People laugh and make strange noises, bark like a dog, talk about how ugly or funny looking I am, insult my clothing or phone because I am poor. Yes even flat chested and/or “societies definition of ugly” or older women are just as tired of being made fun of as attractive and/or young women are tired of being hit on.

It is just as humiliating to be constantly made fun of as it is for an attractive woman to be hit on. It is very demeaning and contributes to lack of self esteem and self worth.

– Anonymous

Location: Western PA

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I remember when I was running errands for my grandmother in her neighborhood. The part of the city she lives in is a bit questionable, but I always felt okay moving around in familiar areas during the day time. I was walking across a plaza on the way to her senior living apartment home when I saw two men standing near their car. They were several years older than me, probably in their 50’s or 60’s. I planned to make some distance between me and them and make no eye contact. They saw me immediately and made moves to get me to talk to them.

They wanted to know how I was and how pretty I looked and what a pretty girl was doing all alone. One of the men in particular was very interested in me. I told them, “Im fine. I’m just doing errands for my grandmother, I have to keep going.” Of course, they ask me if I was taken. Yes I am, with a wonderful boyfriend. The man interested in me looks rather annoyed at my answer and tries to convince me that somehow my boyfriend isn’t worth anything and how I need to go with him instead. He “promises” he would take me all sorts of places and offers to drive me up to my grandmother’s house. All this time, my warning bells have been going off and I realize that I needed to leave immediately. I tell them briskly that I don’t need the ride and that I have to leave now. So I leave.

I quickly make my way up to my grandmother’s house, still feeling nervous. Then all of a sudden, the two men’s car pulls up close to me. Their windows are rolled down and the two are looking at me with lewd looks on their faces. They’re trying to convince me to get into their car and talk to me, and now Im starting to feel frightened. I cant allow them to see me heading towards my grandmother’s apartment, so I simply walk away from them on a sidewalk path that led to more senior living apartments, since they wouldnt be able to follow me that way. I hid behind one of the buildings and did not come out until I was able to see their car drive off. I was frightened. I didn’t allow myself to leave my hiding spot for at least a good 5 minutes before heading back to my grandmother’s house. I certainly didn’t go back out for the rest of the day.

– Anonymous

Location: Hartford, CT

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