It happens every day, between 5 to 20 times a day. On my very short way to the bakery I may be catcalled 6 times. Sometimes a man brushes past me, coming from behind, whispering things in my ear. I feel scared and angry, and anger is keeping me awake at night. I dream I fight and break every bone in his face.

One day I was walking down the street and a man from a car called me. I ignored him because I’ve tried everything and in the end I always get called names. He slowed down and started following me in his car. Another time I was walking and a group of men was coming from the opposite direction. It was too late (and not easy) to change pavements so I continued, trying not to walk too fast or too slow, eyes down. They circled me and walked with me for a hundred meters. I told them, ʺYou won, I’m scared, now can you leave me alone?ʺ they continued a little then left. Anger is piling up inside me.

Now a simple catcall fuels me up for the day and it takes longer and longer to calm down. It happens everywhere, whether in posh areas or in poorer neighborhoods. It happens whether they’re on the phone or with their kids in their arms. It happens whether they’re barely fourteen or in their fifties. I’ve learned to spot groups of men, change my itinerary, avoid certain places at certain times, walk with my hands free ʺjust in caseʺ.

I dream of telescopic sticks and pepper sprays and knives.

One day I was having a burger in my car, parked right in front of the restaurant. Two men parked next to me and started knocking on my window, asking me to lower it down. I didn’t move, they started hitting harder and harder.

There is just not ONE day that goes by without being harassed by men out there.

People ask me why I don’t get accompanied by a guy? Right, because obviously women are not allowed to be outside anymore?! One day (in broad daylight, please stop thinking this is about going out late and ʺtaking risksʺ (?!)) a man on a bicycle climbed on the pavement, stopped right in front of me, told the male friend with me to ʺf**k offʺ. Which he did. Nothing else happened but I was so scared, and I felt so powerless.

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

There should be a public statement made by the politics. Not once did they take the initiative to say ʺBelgium is a free country where both men and women have the same rights. If you can’t respect this principle, those values, measures will be taken.ʺ I’m afraid I’d also add: more cameras…

– Anonymous

Location: Brussels, Belgium

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

Today I was walking home from my future apartment at 4 p.m. It’s about a 25 minute walk and I was walking at a leisurely Sunday pace with no place to be. I noticed a car turn around and park in an odd spot near the beginning of my walk, took note of it, but I wasn’t feeling unsafe. I cut through the local park where some people were playing softball and kids were on the playground.

I turned on to my street and had about a 1/2 mile walk to go. I was texting my friend and noticed that there was a car parked on the side of the street, again I didn’t think anything of it but it looked similar to the one from the start of my walk. As I was walking past the car the man said something and I turned and looked to see his penis out and masturbating. I quickly averted my eyes and sped up but did not want him to know where I lived and thought it was too risky to turn around and snap a photo of the car.

I heard the car blast by me and up the street fast enough so that I could not take a photo or read the plate numbers. I immediately started crying and running towards my house. I felt violated and I ran into my house an took off my dress, put on gym shorts and a t-shirt and called my sister. For some reason I felt like I needed to take those clothes off to try and wipe my mind clean of the ordeal.

She told me to call the non–emergency line, which I did to report but I didn’t have much information. I hope that if he continues to do this someone will be quicker and take a photo so that this man can be stopped.

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

A tip line that people could text reporting street harassment, or a twitter/facebook feed that would alert people within an area of people that are harassing others so that we can be aware or even prepared.

– LB

Location: Brighton, MA

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I live in the center of the city of Chicago. I was harassed on the street earlier in the morning around 8:30 a.m. near Millennium Park. Two guys were constantly calling me and my friend when we walked pass by the park. My friend and I decided to ignored their calls completely then suddenly one guy decided to follow behind. And he patted on both of our butts then left.

The feeling was awful, helpless and angry. I was helpless because all the lookers whom may have seen his action did nothing. There were not one person stood up to help. I felt angry because there was nothing I could have done to stop him.
The idea of ignoring his call was our defense for avoiding trouble. However the trouble did not even go away under our defense but it got worst by allowing the asshole to take us as vulnerable target.

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

The reason why they exist on the street is because they think they could just easily get away for their nasty actions. I think all the people or onlookers should take action when they witness a thing like that. They can’t just let the jerks get away without any consequences.

– Anonymous

Location: Millennium Park, Chicago, IL

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I was catcalled for the first time today. I’m 13 years old. I always thought catcalling was something that happened to other, older women, something very uncommon. But today I was proved wrong. I was walking to the checkout at the grocery store, at around 9 PM. There’s this one pair of guys, one in his 50s, one probably 25 or so. They’re walking towards me and my mom too, towards the checkout. At first I didn’t think anything of it, they were just making their way towards the checkout. But then the 50-year-old guy goes, ʺHey baby!ʺ (at this point, I really didn’t register what he said and I was sure he wasn’t talking to me.)

So the guy makes this sound like, ʺUh?ʺ like trying to get my attention or something. And that’s when I realized what was going on. Now, remember, this guy is 50 FREAKING YEARS OLD. I AM 13. I am not mature for my age by any means. My butt is flat, my boobs are almost non-existent, and it’s pretty easy to tell how young I am. And my mom is standing only a few inches away from me. But the guy keeps going. ʺC’mon, baby, talk to me!ʺ My heart started racing and I wanted to cry. I was so scared. I just ignored the asshole. But before the situation could escalate, this creeper’s 25-ish-year-old son saved the day. He said something along the lines of, ʺC’mon, Dad, let’s go.ʺ You could tell he was really uncomfortable with the situation. And I guess they left after that.

I know that way worse catcalling situations occur all the time, but this was the first time it happened to me, and I have never felt worse. Especially when I thought about the fact that this guy was in his 50s, and he was attracted to me, a 13-year-old girl. It’s disgusting, when you think about it.

My mom is half-deaf and can’t hear well in loud situations (such as this grocery store) so she had no idea this went on until I told her about it in the car. She said, ʺI’m sorry that happened. But this is just something you’re gonna have to deal with,ʺ and tried to cheer me up.

So I guess this is what it’s like to be a woman in this society. God, it sucks.

– Anonymous

Location: A QFC in Bothell, Washington, USA

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I went in to pick up my sister from summer camp. A lot of people were around. While walking out back out a young boy and his friends (they looked as if they were around 10-12 yrs old) said, ʺBring that ass here.ʺ I was so mortified all I could do was turn back angrily to say, ʺExcuse me what did you just say!ʺ

They all responded with laughter. Although I look like I walked out angrily, I really left feeling defeated, angry, powerless and violated because what was I to do in a situation like that? I felt that I could have stood up more for myself but the shock of it all especially when this came from a a boy who was only around 10yrs and I was 18.

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

I seriously think more people need to push for an anti-catcalling law.

– Anonymous

Location: A summer camp

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