Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

Crotch grabber in Istanbul

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I was with my Norwegian colleagues on the streets in Istanbul while we were waiting to get on a boat. I found a nut vender by the side of the street and went over to check out what he was selling. As I was standing there with a couple of other female colleagues, a man walks by and grabs my cooch from behind. It was so strange and quick, I thought it might have been an accident, so I just ignored it. But then, the same man walks by a second time and grabs me in the same spot! I was so stunned! I felt so helpless!

– Kiersten

Location: Istanbul, Turkey

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Believe it or not, I did not walk by so that you could ask me to have sex with you

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Designer Answer Ejiasi created this graphic for a design class last year when she was a student at the University of Iowa. She recently shared it with me and said I could share it for you all to see and appreciate. I love it.

This is the thought behind the project:

“The design is based off of an experience I had at a fast food restaurant in Florida roughly two years ago on my birthday. It’s also based on a number of the experiences I had read about on this blog and other street harassment blogs.

I designed it to be similar in size to those large coupons/fliers that come with the Sunday paper. I wanted it to resemble a fast food ad in order to pull people in to reading it with the expectation of it being a coupon, and instead having them come to realize it’s for a different cause altogether, and thereby add awareness to the issue of street harassment.”

Way to go, Answer, for using your talents to raise awareness about street harassment and help work to end it!

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“I was honestly so scared that I went into a safe place and shut off”

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Last night I was going out to a club on the west side and had one of the worst harassment experiences I have ever had. I waiting for the E and I saw this guy staring at me so I moved down and thought I shook him off.

The uptown train pulled in and I was like sweet! No one on the train… I get on and he came in right after I did. He sat across from me and was looking at me all weird. He was holding his phone like he could be filming me but I was like whatever.

So the doors close and her starts rubbing his crotch and is still pointing his phone right at me. I have read posts on this site before and am so proud of the women that say something. I was petrified… I couldn’t even say anything.

Then I hear “because of traffic there are delays…etc” the train was stopped and then this guy actually pulled out his penis and jerks off. He was calling me a little slut and saying how I wanted to get laid tonight. It felt like an hour and the train started again and he kept doing it and pointing his phone right at me. I got up and stood by the door and he kept saying stuff to me. I wish I would have said something to him but I was honestly so scared that I went into a safe place and shut off.

I am so proud of the women that say something. I REALLY wish I did. On the upside… I had a great Saturday night out and don’t give a shit about that asshole

– Tanya

Location: E Train, New York City, NY

Share your street harassment story today and help raise awareness about the problem. Find suggestions for what YOU can do about this human rights issue.

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Details for two more confirmed events for Anti-Street Harassment Day

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If you’re in these areas, I hope you’ll participate and spread the word!

Delhi, India:

Bol ke , Bas Ab Aur Nahi campaign

“Let’s Unite! Let’s Fight! . ‘BE THE CHANGE’!  Let’s mark the first International Anti-Street Harassment Day on March 20th by saying NO to Street Sexual Harassment. Come join us as we go around the Delhi University north campus protesting and claiming for our space! Further details call 26691219 or write to safedelhi@jagori.org”

Cairo, Egypt:

زيارات التوعية الميدانية الثانية لمتطوعي خريطة التحرش الجنسي

يتزامن ميعادنا لعمل زيارات التوعية الميدانية في شوارع ومناطق مختلفة من مصر لمناهضة التحرش الجنسي، مع اليوم العالمي لمناهضة التحرش الجنسي في الشارع 20 مارس، وهي المبادرة التي تم الإعلان عنها في بداية العام ويمكنكم معرفة المزيد عن اليوم من خلال هذا الرابط:
https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=200134909997177&ref=ts
وعلى خلاف المرة الأولى للتوعية الميدانية، فنحن الآن نعيش ظروف تاريخية عقب ثورة 25 يناير، يجدر بنا الإستفادة منها لع…مل تغيير حقيقي في كل شوارعنا، وأن ندعو للإيجابية وعدم السكوت على مشكلة التحرش الجنسي.
كيفية المشاركة:

– يخرج المتطوعين في هذا اليوم في مجموعات (نساء ورجال معا) لعمل التوعية في المناطق التي ينتمون لها وتعاني من مشكلة التحرش الجنسي
– تكون التوعية مع الأفراد الرئيسيين في الشارع أو المنطقة (أصحاب المحلات، حراس العمارات، أي مجموعات موجودة في الشارع بصورة مستمرة، اللجان الشعبية مثلا، وسائل المواصلات)
– تتم الإستعانة بدليل المتطوعين الذي أعده المتطوعون أنفسهم ويضم معلومات حول: ماذا نقول؟ ما هي الردود والأعذار المعتادة، والرد عليها)
– تتم الإستعانة بنسخة من الخريطة مطبوعة لإقناع الأفراد بخطورة المشكلة وتجنب إنكارها
– تتم الإستعانة بملصقات الخريطة والأماكن التي تبدي تعاونها تضع ملصق (المناطق الآمنة)
– لا تطول مدة الزيارة الميدانية عن ساعتين بحد أقصى
– ضرورة الرجوع لمنسق المتطوعين عقب الإنتهاء من الزيارة بالملاحظات ونتائج اليوم (من تعاون من المحلات مثلا ويمكننا الإعلان عنهم عن طريق موقعنا)
– في حالة إستخدام تويتر لتغطية تفاصيل التوعية الميدانية نرجو إستخدام #antistreetharassmentday مع #harassmap
– يمكنكم إرسال أي صور أو فيديوهات تم تصويرها خلال اليوم وتوثق تجربتكم لنا

يمكن للمتطوعين الحصول على الدليل والملصقات من أماكن سنعلن عنها قبل نهاية الأسبوع.

ملاحظة: يتزامن أيضا 19 مارس مع ميعاد الإستفتاء على التعديلات الدستورية ويوصي فريق العمل الجميع بضرورة المشاركة، ويمكن عمل التوعية في المنطقة المحيطة باللجنة التابع لها.

لتأكيد المشاركة أو لأي أسئلة أو إستفسارات يمكنكم التواصل مع :
أحمد عجور، منسق المتطوعين: 0110602110
info@harassmap.org

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“Hopefully that guy learned his lesson and didn’t harass any other women that night.”

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My most recent brush with Street Harassment was this last Tuesday aka, Mardi Gras. It actually turned out to be kind of funny.

So I was on my way to meet friends. Even though I live in NOLA, I still can forget where certain streets are. I had to back track to find them. As I’m passing a group of young guys one calls out to me, “You made a huge mistake walking by yourself little girl.”

I was actually on my cell at the time. The guy proceeds to lunge at me. I’m guessing I was supposed to jump or scream in fear. That kind of behavior pisses me off.

I responded with, “Get the F*#K away from me! Don’t ever think you can approach a woman like this again, you piece of sh*t! You’re lucky I don’t kick your ass … with heels on. Now shoo” (that’s my sanitized response, pretty sure I cursed a bit more).

His friend tried to block my way, I told him in my coldest voice to “Move” then, pushed him aside. They listened. They looked shocked, even a bit embarrassed.

My friend on the phone thought I was talking to him! I had to explain what happened – that was the funny part.

The reality is that certain guys get off on trying to intimidate women. They are sick. Hopefully, that guy learned his lesson and didn’t harass any other women that night.

– Megan

Location: Royal Street, New Orleans, LA

Share your street harassment story today and help raise awareness about the problem. Find suggestions for what YOU can do about this human rights issue.

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