“I am 14 years old, this past week I have been harassed FOUR times”

New submission from April

I am 14 years old, this past week I have been harassed FOUR times. I live in a safe area, but there are a lot of building crews. And lots of horrible men who will make comments. The first time I just walked by a building site, men wolf whistled and shouted ‘OOOOH BOOBIES”‘ this shook me a bit but my parents and I went to report it. The next week I got several forty year old men making nasty comments ‘oh you must taste so good, I want to f*ck you so on and so forth. Yesterday I was harassed by a man walking on the other side of the road saying ‘PSST ASS GIRL LET ME:…” I burst into tears he stood laughing and mocked me. I got away. Today, I had a pervert brush past me and grab my boob.

I hate this, why should women/girls be afraid to walk outside and fear being raped/harrassed? i got a rape alarm which is really effective. I also reported all these guys to the police. The best thing, don’t look at them, don’t give them the attention they want. Go to self defence classes and get an alarm. When you are a young teen its best not to get into a verbal fight with them. I’ve had my twelve year old sister harassed just as much. This has to stop, don’t be afraid to speak up, this has to end.

“then he reached out and touched my breast”

New submission from Victoria

I was on the 38 bus when a guy sat came and say next to me not long after leaving Victoria station, I found it a little odd as the bus wasn’t too busy but I was sitting at the front on the top deck so figured he might be a tourist and wanted the ‘driving seat’. He started reading an newspaper and all seemed fine. A while into the journey, near Piccadilly circus he started shuffling about with his hand nearest me (still holding the paper) and brushing against my side. I started to think he was a pick pocket so pulled my bag towards me on my lap. This shuffling continued and then he reached out and touched my breast. I was really shocked and questioned him about it to which he just smiled at me, I then stood up and let him, and all the other passengers know exactly what sort of creepy dude he was. He went downstairs and got off at the next stop. Initially I was really shaken and just sat down but at my stop spoke to the driver, who was really supportive and gave me all the bus details to get the security footage to the police. I called the 101 number and the police came to my house this evening and totally surprised me with how seriously they took the situation. Obviously I don’t know what will come of it as yet but strongly urge anyone experiencing situations like this to contact the police, I felt so much better knowing they were as disgusted by this behaviour as I and with the combo of CCTV and being able to trace travel cards perhaps he will be caught. Also this kind of behaviour is a crime and you should have no doubt in that fact.

“when he caught up with me he whispered in my ear are you a virgin and pinned me against a wall and began to grope my bottom”

New submission from Dani

I have been warranting unwanted attention from men from the age of 11, even when I was in my school uniform and usually I ignore it but this incident was particularly bad.

Almost a year ago a man in a leather cap was walking in the opposite direction turned and began to follow me home, when he caught up with me he whispered in my ear are you a virgin and pinned me against a wall and began to grope my bottom. I was carrying four bags so could not stop him. I felt so powerless and weak. He then said I will see you tomorrow right here.

I have only just started to walk that route home again. However, last week another man followed me he also changed the direction he was walking in, simply to make stupid kissing noises behind me.

Men like these have meant that I no longer feel safe walking home from college, which used to be my only form of exercise consequently I’ve gain a stone in weight

Every time I wear that top, I remember that day and it makes me angry. I’m considering throwing it away.

New submission from Cherie

It was a Bank Holiday weekend and I went to a club with a friend. Occasionally we’d separate from each other and go to different rooms in the club.

My friend and I were in different rooms when I got talking to some guy (let’s call him “Richard”) and his friend (“James”), after Richard approached me saying that the two of them thought I was “absolutely stunning”. I thought Richard was gay, so I didn’t feel uncomfortable with the comment and just said, “That’s sweet of you to say”.

I began talking to them and the other people they were with – a mix of girls and boys. James decided to buy a round of shots for us (about 8 of us in total). He also bought me a beer.

After a while, we all went onto the club terrace. By this time, I could sense James was keen to spend more time with me. I wasn’t interested in him that way, so I kept my attention mainly towards Richard. I later found out Richard WASN’T gay, but by then I was cool around him, and he wasn’t coming onto me at all.

Me, Richard and James went to one of the rooms to dance. James decided to dance close behind me, which I wasn’t comfortable with, so I moved myself nearer to Richard.

Somehow, before I knew it, James had me sandwiched between him and Richard. Richard didn’t have his hands on me at all, so I was glad for that, but James seemed to be putting his hands on my shoulders, my waist, my hips. Even though I wasn’t particularly comfortable with it, I let him. I thought to myself: “He hasn’t been rude to me during the night, or disrespectful, plus he’s bought me drinks… I should just let him dance with me.”

James then put his hands on my shoulders and moved them down onto my breasts. I immediately pushed his hands away. I then felt his hands on my waist moving upwards and onto my breasts again. I pushed them away. He moved from behind me and I left the room.

I was so on edge after what just happened, I could barely enjoy the rest of the night.

Once I got home, I took off all the clothes I was wearing and washed them.

I still think about that day. I wish I didn’t. And I have to admit, sometimes I do blame myself (maybe my top was too revealing; maybe I shouldn’t have accepted the drinks; maybe I shouldn’t have danced with him…).

Every time I wear that top, I remember that day and it makes me angry. I’m considering throwing it away.

It took me weeks to work up the courage to tell the police about the groping part, as I was so ashamed.

New submission from Miranda

Apologies for a slightly long one but I hope to make an important point.

2 weeks ago I thought I would risk the 6 min walk home from the night bus after work. 99% of the time I get a taxi (costing me over £1000 a year!) because I know there’s a high chance I will be harrassed, scared or intimidated on my road. Half way home a man starts driving slowly next to me with the window down. “Hey!” I ignore him. “Hey!” I ignore him. “Hey! Give me your number!” I was scared and irritated, looked him straight in the eye and told him to f*ck off. Indignantly, I hoped. He looked pissed off, and told me f*ck off, you b*tch, and sped off down the road.

What worries me is that I used to get a LOT more of this kind of abuse when I was a young teenager. A man groped me and followed me for 6 weeks on my morning walk to school when I was 13. He would try to grab me, tell me I was beautiful, that he loved me. After an investigation and some excellent work by the Sapphire unit of the Met, he was arrested and sentenced to 18 months (and banned from living in East London).

My point is, when I was in my school uniform, I got far more unwanted attention. And I was less equipped for dealing with it – more scared, more intimidated, and more helpless. (Indeed it took me weeks to work up the courage to tell the police about the groping part, as I was so ashamed)

What on earth has this world come to when a CHILD feels like a target in her school uniform on her road? It made me feel like a prostitute, like I was walking naked. I’m aware that paedophilia is a whole different subject, but I’m not necessarily referring to that, as young boys follow the example of older men on the street. It’s important to remember that very young girls are facing this kind of abuse, without the confidence to “holla back”.

Some pervert has dictated to me what I can wear.

New submission from Ally

I’m sharing my story as I’m so annoyed with myself for not reacting to the situation. I always have some sort smart arse comeback for verbal street harassment.

A few months ago I was on my way to work, in Westminster, wearing a reasonably short skirt with thick woollen tights.  It was about 9am.  As I queued to get off of the bus at my stop a man put his hand up my skirt.  It happened so quickly and it was so unexpected that I didn’t know what to do or say. It’s awful but I’ve come to expect this kind of behaviour from some drunk guy in a club but at 9am on a bus full of commuters?! Maybe the unfamiliar setting of the harassment threw me.

What annoys me is that I don’t wear that smart, perfectly office appropriate skirt any more. Some pervert has dictated to me what I can wear.