Stop Street Harassment

Making Public Spaces Safe and Welcoming

“It really felt vicious and hateful”

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I was going on a run this morning and a truck pulled up as I was running. These guys in the truck yelled at me in a horrible, MEAN, and NASTY tone, “Whitey white girl, white”.

It really felt vicious and hateful.

I was minding my own business and I was trying to get a run. I just moved to this small town last week, and I will only be here for a few months. I have been nice to everyone here and I somehow thought that since this is a small town, that people would be nice.

Two different cars have harassed me twice, out of nowhere in one week, since I moved here. I hope this isn’t a regular thing here. There is even a Texas Monthly article about it this month, how small towns including this one, which is named Lockhart, are friendly and great places to live. The other time was a few days ago in a different location. I was looking at a placard of an old school that used to be the town school….curious about history.

Some men pulled up out of nowhere and screamed, “GET OUT OF HERE, WE DON’T WANT YOU HERE!!!!!”

It was shocking, out of nowhere, and felt horrible. Seriously, there was no one around and I was just reading a placard.

Then these guys pull up like a nightmare and are pissed off that they think I’m invading their town? Why do they think they have a RIGHT to act like this?

Next time, if there is a next time, I’m taking a picture of their car and license plate, maybe even a video of them doing that and I’m calling the police.

People seriously need to carry pepper spray. It is not lethal, and it is a deterrent. Also, take pictures and record the person and call the police on them. They shouldn’t be allowed to do this.

— Jane Robins

Location: Lockhart, Texas

Need support? Call the toll-free National Street Harassment hotline: 855-897-5910

Share your street harassment story for the blog.
See the book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers for ideas.

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Vulnerable to street harassment on a Vespa

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I drive a Vespa in Dallas, TX to save on gas, but lately I’ve been wondering if it’s worth the hassle. There are a few things about a Vespa that make me very vulnerable to street harassment and unable to escape it:

1) There’s no protection around me, so horns honking are VERY loud and very scary.
2) If I’m stopped at a red light, there’s nothing between me and a man who wants to tell me “how hot my body looks on that bike”
3) It’s not very powerful, so I can’t speed away in a bad situation.

I’ve had men follow me in their cars, stand next to me at red lights and ask me out, and yell “sexy mama” while veering towards me in an intersection. It’s dangerous, threatening and scary.

As women, we shouldn’t have to make sacrifices in the way we get from A to B. We shouldn’t feel threatened because we’re out for a walk, riding a bike or driving a Vespa.

– ALG

Location: Dallas, TX

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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Weekly Round Up – July 19

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Stories:

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.

In the News:

  • The Chicago Sun Times had a front page (online) story about how women activists in Chicago prompted changes to the sexual harassment policies of the Chicago Transit Authority!
  • A group of women in Sudan were arrested and several were flogged for the crime of wearing pants in public.
  • An article in the Miami Herald about changing attitudes in policies in Saudi Arabia highlights the attitude that if women were allowed to drive, they would experience more sexual harassment in public, so it’s better not to let them drive.

Announcements:

  • In partnership with local activist, including the facilitators of Holla Back DC!, I am helping to organize a free, one-day summit on street harassment, to be held in October 2009 in Washington, DC. We are holding a photography contest right now for photographers who capture or depict street harassment, particularly in the DC area. Selected winners will have the chance to show/sell their work at a reception the evening before the summit.
  • RightRides in NYC recently has expanded their services of a free ride home from Saturday nights to include Friday nights too! They offer this service from 11:59 p.m. – 3 a.m. in 45 neighborhoods across four boroughs. To call for a ride, the dispatch number is (718) 964-7781 OR (888)215-SAFE (7233).

Street Harassment Resource of the Week:

Gardner, Carol Brooks. Passing By: Gender and Public Harassment (Berkeley, CA: University of California Press, 1995).

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