Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

“He still looked at me as an object to be had”

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Some inadequate in a hoodie wolf whistled at me on the street. I tried to steer away from him but I still heard it.

I didn’t help my case — when I was about 50 feet away from him, I yelled that he was never going to get a girl like that. Never!

Now I fear that I’m going to run into that piece of dirt again and that he’ll prove to me that he’ll forcefully get a girl like that.

I felt like nothing. The dirtbag didn’t know me. He didn’t know how smart or how strong or how opinionated I was. Yet he still looked at me as an object to be had. I felt like I wasn’t a human being, just an object.

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

Make sure boys aren’t raised to be surly predators.

– Tamsin Parker

Location: Winton

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See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for more idea.

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“If I didn’t like it I should wear a cape”

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I was walking my dog, and a man was staring at me like he hadn’t seen a woman before. He said some things harassing me and frankly I’m fed up with the behavior of men in my city.

When I confronted that man, he said that if I didn’t like it I should wear a cape and he kept yelling things and laughing at me.

– LO

Location: Pasto/Nariño/Colombia

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See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for more idea.

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“Shouldn’t a compliment feel reassuring and not threatening?”

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I was taking the subway in the afternoon and everything was going well until I got off the wagon. I took the stairs and a man going in the opposite direction said to me, “Hey, chiquita!”

I was 17 and he was probably three times my age. That time was my first experience of harassment ever. I had seen other women harassed, I knew there was an issue, but it had never been directed at me.

At first, I thought he was talking to someone else. It couldn’t be me, I was way too young for that. But there was nobody else around me. I then went through several stages.

At first, I felt disgusted that a old man would make a sexual comment about me.

Then, I felt scared and ashamed. What if he followed me or worse?

When I arrived home, I began to feel angry. I was angry that he had made me feel ashamed of becoming a woman, I was angry that he had made me feel scared when I shouldn’t feel threatened, even when I am alone.

I was furious that with one small comment, he had succeeded in a way: I was changed.

I think the worst part in this sad, yet enlightening story, is that most people around me told me that it was nothing, that men are men, that nothing could be done and even, that I should have taken it as a compliment towards my femininity.

Maybe I’m wrong, but shouldn’t a compliment feel reassuring and not threatening?

– Romane

Location: Subway

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See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for more idea.

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“Yelled out at me and called me a skank”

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I was walking down a fairly busy street on the sidewalk, wearing short-shorts, a tshirt, and converse with a snapback. I was at the corner and two guys in a truck with the window down yelled out at me and called me a skank. I’m actually a minor soo…

– Hkc

Location: City sidewalk

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See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for more idea.

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“I feel anxious and violated”

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I was driving on the 101 Freeway in northern Los Angeles. There was a ton of traffic, and we were going about 5-10 miles an hour. I was just driving with my window down and listening to mellow music when a car of young men pulled up next to me and started screaming awful, violent and sexual things at me. They were leaning out the window barking, and filming me. It scared the living day lights out of me!!

I rolled up my window and tried to get away from them, but they moved over and paced themselves with me. They did it all over again. I was really jarred, and couldn’t stop shaking.

I got their plates (7JPF348) and called the police. The police said they’d send out a broadcast, but that they couldn’t file a report because no crime was committed. They called it unpleasant, but freedom of speech!

And here I am the next day at work, hardly able to concentrate. I feel anxious and violated. I can’t believe that someone can behave like this with no consequences!!! I will try again to file a police report.

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

Teaching people from a very young age that everyone should be treated with respect and gentleness. It also would have helped if someone else besides me called the police on the freeway. We need to be contributing to our society and standing up for each other!

– CJ

Location: On the 101, just at the Las Virgenes exit. Los Angeles, CA

Share your street harassment story for the blog.
See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for more idea.

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