While walking with two male friends from a bar to get food a passing man grabbed my ass. I immediately grabbed his shirt and slapped him across his face. I yelled at him, “You cannot touch me! You cannot just grab someone’s ass! That is not ok!”

He stuttered a weak response and basically ran away. I burst into tears. It happened crossing the street in a large crowd of people so a lot of people saw and heard what happened. I hope they all took it to heart.

– Anonymous

Location: Washington

I get harassed about once or twice a week when I leave the house. As soon as it gets nice out and I want to be outside, I get punished for being outside.

At this point, even though I’m terrified, I put on lipstick and dress in the way that makes me feel good. Because it honestly doesn’t seem to matter what I wear. I get harassed in sweatpants or skirts. I might as well look the way I want to look if it’s going to happen anyway. I’m officially tired of being scared. I refuse to change the way I behave because street harassing men think my body belongs to them when it is outside.

I’m taking back my streets.

And when I walk my dog, I’m holding on to her poop bags for that special kind of street harasser who seems to think he’s safe in his car.

Do you have any suggestions for dealing with harassers and/or ending street harassment in general?

We need awesome male allies who are willing to speak up when they hear or see nasty ideas arise or get enacted in their communities of men. If we create a culture of shame around these behaviors, we can help make a serious dent in street harassment, sexual assault, and domestic abuse.

– SF

Location: Philadelphia, PA

I was stuck next to a man on a crowded bus for 10 minutes who kept making comments about my appearance. He said I should fill the world with babies. “I will, sir, and I’ll fire them out of my vagina like a t-shirt cannon,” I thought. I very briskly walked back to my apartment when we both got off at the same stop. Ick.

– Anonymous

Location: Seattle, WA

It was the first time I felt truly independent, walking around the streets of NYC all by myself for the first time. I was walking around 59th St, looking for what boutique to go in next when suddenly a guy wearing baggy clothes and a cap (seemed to be almost all white) (he looked around his late teens), his eyes suddenly “met” mine as I was scanning the stores, I had a delicious smoothie on hand and as he was walking opposite me, he went closer and said, “Can I get a sip” in the most smug and disturbing way possible.

It annoyed me so much, I just walked straight passed him with a disgusted look on my face. I enjoy NYC so much every time I visit and this had to happen… Regardless, I tried not to let it stop me but now I tend to wear my sunglasses more often as I don’t want my eyes to cross paths again with somebody like him…

– Anonymous

Location: 59th Street near Lexington Avenue near Zara