Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

Leerer at the ice skating rink

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I was ice skating and became aware of an adult man staring at me, and then moving to get in my way, and continuing to watch me for a very extended period of time. I went over and told him to stop, that I didn’t like it and it made me uncomfortable. Several minutes later a man, his ‘coach’, came out of the building and right over to me to ball me out, saying the guy was in a lesson and I had no right to talk to the man.

– Anonymous

Location: Wollman Skating Rink, New York City

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Street harasser causes traffic jam

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I was just walking down the street near my work place, on my way to get some lunch. A man in a large truck started slowly following me and staring at me. I gave him a bad look but he didn’t go away – he was holding up the traffic behind him. I flicked my finger at him and he started yelling and swearing at me from his truck window. He wouldn’t stop until I went into a nearby building.

– Anonymous

Location: Avenue DuRocher, Outrement, Quebec, Canada

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“This bloke was undressing me in his mind”

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Today i was out doing some shopping for tonight’s supper with my boyfriend. I enjoyed a cuppa in Sainsbury’s cafe and rode the bus home. The bus journey went ok, no annoying little prats spoiling it, no drunks trying to hit on me and no fat, bald perverts leering at me – OH, hang on, that is until this ugly middle aged man (say in his 60s) got on the bus and sat on one of the side seats.

He then proceeded to stare at me even though i ignored him. I then got up to get off and as i did so, i felt his pervy eyes ogle at me as i walked off (i was wearing a dress) and even when the bus drove off, i saw him staring at me until the bus was no longer in sight.

What a creep.

It made me so mad and uncomfortable knowing that this bloke was undressing me in his mind and had got away with it. I felt degraded and it ruined my night. I’m sure he had ‘lovely’ thoughts about me when he went to bed, gross! Oh and by the way I’m 19!

– Clarice

Location: No 63 bus, north cornelly, south wales, uk

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Barcelona beach creeper

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I was alone at a nude beach that was nearly empty. I was swimming naked, always close to the beach to take care of my stuff there.

I was there for some time and it was simply great because I had the beach just for myself, the first time since I’m in Barce. After being there for 20 minutes a guy came to the beach, sat down some meters away from my clothes and watched me. I tried to ignore him but I just couldnt relax. It was horrible because I wanted to be alone, not observed but I couldnt swim away because he couldve stolen my stuff so I stayed close there.

I feeled caught in the water because i never wanted to get out, naked, while he was observing me. Horrible!
After ten minutes feeling more than uncomfortable I went out of the water, weared my clothes on without drying myself before and went home crying. I didnt dare it to shout at him or to do something else because I was naked (rather half naked because I was in my wet clothes without underwear).

– HW

Location: Barcelona, Spain

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“Getting in women’s faces is aggressive”

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I’ve had a really good day at work and am merrily on my street, almost at my door, weighed down with tins of cat food, when I notice three people coming towards me. I recognise them – they live a few doors down from me – one girl and two guys, all (I think) Turkish students. As I have to walk past them, the taller of the two guys is practically goddamn drooling at my modest shirt dress covered up by a coat and when he gets near me leans over to get right in my face. The other guy (and girl!) don’t even bat an eyelid and I respond by shouting, “Get a grip!” after I’ve rushed past him.

By the time I get home, I’m seething – I’m on my own street and the end of my blissful day has been ruined by this idiot. I’m feeling fragile and end up crying to my boyfriend (whilst Romeo down the road has probably forgotten my existence by now). I don’t usually let this get to me, but it was the blatant aggression of it.

Getting in women’s faces is aggressive and nothing more than a pathetic attempt to shove your masculine ‘power’ in my face. If you try this one again, mate, I think I’ll be doing my best scream queen caterwaul back in your face so you leave with your ears ringing. Leave me the hell alone!

– Anonymous

Location: Waldeck Road, North London, UK

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