Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

“I don’t see it as a compliment – I see it as RUDE!”

By

I had just gotten lunch and I was headed to Union Square Park to eat. I was waiting at the corner (at about where Broadway intersects 14th St), looking at my phone, when a thin older man rode by very slowly on a bike. As he passed me, I could feel him staring me in the face and at my chest (even though it doesn’t matter, I’ll mention the fact that I wasn’t even wearing a shirt where you could really SEE my chest!). Then he murmured, “You’re beautiful.”

I looked up at him, scowling, and he’d turned around to look back at me. He winked and made a kissy face as I gave him my most murderous glare.

He said, “It’s a compliment!”

I replied, “I don’t see it as a compliment – I see it as RUDE!”

He obviously did not like the way I responded, because he circled his bike around as if to say something more to me but thought better of it and kept going. Fortunately there were a lot of people around, otherwise I would’ve panicked when he’d turned around.

This is one of the first times I’ve worked up the nerve to say something to a street harasser, and I felt SO empowered in doing it! Unfortunately I’m going to think twice about doing it if I’m alone…

– Anonymous

Location: Broadway and 14th St, Union Square, 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.

Share

Street harasser causes traffic jam

By

I was just walking down the street near my work place, on my way to get some lunch. A man in a large truck started slowly following me and staring at me. I gave him a bad look but he didn’t go away – he was holding up the traffic behind him. I flicked my finger at him and he started yelling and swearing at me from his truck window. He wouldn’t stop until I went into a nearby building.

– Anonymous

Location: Avenue DuRocher, Outrement, Quebec, Canada

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.

Share

Street harassment in middle age

By

Hi I am a middle age women and you would think that street harassment would not happen to me but it does and is quite painful at my age. I can not believe how disrespectful some young men are. I have been told that I am in pretty good shape for my age and I am petite maybe that what causes that reaction, however it’s very annoying.

– 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.

Share

Ways to deal with street harassment in Indonesia

By

It happened when I lived in Jakarta (Indonesia). My family (my husband and I have 2 kids) just moved there. I like taking my bike to see around the neighbourhood or just walk.

Most of the houses have guards. They sit or stand outside of the gate house together, playing card or smoke together. One day I passed them with my bike. When I was right i front of them, they started to whistle at me, a few of them were calling me, “hei hei where are you going?”, they said many things to me.

But, hey, I’m a mature woman. They can not do that to me. I’m not innocent little girl anymore. Be careful you, men!! So, I stopped my bike calmly, I went to them, looked at them calmly and confidence and said lots of things, that i do not like what they did to me. I said that I live in this neighbourhood, they will see me nearly everyday, and that will not be nice for me if they keep doing that, I also can report them to their bosses (they do not want to loose their job of course).

They said sorry.

And then every time I ride my bike or walk going somewhere, I always wear something nice, looking smart and “wealthy”. I realised, after a few experiences, if I wear something too simple (just t-shirt and short pants and sandal no make up) I got this street harassment. But if i wear something nice (at least wear shoes and sunglasses!!), I don’t get this nasty thing. And carry myself with confidence.

I hate street harassment.

– Anonymous

Location: Jakarta, Indonesia

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.

Share

“A guy started calling me names and suggesting I have sex with him”

By

I was walking back home from job interview and all of a sudden a block away from my house a guy started calling me names and suggesting I have sexual intercourse with him. I got so scared because there were no people around, and he was following me. I was not sure if I could call 911, so I ran to my apartment building. When I was safely locked in my apartment I cried…

–  Anonymous

Location: Minneapolis, MN

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.

Share