I live in Seattle, and comparatively the street harrassment by men is not as bad as some cities. We don’t have a lot of overt violence and groping, but men here act in passive-agressive ways that can be very annoying on a daily basis. I see it every day, all day, on the downtown streets here. Men walk around with their hands in the pockets and leer at women – almost any women that walks by. They stop at corners and turn around and stare at women walking their way. They stop in the middle of the sidewalk and block the path of a women walking by – anything to try and get attention.

It is pathetic – but I have come to view it as pathological and just as harrassing as groping. I feel incredibly uncomfortable walking alone downtown – at 8am, noon or 5pm. I never walk after dark. The only strategy that I have found works here – is headphones. Obvious Head Phones. It sends a message that you want no communication. It does not stop them all – but many get the message.

– anonymous

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