Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming
A friend and I had visited a museum in Brussels and were on our way walking to the station. Suddenly 3 men were following us, whistling and were saying things like ‘Hey sexy’ and finally ‘Hey baby, I want to have your babies!” I felt relieved when we finally lost them in the crowd.
– anonymous
Location: Brussel, Belgium
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.
A few weeks ago I’d just missed a tram, so had to wait for another one. A group of high school kids pass me by with their teacher and one of those teenagers apparently had paid me ‘a compliment’, because suddenly the guy was yelling at me that I shouldn’t ignore him, that I should learn to smile and then left while saying: “Why bother, you’re ugly and sick looking anyway.” When he joined his friends again they were all laughing with me. I felt so humiliated and the whole thing left me shaken.
– anonymous
Location: Ghent, Belgium
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.
Though I grew up familiar with harassment I was still surprised how present it was at college. Durango, Colorado, is a small college town in the mountains full of people who want to change the world and Fort Lewis is an extraordinary college. However, within a year I had been followed across campus for asking a guy to move his truck so as not to take up two spaces and my roommate had a guy who called and texted her regularly, calling her sexy and whistling whenever she was near.
The one time I actually felt like I was in danger or the people near me were was driving through the nearby Cortez. A souped up truck with a loudspeaker on the top began following us, staying beside us and not letting me pull ahead or behind, all while shouting from their loudspeaker.
My usual way of dealing with sexual harassment is to get in the person’s face and show them that I’m anything but scared. This isn’t an option in a car and I had passengers who were in a delicate state. If it happens again I plan to pull over and see how tough they are outside their car.
– anonymous
Location: Cortez, CO
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 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.
I was going to work this morning with my iPod on, as usual. Because I am working in an office and that we have a dressing code, I always try to look nice. While I’m waiting at a subway station, a strange man came up to me and started taking to me, but I didn’t understand him because of my iPod. I caught cute, and baby, and I decided to move away because I didn’t feel like dealing with him or having to be in the same train then him the whole ride. When I turned away, he started yelling at me, calling me a bitch. I walked further. There were a lot of people waiting for the subway, and they all looked up. He didn’t follow me, and I wish I will never see him again.
– anonymous
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.