I was on my way from New York City, I take the train everyday from Penn Station. At rush hour, Penn station is busy and often people can find it overwhelming. It was a usual day, I was wearing some grey leggings, a white t-shirt and some sneakers. As usual I was waiting for my train’s platform to be announced so I stood in the crowd listening to my Ipod. Suddenly from behind someone grabbed my ass in a very aggressive and sexual manner. I was completely shocked and turned around quickly to identify who had done it. Penn Station is so busy, so I could not 100% identify who had touched me.

My first instinct was to go to the police who were standing relatively near me.. I told them I had been grabbed and they tried to help me identify who could have done it. As I was not 100% sure they said there was not much they could do. They made me feel safer and I was glad I told somebody, but I became increasingly upset and shocked. I had never experienced harassment like that before. The police escorted me to my platform in case my offender might follow me.

I got on my train a few minutes later and that was that. It was a horrible experience and I will never forget it. Since that experience, I have developed an increase in anxiety when navigating large crowds and being in busy public spaces.

– Anonymous

Location: Penn Station, NYC

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 looking at a house as part of my job. As I walked out of the house a man from the neighborhood stopped to talk to me. I was polite but made it clear I had work to do. After a few minutes he left. I walked around the outside of the building to take some pictures and when I got back to the front he was walking past again. He said it was nice talking and then says, “You’re so sexy.”

I ignored him and took a few more photos. I looked back before going back to lock the house and when I did he was staring me down! I was supposed to wait for my boss to show up but I left thinking I was better safe than sorry. I explained to my boss that I had encountered the strange man, but I think he was still disappointed that I had left before he got there. The rest of the afternoon I felt nauseous and it was hard to concentrate on my work.

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

We need to educate young men to be respectful to women. Women also need to share the effects of these encounters. Saying it happened isn’t enough. Explaining the physical, mental, and emotional side effects makes it more real.

– Anonymous

Location: La Crosse, 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.

It was a summer evening in Elmont, New York. It was about 7:30 p.m. and I had gone down the block from my house to grab a few snacks. I was wearing black sneakers, grey leggings and a white t-shirt. After shopping at my local Rite Aid, I was walking home through the parking lot. An older man who was walking near me stopped and began leering at me and saying, “Ohhh, look at all that sweetness.”

I turned around to look at him and I shook my head indicating that it was not appropriate for him to be leering at me. I began walking off. Next thing I know, a car pulls up alongside me, the man was now in the driver’s seat with another man in the passenger seat. He rolls down the window and says…

“Hey don’t be like that, I was complimenting you – I was telling you how sweet all of you is.”

I usually will walk away from this, but today I had had enough. I stopped and said, “Excuse me?”

He then began to repeat himself before I jumped in and begin telling him how inappropriate his words were. I told him that no matter what he said it is not okay for him to make a woman in the street feel incredibly uncomfortable. I told him how disrespected I felt and that he has no right to leer at me in that manner.

“Look at what you’re wearing,” he said. “I can say whatever I want because you’re dressed like that.”

I became furious! I was speechless. I wish I had been able to film what he had said in that moment. I continued ranting about how disgraceful that was until I found myself walking away in a fury. Then another car nearby slowed down and two men shouted, “Baby, what is wrong? Is he trying to get your number?” as they laughed and jeered.

I felt so completely miserable. I was nothing but a source of entertainment, a sexualized object with no value, no voice. It astonishes me that I cannot walk to my local store without being harassed like that.

I experience daily catcalling and harassment, but it has come to a point where this is becoming a real problem and is affecting my anxiety. I cannot continue to feel unsafe in public places.

– KA

Location: Elmont, New York

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.