I was on a college campus and parked at the parking garage near the library. The area isn’t the best on campus, but I had never felt unsafe before, and besides, it was the middle of the afternoon when I went.

Anyway, I parked, and as I was walking out of the parking garage, some guy called from his truck, “You walk by me too quick, hon!” I never saw him because I just kept walking and pretended I hadn’t heard him, but I felt my face flush and my heart beat faster with a little fear. This was the first time I had ever been catcalled or street harassed, and I just felt like I was in danger.

A guy that is willing to call out to you might be willing to do other things, you know? A week after this happened, there was a news story about someone who was raped in that area. I just wish that people could walk through public places and feel safe from the threat of verbal, physical, or sexual assault. It’s disrespectful and inappropriate. I want someone to find me attractive, but it should be someone I know and care about, not some random guy in a parking garage.

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

Around campus we have police boxes that have buttons that connect the speakers to 911. I think that these would be valuable to have in many places, especially secluded public spaces like parking garages. We also have an safety escort service, which has two people pick you up and take you home if you want. This too would be a great idea for off campus as well. Obviously we can’t forcibly keep people from calling out lewd things, but we can put safety precautions in place to help potential victims take control of the situation.

– Anonymous

Location: Indiana, USA

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

I was walking in a parking lot from one store to another, alone at like 9 p.m., and a car full of guys in their late teens/early 20s pulls up. A guy in the back rolls down his window, shouts, “Hey there, Cuteass,” laughs, and then the car pulls away. I felt pretty powerless and objectified, like yeah, nothing actually happened to me, but if they had decided to, what would have been able to stop a group of strong guys from hurting me or acting on those kind of comments?

I also felt guilty, racking my brain for what I could have done differently, angry for the thousands of women who are actually oppressed daily. My instance was little, but it points to something bigger than itself.

– Grace

Location: Wheaton, Illinois

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I take the public buses often. He sat directly in front of me and kept staring. For those 20 minutes he did not say a word, but he kept raising his eyebrow at me suggestively. He fidgeted with his legs and touched his foot to my knee. And stared. And smiled. A few stops later, I got off and headed straight for transit security. I noticed he got off the bus as well. I told security and they had me file a report for the guy with the police. It might not be enough, but if he is a repeat offender, they will be able to take action.

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

Have police trained to deal with this. Be able to report it and have police take action, even if only repeat offenders. It was a relief to be taken seriously and to have my story documented for records should that man be a repeat offender.

– KT

Location: Seattle WA, King County Metro

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I was walking home from a party one night in a friend’s apartment, a little intoxicated and worried about getting home, which was about an hour’s walk. It was early enough in the night, and town was packed, but even still, a man decided it was appropriate to approach me. He walked behind me for a few minutes, making sure I knew he was there, then tried to engage me in conversation.
“Hello”
I ignored him and didn’t break stride.
“Oh, you are so beautiful!”
I continued to ignore him, continued walking at the same high speed.
“This is not the first time I have seen you tonight”
Creepy, but I kept going.
“Everyone is looking at you!”
This was just not what I needed right now, so I stopped, looked him directly in the eye with a dragon stare and just went “Oh… THANKS.”
Then, without waiting for a response, turned on my heel and continued walking without looking back. He didn’t follow.

Another time I was walking home, a bit later, on a deserted street. A man started the same shite with me, insinuating himself on the edge of my walk, then walking up and saying hello. This time I was just not having it. I was sober, I was pissed off at the sheer amount of times this happens to me, so I decided to let loose and give him a piece of my mind.

“This is not the way you meet women!” I snapped at him, he looked confused, like this had never happened and he asked me what I meant. “You don’t just walk up to people on the street and start talking to them!”
“Oh I’m just walking!”
I don’t remember this word for word but I kept giving him loads, and then he said he was just going to keep walking, and I said, “GRAND!” and stopped, so with his momentum he kept going a couple of paces, and I crossed to the other side of the street. He kept shouting over that I was a bitch, kept at it, calling me a f***ing bitch until I just shouted back, “”I DON’T GIVE A F*** WHAT YOU THINK!””

That shut him up.

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

All I can say is teach women the right attitude, everything I’ve read of success stories from this site is all people who either ridiculed their street abusers, or physically fought back and got them arrested. I always walk around Dublin alone with a fast stride, my arms crossed, radiating a confident attitude, and I take exercise and self-defense classes. While this clearly doesn’t always stop people from approaching me, they soon learn that I’m not going to be a victim, and they f*** off. These people are tiny-minded little bullies who want an easy target, not someone who’s likely to kick their ass or make them feel like the rude people they are.

– SK

Location: Dublin, Ireland (George’s street and then up near Rathmines, respectively)

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