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

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Yesterday I was walking along a street and then this boy started staring at me and he smiled also!! I turned my head after a few minutes I saw him following me I was so scared. My father was a little bit far and I went to him and turned to see if the boy was staring at me and he was!! Then I was like this is life and turned my head!!

But this has to end always the same problem with boys.

– Anonymous

Location: Lebanon

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My story starts with me walking downtown in Saskatoon from my car to the mall for my shift at work. In an ugly uniform, broad daylight, two o’clock in the afternoon. I had to cross a parking lot and an alley between a couple of businesses and a car with five young but big guys rolled into my path blocking my way. They were laughing and telling me how hot I was and telling me to come party with them. I politely declined and tried to laugh it off, saying I had to get to work. And they wouldn’t let me by and after some more banter they got out of the car. Five men. All much larger than me surrounded me and making the sexual comments and grazing me while joking amongst themselves of how much fun I would be.

I’m Caucasian, 5’9 but skinny, 130 pounds, and suffer from Lupus, so I wasn’t any match for any of them. And I started to get scared and more vocal in telling them no and to let me go. One of them grabbed me and tried to move me towards the car while I struggled and screamed every curse I could think of and they still just laughed. There were two customers that came out of the restaurant and saw what was happening, and an elderly homeless man who had been rightfully hesitant to get involved being so clearly outnumbered.

The guys let me go and got in their car and left after being confronted. The two men from the restaurant walked me to work where I sat down and sobbed over what had taken place. I was late and my boss was angry with me until I explained what had happened. And she uselessly offered to get her female employees rape whistles.

I began carrying a knife with me after that, knowing that it wouldn’t be much good against a large crowd. It would be wrestled away from me before I could do enough damage and more than likely end up on the receiving end but I swore I would never go down without a fight. Since that incident, I’ve become hostile and challenging instead of the joking way I tried to play it off to begin with and I’ve not had any serious problems since.

Street harassment is a real issue facing women but we have to take a stand for ourselves if we ever want it to stop. Don’t be a victim.

– Anonymous

Location: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada

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