I constantly feel uncomfortable and scared walking alone, walking my dog, and stopping at red lights. I avoid eye contact and walk away but I wish I could tell them what they are doing is harassment. It takes a toll on how comfortable and safe I feel in public. Always being whistled at and hit on makes me feel very uncomfortable.

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

Initiate more protests and or public communication about this issue

– Anonymous

Location: Broward County, Florida

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 day I sat down on the metro bus near a man and a few of his friends, it was one of the last places left to sit. As I sat down he asks me, “hey pretty baby, how are you doing?” I was 15 at the time and did not know how to confidently respond, so that he would leave me alone. I mumbled something about being fine, but not being a “pretty baby.”

Rather than taking my insecure clue, and leaving me alone, he proceeded to question me. Baby why aren’t you smiling? Where do you go to school? How old are you? I responded to this question of age, hoping that if he heard how young I was he would understand that he should leave me alone. This was not the outcome. Instead he responded with something along the lines of, “Damn, baby, you aren’t even legal! (Referring to the idea that you cannot legally consent to sex with someone over the age of eighteen until you are sixteen).”

I was appalled, and intimidated by this man, and the fact that his friends only encouraged him with their “Damns!” and “Oohs!” and laughs did not help the situation. I left the bus that day feeling violated, not because this man harmed me physically, but because his words undermined my personal confidence, as well as taking away a place I had always felt safe.

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

By teaching bystander intervention, as well as showing community members the direct consequences that street harassment has.

– Ellie M

Location: The Metro Bus

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 on the corner of 51 Ave. and 5th St. NW walking my dog around the block. A man in a white utility van loudly blew a kiss at me. He continued to stare while driving down the street. As I continued to walk around the block, I noticed three men walking behind me. I moved to the other side of the street and slowed down in order for them to pass me. They did but continued to look back and stare at me.

Those are too many incidents for one night. This needs to stop. This is not OK. I do not like it. It should not happen. I should be free to walk to streets without dodging sexual slurs, purposely ignoring uninvited compliments and/or feeling unsafe.

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

Good question: More street lights, payphones or emergency phones (if someone doesn’t have one or left their phone). Teach people about respect. Appropriate behaviors to living in social environments.

– F.A.D

Location: 52 Avenue & 5 Street NW. Miami, FL. USA.

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 walking to the post office from my car. I didn’t notice anybody around, and I felt fine, but suddenly I hear a man’s (probably a teenager) voice shout something I couldn’t quite make out, followed by the word “bitch.” It sounded like it may have been about Donald Trump (I have a Bernie Sanders sticker on my car). I felt unsafe, and like I somehow deserved it. The bitch part hurts the most.

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

Men have to speak up and get involved.

– Anonymous

Location: Massachusetts

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 walking my dog and a man in a work uniform knelt down to pet her. When he got up to walk away, he slapped my ass. At first I was stunned, but then I started following him yelling (crowded street in the Streeterville part of downtown Chicago). I followed him for 10 minutes, yelling that “THIS GUY JUST ASSAULTED ME WITHOUT MY CONSENT” and “THIS GUY’S A PERVERT”. When he turned around and yelled that I was “crazy” and “should go home and act like a lady,” I really let him have it. I was really disappointed that everyone on the street just looked at me like I was insane, but I’ll bet he thinks twice before he assaults someone again.

Optional: Do you have any suggestions for dealing with harassers and/or ending street harassment in general?

Call them out on it. LOUDLY. And if you’re on the street and someone is calling a harasser out, go to her and ask if she needs help. Just be there in case the asshole tries to retaliate.

– CG

Location: Chicago, IL

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.