Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

“I was trembling and on the edge of crying”

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When I was 14, I was going to the mall to meet up with some friends and go shopping. My dad dropped me off near another entrance to the mall that wasn’t the main one, and so I got off the car and made my way towards the entrance.

The area near that entrance seemed deserted, so I thought that I would get in no problem. As I was crossing the street, a man who seemed to be in his 30s stopped me, so I turn around and look at him, “Excuse me, I have $16,” he said.

I was confused at first, but what he said next sent shivers down my spine. “I can show you the money. Come on, please. It can just be for a little while. It’ll be a quickie.”

I was petrified and extremely scared. I quickly said that I wasn’t interested and that I was underage and quickly left.

As soon as I did, he started yelling: “Holy f*ck man! What a b*tch!”

I was trembling and on the edge of crying by when I entered the mall. Never before have I felt my self confidence plummet as much as that moment.

– Anonymous

Location: Ottawa, Canada

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.

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Followed at age 16

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I was 16. After school, just three blocks away from home, a guy told me something nasty, I ignored him and continued walking. He started following me. I didn’t turn my head to see him, just felt him behind me, picking up his pace as I did.

I felt the need to run but didn’t know exactly where to run, I saw a man washing his car and i went to him and told him that somebody was following and asked him if I could stay there, he just nodeed yes but never asked me if I was ok or offered me help.

I didn’t know why I fell so bad if nothing happened. I thought i was overreacting. I went home and instead of going in, I crossed the street to my neighbour’s house and asked if I could stay there until my parents came home.

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

Education, what to do in case of…, and how to avoid it.

– Flor Cervantes

Location: Tijuana, México

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.

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“I feel very harassed”

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A nurse with a home care provider masturbated in his car before his appointment with my mother and I saw everything from a garage window and our neighbor saw too. Surprised that a seemingly trustworthy caregiver would do something like that in public and on the job. I feel very harassed even though he may think no one saw.

– Anonymous

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.

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“I hid on a random front porch until they finally left”

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I don’t have a car right now because I live downtown and my apartment has no parking. I walk a short distance to work and the grocery store. I’m stared down by construction workers and yelled at and catcalled at least once everyday.

The other night I was stalked by a car which pulled into two different parking lots to wait for me—I hid on a random front porch until they finally left. Men will cross a huge street to harass me/ask for money. I lived in Chicago for a while and it was never like this. Asheville didn’t used to be like this.

I constantly feel like I’m going to be attacked and somehow it’s my fault because I choose not to have a car. I carry pepper spray and hold my head high.

– JCL

Location: Asheville, NC

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.

Share