Today, three days after the explosion in Chelsea, NYC, I had an appointment on 23rd Street right across from where the bomb went off. There were cops everywhere today. As I exited the 23rd Street station there were four male cops standing on the stairway leading out of the subway talking to one another. Two on each side. As I got almost to the top of the stairs, one of the cops said, “Good morning”, but not in the tone where someone is genuinely wishing you a good morning. It was in the tone that meant something else entirely. It even had that inflection that suggested I owed him a reply. The other three just went quiet as I kept going. I was so annoyed that at a time when people are still somewhat on edge, the people that are supposed to be there to keep us safe make us feel just the opposite.

Of all the street harassment I experienced, I don’t want to have to add police officers to the list of people to avoid. In the larger scope of things it’s nothing compared to the reasons other people have to fear the police, but it’s just another way we are constantly made to feel unsafe in public spaces.

– Ali

Location: New York City, NY

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.

I was getting lunch at the Wawa when a man who was working on the construction site next to the Wawa held the door for me to walk through. When I thanked him, he said, “You’re welcome beautiful,” so when I opened the second door I half closed it behind me before he went to walk through as a way to let him know that the behavior was unwanted. He followed me towards my car from a distance and whistled at me not once but twice. I felt disgusting and actually wanted to change my clothes even though there was nothing wrong with what I was wearing. I asked him what the F is wrong with him and told him that I am a human being not an object.

– MC

Location: Warminster, 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.

I was in a mall parking garage, walking to my car, when two men drove by me. One wolf whistled at me. I yelled at him to “f**k off,” and he yelled back at me: “I was calling you cute, f**king bitch!” I cried afterwards. I felt demeaned and objectified. I felt like a piece of meat. I cried over the fact I was scared and belittled, and reduced to a sexual OBJECT even though I am a human being. I cried over the fact that women are treated like this, and worse, every single day. I cried over the fact there are men in this world who hate women. I cried over the fact that there are people in power in the American government, the country that is supposed to be the most free in the world, who actively try to restrict women’s rights. I cried over the fact that I live in a sexist world.

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

Teach men to treat women with respect.

– Katy

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 have many stories of harassment. I live in St. Louis and ride the bus and walk a lot. I now no longer feel safe to do so and am trying to move.

The other day, I walked to a nearby gas station to get some snacks, and a man behind me said in a low voice, “I can get you more candy.” I ignored him and checked out. As I was walking back, he drove his car with tinted windows by me and tried to say something to me. I ignored him. I usually have my phone, but didn’t that day. I felt very vulnerable. He drove away, then as I rounded the corner, he pulled up beside me to cut me off. I walked to the other side of the street saying to myself, “Oh no you don’t” and he followed me home. I acted like I didn’t live there and kept on walking until he drove away. Scary stuff.

There are countless times I am in the bus and a man asks, “Do you need a boyfriend?” I instantly feel angry. One time, as a man sat next to me and asked that, I looked him straight in the eye and said no and told him that I think men need to respect women out here on the streets. He looked so serious, said he could tell I was serious and that he had never heard a woman say that before. I told him maybe he could go tell other men.

The thing that makes me feel so uncomfortable is when you walk and a man says hi while staring at your crotch or chest. I have had men try to talk to me at the bus stop, the whole time, staring at my crotch. I ignored it, but next time, want to head on say, “Stop staring at my crotch.”

I just enrolled in a kickboxing/ self defense class. I am a thin woman and have a sensitive and kind personality. I feel like living with all of this harassment for over 10 years is turning me into a person I am not really because as I walk, I pretend I am talking on the phone, avoid eye contact, and look above people. It has affected my relationships with other males in that I find it hard to trust them. This is why I know I need to move out of this area because it has taken a toll on my mental health to constantly be ‘hard’, hypervigilant, and on the defense.

– J

Location: St Louis, MO- Arsenal and Gravois, Kingshighway and Delmar, Chippewa and Oregon

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.