Location:  U Street Metro station
Time: Evening Rush Hour (3:30pm-7:30pm)

This past Friday while walking toward the U Street Metro station, I had a particularly jarring experience of street harassment.  As I was crossing at a light, a man walked toward me and accused me of almost causing him to get hit by a car because he was “distracted by my looks.”  He seemed very serious about this accusation.  Bewildered, I continued walking.  Noticing that I did not respond, he yelled out that his statement was a compliment and then began shouting profanities at me. Several other pedestrians noticed and looked at me in confusion.  They were probably as confused as I was.  Fortunately, I was at the Metro entrance and proceeded quickly down the escalator.  While this experience was disturbing, it was not unfamiliar.  Since the age of about 12, I have experienced street harassment in one form or another nearly every day.  The same can be said of most women I know.  Street harassment is part of the lived experience of women and LGBTQ individuals.  It can be damaging both mentally and physically.

Fortunately, there have been increasing organized efforts to combat street harassment over the years.  One such effort is the Washington, DC grassroots volunteer organization, Collection Action for Safe Spaces (CASS). As their Website states:  “Collective Action for Safe Spaces is a grassroots organization that aims to empower the DC Metro area to build a community free from public sexual harassment and assault.”  In October of last year, I attended a CASS Meet & Greet [editor’s note: more info here] and learned more their staff and programs.  It was clear that this much-needed organization is helping to raise awareness about street harassment and advocating to prevent it for all groups affected and in its many forms.  Similarly, I was quite encouraged by the work of artist Tatyana Fazlalizadeh as reported by Stop Street Harassment, another great nonprofit organization.  With their community-driven approaches to solutions, there are many ways to get involved with these organizations and work to end street harassment.

Originally posted 2/3/13 by Sharpe Ideas Consulting.

Do you have a personal experience with gender-based public sexual harassment or assault?
Submit your story to help raise awareness about the pervasiveness and harmful effects of street harassment. All submissions are posted anonymously unless otherwise specified.