Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

“This was the first time I felt in a position where I could do something”

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I’m a man, I have never been harassed so I don’t know how degrading it feels but I do know it is awful to watch. I have been brought up by a very feminist Mother and a Father who treated me to stand up for others. I saw a young girl in a club who was being chatted up by a guy who was obviously drunk and much older by at least ten years but it progresses to being rather sexually aggressive as she turned him down. He started to grope and pinch as she walked away pulling her back and so on. It was embarrassing to watch and made me feel sick with anger, this was the first time I felt in a position where I could do something, I walked over and said, ‘Thats enough.’

He seemed startled but instantly his attention switched away from the girl, which was fortunate. Unfortunately his attention turned to me. I am not big or strong and I received a good beating. But I have never felt better about myself and would do it again if I saw it.

– C W-M

Location: Southend Night Club.

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“I have been flashed, groped, had disgusting verbal abuse shouted at me.”

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I have been flashed, groped, had disgusting verbal abuse shouted at me. Whistling and kissing noises are not as threatening as someone actually in your personal space or threatening you with sexual violence.

Having read this blog these menaces are more of a problem than I thought. I have often been tempted to shout back or even throw a straight right but I am too scared and instead ignore the culprits rather than risk even more abuse.

– Anonymous

Location: Lewisham Way, Deptford Broadway, Norwood Junction, Various SE London

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“No woman should be blamed for encouraging men to act in this way”

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I am a 22 year old British woman and I have never really had many bad experiences in the UK – maybe the odd wolf whistle or comment but I have rarely felt intimidated.

When I moved to the south of France last year, I experienced street harassment on a regular basis. A car drove along, stopped and reversed, which was very intimidating. My friend (also British) and I were walking along the street and some men heard us speaking English and started to harass us. Then they grabbed us and as we walked faster and ignored them, they threw a glass bottle at us. We had glass thrown at us in the middle of the day once before. Luckily, it did not land too near us.

Men have gotten in my face and shouted at me. It would be expected to be groped in a night club.

Never before have I ever felt so intimidated.

When I asked people why men felt it appropriate to do this, I would hear the response that it’s cultural. We, the Brits, encourage it somehow by wearing provocative clothing. I did not wear provocative clothing for this very reason, yet it still happened and besides, that way of thinking is frankly absurd in today’s society.

Women everywhere should feel safe to walk down the street without that feeling of intimidation and the fear as you get hotter and your heart beats faster. No woman should be blamed for encouraging men to act in this way.

– Anonymous

Location: Aix/Marseille, France

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“Perverted creep comes on a bike and grabs my breasts”

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I was right on my street trying to check my pocket to see if i dropped the cash and one perverted creep comes on a bike and grabs my breasts. I scream and call him a fuckin asshole..and he comes back and says i will wait fa u…

never ever felt so helpless and so freaked…

– Angela

Location: r.m.v 2nd stage, Bangalore, India

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“Why don’t you come over and suck me!”

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Walking home alone from a night out with some friends, I was followed by one man who [said he wanted to] sleep in my bed with me, no matter how many times I told him I had a boyfriend. When he gave up, from the other side of the street, I heard a couple of men yelling at me, “Hey baby!” and when I didn’t react, they started yelling some more, “Hey baby! Hey sexy! Why don’t you come over and suck me! Suck me baby, Suck me!”

That sort of behavior is just repulsive and I don’t understand why women here in Norway permit it! I’ve even been groped while walking down the street as a passer-by managed to grab my rear! I wasn’t even wearing anything remotely revealing!

– Anonymous

Location: Drammen, Norway

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