was not harassed by the Chinese, Polish, or African immigrants who also lived in this neighborhood.

I despise racism and think it would be wrong to say that all Hispanic men harass women. I know it is only a small percentage of them who harass women. I also met many wonderful Hispanic men.

However, I have learned that sexual harassment is more socially acceptable in Latin America. I have also learned that Latin American women from some countries are taught to be much more careful about walking alone, and dressing modestly to counter balance harassment.

I think it is incredibly important that Hispanic men are taught that this part of their cultural heritage is not acceptable in the United States. If we deny that certain cultures have a higher incidence of sexual harassment because of their machismo cultural norms than we will put political correctness above the rights of women. I think we need a movement to educate new citizens about respect for women.

– anonymous

Location: New York City

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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