Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

Book-hating tube harassers

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So today I’m coming home at midday on the tube, wearing the sexiest outfit ever of jeans, trainers and long sleeved shirt, minding my own business – reading and listening to my headphones.

A bunch of five boys get on my carriage, probably about 18, all making a row and making sure everyone hears how ‘cool’ they are throughout the carriage. I’m aware they’re looking over and trying to get my attention so I continue reading and don’t make eye contact. As more people get off the carriage, I’m now the only person in that section of seating with them. They now start making loud comments about the girls they went out with last week, in graphic detail. Smooth. Clearly annoyed that I’m not paying any attention, they move on to making direct comments about me amongst themselves: “Can’t stop reading, look”; “It smells a bit musty in here” (and then, when I get up to get off at my stop, “Ugh – it smells worse now” (laughter)). Seriously – at 18?! This is akin to those boys who used to complain that it smelled ‘fishy’ whenever a girl walked past when we were in middle school. Unfortunately they get off at the same stop as me, so I pointedly walk past very briskly with my head high and looking straight ahead – cue more looks of consternation that I’m not interested in whatever they’re doing or saying.

I have to say there was some slight satisfaction in how thoroughly pissed off they were about a girl ignoring their desperate pleas for attention.

– Jen

Location: London, UK

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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Porch harassers

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On my way home from the gym, I walked past a house where a couple of college students were living. One was sitting in the living room, and when he saw me he came out of the house and stood on the porch as he yelled at me and whistled. I was really afraid, so I ran all the way home. I live in the Cleveland area, and stuff like this happens all the time.

– MCF

Location: Cleveland, 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.

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In Bangladesh, six street harassers go to jail

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Earlier this month, six young men in central Bangladesh were sentenced to seven days in jail for engaging in eve teasing, or street harassment, under Section 34 of the Code of Criminal Procedure. This is the first time men have gone to jail for eve teasing.

A unit of the Rapid action Battalion (RAB-11) caught the accused young men harassing a group of female students from the Gono Bidyaa Niketon School, in Narayanganja District. They were arrested on the spot and tried the next day.

The police superintendent said the punishment was meant to serve as a warning to any potential wrongdoer. “It will prevent this type of crime,” he said, “which we are trying to eradicate.”

Their attention to this matter—which impacts women worldwide—has been spurred by an increase in the number of women committing suicide because of harassers. Recently, for example, 14-year-old student Umme Kulsum Elora killed herself by drinking pesticide in order to escape a 19-year-old man and his friend who had been harassing her in the streets for a year. Her family had talked to the man’s family and to school authorities but nothing changed. So she took matters into her own hands. So sad!

In Bangladesh, human and women’s rights activists welcome the prison sentence. They hope it will set a precedent and be used in future cases. They also hope it will deter street harassment from occurring. Me too.

When will police, legislators, and human rights activists in the United States pay attention to this issue? When will we have a law against street harassment?

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Harassers’ rating? 0

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When I walk to and from work, when I run to the bike path, when I walk to friends’ houses for dinner – essentially whenever I go anywhere alone, aside from class, I hear some obnoxious/offensive/fear-inducing comment. I’ve gotten the, “Hey baby,” and,  “Come suck my cock.” Some assholes outside a bar shouted out my rating on a scale from 1-10…

I am sick of it.

– anonymous

Location: Columbus, OH

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“Sexy Walk” is not a name

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On April 21, 2010, I was heading outside on a smoke break and this man who was behind me (also a delivery person to my building) says, “You have a sexy walk” I turned around and glared at him.

When I got outside I realized he was still following me and turned around. HE WAS STILL THERE and said, “Have a nice day, Sexy Walk”.

I was so angry, and scared. He was a big guy and I couldn’t say anything from fear.

I went inside feeling ashamed that I didn’t say anything and that i didn’t put him in his place. Fortunately, my coworkers made me feel better and said it is ok to be scared or shocked and that sometimes not saying anything is the better and safer option.

– JP

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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