Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

Don’t Touch Me

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Adams Morgan in Washington, DC is a nightmare on weekends so I try to avoid it like the plague. I live in the area so sometime I can’t help but walk past or up or down 18th street when it’s really busy. Every time I do I not only have to deal with comments, but with men who touch me. They’ll touch me in passing, my arm or my waist and it INFURIATES me. I ignore the comments, they don’t bother me as much as the the physical contact.

– anonymous

Location: Adams Morgan in 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.

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Trustworthy Stranger

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Here’s another positive story from GivesMeHope.com about an interaction between strangers in public:

“When I was seven, my parents and I were travelling in New York and I rushed onto a subway just as the doors closed, leaving my family on the platform. I was absolutely terrified and hysterical, but one lady took the time to get off with me at the next stop and bring me back to the previous station. Sometimes strangers can be trusted. GMH.” – Kelly_kelly, July 6, 2009

Do you have a positive story you want to share about interactions with strangers in public? Submit it for inclusion on the blog.

(i dedicate this post to my partner, who is tired of hearing me tell depressing stories :/)

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It never ends

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I am 70, in good shape, look much younger, but thinner than I’d like to be due to stomach problems which is no excuse for being harassed or made fun of on the street. Someone in a car yelled “twig” at me yesterday. I’ve been honked at ever since I’ve been a teen and it still goes on even at my age. I try to ignore it except for one time when I stopped dead, pulled out my mace and yelled “Back off.” He did. I’ve never had to use mace but I wouldn’t hesitate to use it on some bozo in a heartbeat if he deserved it.

When I was young and out for a walk in the daytime, I was touched on my bottom by a guy on a bike. I ran after him and almost caught him. I almost knocked him off his bike as he sped away.scared. I called police when I got home but they didn’t find him. A few days later a girl was almost raped on her way to school but luckily a neighbor heard her screams and yelled out the window and the guy ran off.

On my way home from work , I sat in the back of the bus and suddenly this guy opened a sex book and tried to show it to me. I tried to get up but he wouldn’t move so I poked him in the stomach with my umbrella and he let me up. The bus driver acted deaf and dumb when I reported it so I called the CTA when I got home. The next few days, the CTA had their detectives watching me and they caught the creep. As I was coming down the stairs from the el to the bus, he was following me but I never knew it. Luckily the CTA detectives saw it and they grabbed him and patted him down, taking out his wallet and everything in his pockets. I asked the detectives if they needed me to testify but they said they would handle him. I never saw him again.

– anonymous

Location: Chicago, IL

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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Called to since puberty

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I live in New York City, so I’ve been called to by weirdos since I’ve hit puberty. I recently started to attend The City College of New York up on 138th street. I have to take the subway in order to get home from school. Last week when I was about to enter the subway, a man looked me over and said:

“Hey, gorgeous”

I just raised my eyebrows at him as if to say “yea right.”

He got angry and started following me into the subway station saying something along the lines of “I thought I was cute but I guess I’m not cute enough for you.”

He stopped once I swiped my metrocard and got onto the train platform but I was nonetheless disturbed the entire ride home.

– anonymous

Location: New York City, NY

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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"Damn, you're making me hot!"

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A few days ago, a group of my female friends and I were sitting on a bench in Dupont Circle in Washington, DC. It was about 8:30 p.m. and there were about 30 or so people sitting around the fountain just hanging out with friends and significant others. My three friends and I were just talking and laughing when a man came up to us and started talking.

Here’s the conversation:
Man: “You ladies are having too much fun. Are you two sisters?” (Asking me and my friend who had her hand on my shoulder)
Friend: (nervous laugh) “Ha, no. We’re just friends.”
Man: “Well you guys are sexy! Damn, you’re making me hot!” (Talking directly to me) “Mmm big girl, I’d fuck that pussy up! Damn! I have to leave, you are making me hot! Damn!”

As he walked away he kept turning to look back at us. We all sat there in disbelief. One of my friends, who has a blackbelt in Karate, looked like she was about to go beat him up. At the time, I was completely shocked and thrown off guard. In retrospect, I wish I had said something to him or told him to leave. My friends and I felt completely violated, dirty, and uncomfortable. I’ve been cat-called at before but this was definitely the most disgusting and explicit experience I’ve had.

– anonymous

Location: Dupont Circle, 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.

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