Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

7-11 hideout

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I was walking home from a bar when a couple of guys in a car started propositioning me. They asked me for blow jobs and sex, insinuating that I was a hooker and they’d pay for it. (It was winter time, I was wearing a bulky coat and combat boots and was in no way soliciting). I had to hide in a 7-11 for fifteen minutes before they left.

– anonymous

Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

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’ve been following you for the last four blocks”

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In the middle of the afternoon, in Edmonton, AB, I was walking around downtown running errands. A man pulled up in a car, stopped, got out in front of me.

“Hey, I’ve been following you for the last four blocks,” he said, very aggressively. There were no other people nearby. I got nervous.

“Um, that’s flattering,” I said, sarcastically. I think the sarcasm was lost on him.

“So, let’s go grab a drink,” he said, looking me up and down blatantly.

“I’m married,” I replied, which was actually true. In fact, I had just come from getting a copy of my marriage license.

“Oh, what did you do that for? That’s terrible!” He said.

“Well,” I replied. “It’s sad for you, but it’s wonderful for me, actually.”

“Oh, um, well, good for you,” he said.

“Thanks. Bye!” I walked away as quickly as I could.

– anonymous

Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada

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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Groped at Midday

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I shared my story a few weeks back about the bus stop in Edmonton. I thought I’d come by and share another experience. Of course, I always have to pick the worst of the bunch, because if I wrote in with every experience I’ve ever had with street harassment, I’d do little else.

Anyway, I was walking down the street in downtown Edmonton in the middle of the day. It was the middle of summer, and, since the summers are so hot there, I was wearing a sundress. I didn’t hear the man walking behind me until I felt his breath on the back of my neck. He lifted my skirt and grabbed my butt with both hands.
I spun around and started to yell at him “Hey!” He ran off so fast that I didn’t get a good look at him. I just knew that he had black hair and a smaller build. I didn’t feel like chasing him, so I just screamed “Fuck off!” at his back.

Sadly, it was eight years before I shared that experience with anyone else. I knew I’d most likely be blamed for it for wearing a sundress that flattered my body. I was so used to being blamed for my own harassment at this point that I’d stopped talking about it. It wasn’t until I discovered this website that I started talking about it again.

– MH

Location: Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

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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Bus stop harassment

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I was leaving an open stage I performed at regularly at about midnight. I had to wait for the bus, but I was on a well-lit street, so I wasn’t too worried. A car full of young men drove by. One of them hung his head out the window and yelled, “Hey slut!” The driver honked at me.

I gave them the finger. I was scared that they might stop and do something worse to me, but my pride won over my fear. They gave me the finger back and drove away.

– MH

Location: Edmonton, AB, Canada

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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