While walking in NYC, I stopped to take a picture of wood work on a door. As I turned to leave, the uniformed doorman of the building told me I was blocking the door and had to leave. I actually thought he was kidding because I was leaving and there was no one else in the doorway or on the sidewalk at all. So I laughed, pointed this out, and took two steps away. That’s when he called me a bitch. I’ve never been called this name before — I am a middle-aged, elementary school teacher and this word is not in my expressive vocabulary. I turned back and he repeated himself. I moved closer to see the name on his tag and he told me his name was Patrick McKay, asked if I needed him to spell that for me and told me that he only had to be nice to the residents of the building.

He laughed at me and said, “Who are you going to complain to?” The answer, Mr. McKay, is anyone who will listen, including the management of your building the NYPD, the mayor’s office and any online source I can find. You may not speak to women so disrespectfully and expect no consequence.

– CBS

Location: The Greenwich Club Residents, NYC

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It started this month and is on going. As I walk to work these two guys drive by and honk at me. Twice they have called out their window too. It makes me feel very unsafe. I am Trans*. I was assigned Female at birth but I don’t consider myself female. I even shaved all the hair off my head this past weekend and they are still honking as they drive by as I walk to work. It makes me feel so uncomfortable and unsafe. It makes me fear, what if they would drive by when I am walking home late at night. Would they just honk? What if they try to grab me? What if it escalates? I should be allowed to feel safe walking to and from work.

– Kris

Location: New Holland, Pennsylvania (walking to work)

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“Today I was followed into the downtown branch of the library by a 20-something excuse for a human being slinging hateful, sexist language at me. He started a few blocks away and got louder and louder until I entered the library and a male library employee physically blocked him by starting a conversation with me. He said: “”Ho. Ho. Ho. Hohoho and I don’t mean Santa Claus. I said HOHOHO AND I DON’T MEAN SANTA CLAUS. Hey bitch, you a fine bitch. Ho. Ho. Ho!  How much a hit? 500? You stuck up bitch. You an ugly ass bitch anyway. You can’t get none, see what I do? Make you feel insecure about yourself. Ho.”” On and on.

I ignored him, since he obviously was looking for attention. In retrospect I wish I had had pepper spray on me. I feel so discouraged that the people perpetuating the problem are the ones least likely to listen to me if I do engage. What could I have said that would have made him understand how angry, intimidated and disappointed his actions made me feel? He probably would have enjoyed knowing he had that effect on me. It feels hopeless.

– Anonymous

Location: Seattle/wa/USA central library 4th and Madison

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I was walking home from work, in a happy mood. Futher down the street I saw a group of young boys that I couldn’t avoid so I braced myself for the inevitable harassment. I concentrated on looking forwards and walking quickly hoping I’d somehow be invisible to them. But no, I was shouted at across the road that I was ‘ugly as f**k’ and I shouldn’t step out without a paper bag on my head. They then proceeded to ask for my number and my age in a sarcastic manner. I wanted to cry immediately. I am so angry that 14 year old boys are behaving this way to a woman on her own.

It was intimidating, I felt threatened and not the confident person I usually am. I hate that I am made to feel this way in my own town and I hate that I expect to be harassed on a daily basis. It’s not okay.

– CFS

Location: Lancashire, UK, on the street

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This morning, I was walking to work, listening to my iPod and I was passing a construction site that has been up and running for almost a year. One of the construction workers said, “Good morning, beautiful” to me. I got so annoyed I turned around and said something to him. I said, “Why do you think it’s appropriate to catcall women? I’m having a nice morning walking to work and you ruined it.” He then proceeded to make a rude comment about how I tripped when he said something and that he “made me nervous” I told him me tripping had nothing to do with him and that he was embarrassing himself in front of his colleagues (about 8 of his co-workers were watching this).

One of his colleagues stepped in and told him to apologize and he refused to. I stood there waiting and finally his colleague apologized on his behalf and I said thank you and went on my way.

Afterwards, I felt empowered for sticking up for myself but now I am just nervous to pass that corner again. It is so frustrating that I need to be scared to walk to work at 8:45 a.m.. Also, I wish I had waited for the harasser to actually apologize.

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

I wish someone (man or woman) came to my defense this morning after witnessing me stick up for myself. After all, it was me again 9 construction workers. If I ever witness a girl in my situation, I will go to her aid.

– Anonymous

Location: Midtown East, New York, New York, USA

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