Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

Street harasser sent home from work

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I work as a dog walker in NYC, and one afternoon I was walking one of my dogs and waiting at the corner of an intersection for a light to change. As I stood there, a truck for a very well-known delivery company drove by. The driver of the truck turned to ogle me (as he drove) and then made a disgusting, lewd kissing face / noise at me. I was horrified.

Fortunately, though he’d driven too fast for me to catch his license plate number, I recorded the exact time and location that the incident took place. That night, I e-mailed the company and notified them of the incident.

The company responded within 2 – 3 hours (not during normal business hours, either… I got an e-mail at 11 p.m.!). The person who wrote me was incredibly apologetic and informed me that he personally would find out who the driver was and attend to the situation himself. He gave me his direct number and asked if I could give a physical description of the driver, which I did.

A day later he e-mailed me again to let me know that the driver had been removed from the day’s schedule and sent home, and would have to attend meetings with an HR representative and the Director of Operations. It was great to feel like I could actually take action against street harassment and have my concerns taken seriously.

– Anonymous

Location: New York City, New York

Share your street harassment story today and help raise awareness about the problem. Include your location and it will be added to the Street Harassment Map.

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London bus stop masturbator

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So I’m sitting at the bus stop and this guy just starts tossing off next to me………..eeeeewwww

I froze, i didnt know what to do…then all his gunk starting flicking around…before i knew it he was gone and there was some on my coat.

– Anonymous

Location: London, UK

Share your street harassment story today and help raise awareness about the problem. Include your location and it will be added to the Street Harassment Map.

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You did NOT just make my day

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I was sitting in my car at an intersection, when a truck full of guys pulls up and noticed me and my sister next to them. One of the guys started yelling out his car at us, the whole, “Hey ladies, how you doing” scenario. We ignored him, which must have embarrassed him in front of his friends because then he yelled, “Hey I just made your day”. Not a chance.

– Anonymous

Location: Massachusetts

Share your street harassment story today and help raise awareness about the problem. Include your location and it will be added to the Street Harassment Map.

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“I don’t see it as a compliment – I see it as RUDE!”

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I had just gotten lunch and I was headed to Union Square Park to eat. I was waiting at the corner (at about where Broadway intersects 14th St), looking at my phone, when a thin older man rode by very slowly on a bike. As he passed me, I could feel him staring me in the face and at my chest (even though it doesn’t matter, I’ll mention the fact that I wasn’t even wearing a shirt where you could really SEE my chest!). Then he murmured, “You’re beautiful.”

I looked up at him, scowling, and he’d turned around to look back at me. He winked and made a kissy face as I gave him my most murderous glare.

He said, “It’s a compliment!”

I replied, “I don’t see it as a compliment – I see it as RUDE!”

He obviously did not like the way I responded, because he circled his bike around as if to say something more to me but thought better of it and kept going. Fortunately there were a lot of people around, otherwise I would’ve panicked when he’d turned around.

This is one of the first times I’ve worked up the nerve to say something to a street harasser, and I felt SO empowered in doing it! Unfortunately I’m going to think twice about doing it if I’m alone…

– Anonymous

Location: Broadway and 14th St, Union Square, New York City, NY

Share your street harassment story today and help raise awareness about the problem. Include your location and it will be added to the Street Harassment Map.

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Weekly Round Up: September 19, 2010

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Story Submissions Recap:

I accept street harassment submissions from anywhere in the world. Share your story!

In the News, On the Blogs:

Announcements:

10 Tweets from the Week:

  • PiperYAnderson Wearing tights for the first time in over 10yrs. Stopped wearing shorts or tights after a traumatic experience. #streetharassment
  • lillyheart: Decided: I would rather tithe to @iHollaback than the church until it recognizes my humanity.
  • accostherwilde A new taste of street harassment: dudes holla-ing @ me from their cars as I sit on my porch. Now they know where I live
  • MissNabokov Men probably don’t realise what a big issue street harassment actually is (unless they’re the ones doing it). It really needs addressing.
  • gyraff Why tweet abt st. harassment? Was told all my life to feel “grateful” and “appreciated” for getting catcalls . Actually, it feels yucky.
  • mgeils One of the many things I don’t miss about public transit/busing/walking is street harassment and catcalling #fuckyou #shutup
  • Mdotwrites DC streets be quiet on Redskin Sundays. Mean less street harassment for me. Ain’t THAT some shit.
  • CTrouper Had my eyeballs on a copy of glamour mag. Q&a on street harassment article on summer of mainstream misogyny. Heart.
  • smanamana I also hate this RT @karennattiah: Street harassment is one thing I hate about New York
  • clembastow Here’s a hint, guys: street harassment does not make women want to “spend some time” with you.

Resource of the Week:

Check out these new button, stickers, and magnets you can use to declare your dislike of street harassment and to brand/shame street harassers!!

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