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“Fine ass ho”

September 8, 2009 By Contributor

In Athens, Ohio, USA, I was having an evening workout around 7 PM. I was running in shorts and a tank top, minding my own business when a group of teenage boys in a sedan slowed down next to me. One of them said in a sing-songy voice:

“There she go, the fine ass ho.”

I WAS 15. I froze. I didn’t know what to say, so I said nothing while they drove off laughing. I was scared to death, I wanted to cry, and most of all, I couldn’t understand why anyone in their right mind would terrorize a girl like that. Now that I’m 22, I realize that my offense was being in public while female. And, even more egregious was the offense of wearing shorts and a tank top while young and attractive.

I wish I could say that I reacted strongly every time I’ve been harassed since then, but it’s not that simple. You can never be prepared to react to a harasser, because it is impossible to tell which man will be the next perpetrator. So these days, I just stare straight ahead and stomp my ass off. Nothing scares harassers more than confidence. But, when men harass me anyway, I still find myself at a loss, frozen, scared, with no sense of how to react until after the fact.

– A.G.

Location: Athens, OH

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.

Weekly Round Up – July 26

July 26, 2009 By HKearl

Stories:

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.

On this blog, contributors submitted stories about getting harassed at a swimming pool in Dubai, being harassed by a man in an SUV in Ohio, and weekly harassment experiences in Portland, OR.
Holla Back Toronto has a new story about a woman getting sexually assaulted on her walk from a bus stop and a contributor discusses getting harassed by male customers at her job.
On Holla Back NYC a woman tells about getting harassed by a several men in one day. Her post includes a photo of some of them.
On Holla Back DC! a woman was groped by a man passing by on his bike, another was harassed by a “serial harasser,” and a third witnessed a man masturbating at a DC metro station.

In the News:

There is a new, thriving women-run taxi business in Beirut, Lebanon, which helps women get around safely and free from male harassment.
A “wolf whistling” contest was held in Ireland this week to see which man can whistle at women the best…disgusting!
In Philadelphia, PA, a man threatened and groped a woman at knife point on the subway. She was holding her baby at the time.

Upcoming Events:

The Young Women’s Action Team is holding a free “Anti-Street Harassment Summer Camp” on August 1, in Chicago, IL. It looks like it will be a great event, so check it out if you’re in the Chicago area.

Announcements:

I’ve been offered a book contract for my proposed book on street harassment! Submit your stories for inclusion.
Enter a photography contest for photographers who capture or depict street harassment, particularly in the DC area. Selected winners will have the chance to show/sell their work at a reception the evening before the Holla Back DC: Make DC Harassment Free Summit.
RightRides in NYC recently has expanded their services of a free ride home from Saturday nights to include Friday nights too! They offer this service from 11:59 p.m. – 3 a.m. in 45 neighborhoods across four boroughs. To call for a ride, the dispatch number is (718) 964-7781 OR (888)215-SAFE (7233).

Street Harassment Resource of the Week:

A video by a Penn State student showing the volume of harassment women experience on campus.

Coincidence or Stalker? HELP!

July 22, 2009 By Contributor

I’ve had run-ins with truckers on the interstate here in Ohio before, with them honking their horns and smiling. I just blow it off, it’s not a big deal.

But on my way to work one morning, I was driving down the interstate minding my own business and a man comes up in his SUV and is in the right lane while I’m in the left lane. I always look at the person who is driving next to me, it’s a habit. Who doesn’t? Anyway, he began waving, smiling and starting to flirt with me. I sped up and got off the interstate, that’s when I read his license plate (which is very easy to remember) and he waved “goodbye” while I exited the highway. I thought it was a weird experience, but forgot about it and went on.

Just today, I was headed the opposite way from my work to my boyfriend’s house, driving the speed limit, passing slow drivers if i had too, then all of a sudden I look over and see a man looking at me. I didn’t think much of it, sped up and continued down the interstate. Then the car gets behind me. I look up and see a man waving at me in my rear view mirror. I had my sunglasses on so he couldn’t have seen me looking. Anyways… he was getting into the left lane and was trying to be side by side me to get my attention, I didn’t look until the backside of his car was in front of me. I looked at the license plate and realized it is the same exact guy from a couple of weeks ago!

He began trying to get in front of me, beside me, behind me and on the other side and I just kept speeding up or slowing down and changing lanes as much as possible to avoid him. Finally he stayed behind me for at least 1 /2 mile and then he began waving at me again, pointing and flashing his lights, telling me to get off at the exit he was getting off at!

I could not believe what I was seeing. I watched the guy until he got off the highway and called my boyfriend. He doesn’t think much about it, but my parents do. If I see the man again I’m afraid he will follow me or worse, so the police will receive a call. Tonight I put a knife under my bed just in case!

If you have any advice, please say so! thanks!!!

-anonymous

Location: Ohio

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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