Stories Archives | Page 14 of 35 | Stop Street Harassment

Sexy in red…

April 15, 2010 By Contributor

On Saturday, I was crossing a light right before it was changing to green, and right when I got to the other side a cab driver said either “Look at you, Sexy Dreads!” or “Look at you, sexy in red!” (I was wearing a red coat.) Regardless of what was said, I could definitely see him checking me out and it was gross. Of course he had to say this right before the light turned green so I didn’t have time to get a license plate number or cab number.

The second incident happened today when I was coming back from lunch. A man stopped right in front of my tracks and said “All this chocolate…why no smile?” or something stupid like that. Then he says “That’s it!” as if I gave him a smile as he wanted, when in actuality I walked past him and ignored him and whatever expression on my face was that of befuddlement and annoyance.

Compared to what I’ve been through recently, Incident #2 is benign, but annoying nonetheless. Why do these men think that intruding on a random woman’s day is cool? It’s not cool, it’s aggravating as hell!

– Tired of Being Harassed

Location: #1, Arlington, VA and #2, M Street, Washington, DC

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.

Getting chased in Hollywood/Vine

April 12, 2010 By Contributor

I have TOO MANY stories about street harassment to share but I decided to share just this one because I can remember it the most.

One time while I was on the Metro in the Hollywood/Vine area (Los Angeles, CA) some guy was making perverted comments and whistling at me. I was tired because of a long day at my internship and in absolutely no mood to deal with this. I kept walking and he kept saying, “You know you like it… you know you like it..” or something to that effect. I flipped him off.

He angrily ran after me but I was able to escape to the bottom platform where the subway was and where there were plenty of people. Luckily he didn’t follow me down there, but it was definitely the scariest of my experiences.

– I.C.

Location: Hollywood, CA

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 am not walking sex

April 12, 2010 By Contributor

I am sexually harassed on a daily basis. Thinking the problem is me, I have tried to change to make it stop. I’ve smiled at my harassers, I’ve ignored them, I’ve flipped them off, I’ve thought up all sorts of female-positive responses, I’ve walked innumerable different routes home hoping to avoid them. I’ve tried wearing sweatshirts and Carhartts, wearing sunglasses, wearing my headphones.

The men catcall, whistle, shout, hiss, clap, honk, squeal their tires, tap their feet, and snap. They say damn, shit, ho, bitch, beautiful, gorgeous, tits, ass, fuck, have my babies, marry me, come home with me, suck my cock, nice dress, why don’t you smile?

Don’t worry, the remarks aren’t disproportionately generated by a certain race, class, or occupation. White, wealthy, smelly, blue-collar, Black, well-dressed, homeless, Mexican, educated, good-looking, old, immigrant, dirty, young, walking, biking, driving, sitting. No matter who the man appears to be or what his status, he assumes that degrading, sexist comments about my body are acceptable.

Now, some analysis. After all this being ‘done to’, I’m ready to take action. Notice all the derogatory phrases these men think up are male-positive and involve the male invading or being in the active position? Like I said before, I’ve tried turning that language around by saying things like, “Lick me where I pee” or using the word “cunt” in response and have found these responses useless, frustrating. Along the way, I’ve reclaimed words, I’ve manipulated their meanings in my head, even discovered some great history behind the words but all within the realm of action that my harassers define. I’m tired of being responsive, defensive, pensive. It is time for an offensive.

– 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.

Weekly Round Up April 11, 2010

April 11, 2010 By HKearl

Stories:

I accept street harassment submissions from anywhere in the world. Share your story!

On this blog, a woman in Australia shared her first street harassment experience as a 14 years old, a woman in Ontario is told by a man that he wants to be her bicycle seat, a woman in Washington, DC, shared three street harassment stories that occurred during her commutes, a woman in NYC said men in her neighborhood often harass women and like to humiliate them, and another woman in NYC listed all the ways she is typically harassed in a week (hint: it’s a depressingly large amount).
On HollaBackNYC, a woman shared how she was harassed a lot while wearing shorts and decided not to wear them anymore but then realized the harassers had the problem – not her, and another woman wrote about how a man harassed and followed her on the subway and so she reported it to the police (who were helpful).
On HollaBackDC! a man grabbed the butt of a woman when she was unlocking her bicycle, a bystander witnessed a group of men harassing a woman in a metro station and shares advice for intervening, a man stopped a woman to tell her she was beautiful, then hugged and kissed her, and another woman told a harasser to shut up after he “complimented” her.

In the News:

“Women fend off sexual attacks downtown” in San Diego
“Sexual Harassment in Egypt“
“Harassment on the Tracks May be on the Rise” (in NYC – HollaBack NYC and RightRides are featured)

Announcements:

Check out the new Stop Street Harassment YouTube Channel
April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month. Here are 10 activism ideas for how you can raise awareness about this widespread problem and/or help raise funds for preventative programs and resources for survivors.
Take two street harassment surveys and help researchers studying this problem.
The submission deadline for an anthology on Queering Sexual Violence is extended until May 1, 2010.
The Safe Delhi Campaign is looking for volunteers and interns.
Blank Noise in India is looking for new logo submissions
If you’re interested in becoming a RightRides driving team volunteer, email volunteer@rightrides.org – orientations will be occuring throughout April.
Share why you “Holla Back” for the HollaBack NYC website.

Events:

If you’re in NYC, come to a Vagina Monologues fundraiser for RightRides
If you’re in the Washington, DC, area, HollaBack DC! is hosting or participating in several events across the next few weeks, check out the info on their site.
Sign up for Washington, DC, based Defend Yourself’s annual class on dealing with street harassers, being held on May 22.

Resource of the Week:

A new blog about harassment in Egypt

“Was it the school uniform that made you think it was appropriate?”

April 11, 2010 By Contributor

The first time I was ever harassed on the street was when I was 14. I lived a few blocks away from a close friend and she and I would walk a main street to see each other. We would always, always get whistles or honks, and unintelligible things shouted at us by passing drivers. I remember thinking, “Isn’t it creepy they’re doing this to us at THIS age?” But then it never got less creepy and jarring as I got older.

– DM

Location: These childhood incidents took place on: Green Street, Mount Hawthorn, WA 6016, Australia

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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