To prepare for the launch of Hollaback!, our new street harassment mapping service, we need a real logo. Preferably a real cool logo. We also need a whole new website.
Do you or does anyone that you know develop logos or websites? If so, send them our way. We've got no money, but we can compensate with free advertising on our site.
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Monday, December 28, 2009
More to the Story: Cyan Brown
In response to the Cyan Brown story:
I used to use this train station every day to commute to Manhattan and I am not shocked at all by what happened to this young woman. These guys who hang out in front of that train station are getting more bolder by the day. One can only wonder if there's more to the story, but being that I am familiar with this train station, I don't doubt anything at all. During the summer time, while buying a metro card, I've was grabbed and told "One of my boys wants to rape you" by a group of guys hanging out in that station. Snapping a picture of these guys would probably result in physical injuries or getting your phone broken, so I unfortunately, that was something I wouldn't even think of doing. Needless to say, I no longer use that station. I walk 6 blocks to the 2nd nearest train station just to be on the safe side. I would not be surprised if the same guys who used to harass me are the ones involved in that article.
Submitted by Jasmine
I used to use this train station every day to commute to Manhattan and I am not shocked at all by what happened to this young woman. These guys who hang out in front of that train station are getting more bolder by the day. One can only wonder if there's more to the story, but being that I am familiar with this train station, I don't doubt anything at all. During the summer time, while buying a metro card, I've was grabbed and told "One of my boys wants to rape you" by a group of guys hanging out in that station. Snapping a picture of these guys would probably result in physical injuries or getting your phone broken, so I unfortunately, that was something I wouldn't even think of doing. Needless to say, I no longer use that station. I walk 6 blocks to the 2nd nearest train station just to be on the safe side. I would not be surprised if the same guys who used to harass me are the ones involved in that article.
Submitted by Jasmine
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Rape at Fulton Street: the Subway Violence Continues
According the Post, a man is accused raping his ex-girlfriend at the Fulton Street Station on November 13th. The ex-con allegedly pulled her hair, punched her in the face, ripped her pants off and raped her.
As station booths close and the number of underground police are on the decline, it is no accident that subway crimes have risen. Subway stations have become safe havens for violence against women.
We deserve better. Join us at New Yorkers for Safe Transit to make a difference.
As station booths close and the number of underground police are on the decline, it is no accident that subway crimes have risen. Subway stations have become safe havens for violence against women.
We deserve better. Join us at New Yorkers for Safe Transit to make a difference.
One 16 Year-old Girl, 'Seven or Eight' Full Grown Men
By now the story of Cyan Brown, the 16 year old who fatally stabbed a man on Thursday, has been heard around the city. Chased by "seven or eight" men who were trying to drag her off the train and sexually assault her, Cyan had two options: fight back or get hurt.
Like all of us, Cyan had probably been harassed and maybe even assaulted before. She knew what it meant to have lewd comments made about her body. Perhaps she had been stalked before, or been the unwilling witness to public masturbation. Like all of us, Cyan knew very well what the long term emotional impact of harassment and assault felt like, and this time she wanted a different ending.
When we ask our readers why the 'hollaback,' the most frequent response is that they were tired of "doing nothing." This makes sense. Harassment and assault are on a spectrum of violence against women. A study of rape victims found that the ones that fought back - even if they were unsuccessful - were less likely to be depressed or have PTSD afterwards. Fighting back, it seems, is good for you. The problem is - we shouldn't have to.
While we at HollabackNYC do not support violence in any form, Cyan had no other options. When violence is the only answer, something is terribly, terribly wrong with our city.
We stand in solidarity with Cyan and her family during this difficult time.
Friday, December 25, 2009
Christmas Eve Stalker
Around 4 AM on the 24th-- Christmas Eve-- I was coming home from a holiday party in Bay Ridge. I took the N train from 59th st to Union Square. He kept staring at me on the train; he followed me out of the 15th street exit, and 5 blocks down 15th street towards 1st avenue. I kept walking faster and faster; I could hear him panting. He must have been less than two feet away from me. I didn't know what to do, I heard him fiddling with his keys so I didn't know if he was armed. I ran across the crosswalk at 15th and 2nd Ave., and he was running after me. I half-ran all the way to my dorm, about to dial 911. When I caught the attention of the security guards there, he ran away. He even managed to say "good night!" before disappearing. Why he followed me from Bay Ridge to the East Village I don't know, but look out for this creeper!
All I want for Christmas is a gun.
Submitted by Suzanne
Wednesday, December 23, 2009
(Bisexual) Men get Harassed, too.
I am a Bisexual Asian male who has experienced extreme harassment. My neighbor, the elderly man next door-- Slandered, harassed and sexually harassed me for 2 years since I moved here from California. At first, when I got here, I was really thin and looked like a girl to most people. He told me he wanted to give me a sex change operation and rape me. For the next several months he slandered me, spread rumors I was a rapist, sex offender, child molester and people called me that in the neighborhood and on the train a few times. He was angry that I was a guy and not a girl and that I was making him gay. When I joined meetup.com and come home late at night, he would wait in front of my house every night ‘til I stop going. I saw him half naked filming me twice from his 3rd floor window a few months ago when I opened my blinds in the morning and I dare not to open my blinds in the morning anymore. People gossiped about seeing videos of me naked or me sleeping, etc in my bedroom on some pervert website. I overheard people talking in Chinatown and on the set of Fordham University during my filming of the “adjustment bureau” a Matt Damon movie where I worked as an extra.
Recently, He and his friends were yelling they want to castrate me, rape me. They called me a queer, fag and chink 2 weeks ago outside my house, heckling me.
I am a victim of racism and sexual harassment. I filed a harassment report by calling 911 on December 10, 2009 Thursday around 9:45PM when 2 female police officers drove to my house and alerted me to come outside to talk to them. The two female police officers is a female Black woman and a Spanish woman. I was told to call 718-627-6611 for Precinct 61 for the status of my complaint. I called again on December 15, 2009 and the officer who answered the phone said the complaint is closed and is on record and no arrests was made because my neighbor harassed me but didn’t assault me. I wrote to NBC news but to no avail. I don’t know who to turn to for help. I am a victim of sexual harassment and video voyeurism and slander and I think he is trying to get me killed because I look feminine and because of my sexual orientation. If this happened to a woman he work be arrested by now, but I am a guy, a bisexual guy and no one cares. I want the harassment to stop.
Submitted by Michael
Recently, He and his friends were yelling they want to castrate me, rape me. They called me a queer, fag and chink 2 weeks ago outside my house, heckling me.
I am a victim of racism and sexual harassment. I filed a harassment report by calling 911 on December 10, 2009 Thursday around 9:45PM when 2 female police officers drove to my house and alerted me to come outside to talk to them. The two female police officers is a female Black woman and a Spanish woman. I was told to call 718-627-6611 for Precinct 61 for the status of my complaint. I called again on December 15, 2009 and the officer who answered the phone said the complaint is closed and is on record and no arrests was made because my neighbor harassed me but didn’t assault me. I wrote to NBC news but to no avail. I don’t know who to turn to for help. I am a victim of sexual harassment and video voyeurism and slander and I think he is trying to get me killed because I look feminine and because of my sexual orientation. If this happened to a woman he work be arrested by now, but I am a guy, a bisexual guy and no one cares. I want the harassment to stop.
Submitted by Michael
Monday, December 21, 2009
Thanks to you, we made it!
Thanks to the 3,780 of you who reviewed project, we were just notified that our newest project, Hollaback!, will be moving to the next round of the Knight News Foundation Challenge! Hollaback! was the third most viewed project out of 755 applications. A sincere thank you from our entire team. We couldn't have done it without your support.
The next generation of Hollaback will allow you to submit, experiences and photos through a Hollaback! IPhone app, online/mobile browser forms, and SMS texts. The submissions will make it easier to Hollaback, allowing us to collect more data which will be mapped on the site using GPS. The project is expected to cost us $20,000 for the technology alone. Thanks to our partners RightRides for Women's Safety and the Barnard Center for Research on Women, we have already secured $6000. If we are able to secure an additional $12,000 within the next few months, our new mapping system will be up and running by late Spring. From there, we will be expanding to HollabackDC and beyond to countries like India and Saudi Arabia that have expressed interest.
We would like to wish you the happiest of HOLLAdays and a new year free of harassment.
The next generation of Hollaback will allow you to submit, experiences and photos through a Hollaback! IPhone app, online/mobile browser forms, and SMS texts. The submissions will make it easier to Hollaback, allowing us to collect more data which will be mapped on the site using GPS. The project is expected to cost us $20,000 for the technology alone. Thanks to our partners RightRides for Women's Safety and the Barnard Center for Research on Women, we have already secured $6000. If we are able to secure an additional $12,000 within the next few months, our new mapping system will be up and running by late Spring. From there, we will be expanding to HollabackDC and beyond to countries like India and Saudi Arabia that have expressed interest.
We would like to wish you the happiest of HOLLAdays and a new year free of harassment.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Male Allies Survey Results are In!
Thanks to all of our male allies who took the survey. The results are here.
- 95% of men thought that having a woman in their life tell them about street harassment was an effective form of education.
- 87% thought that messaging that indicated that women "they care about experience street harassment" was effective.
- 82% of men surveyed said they would be willing to intervene is they saw a woman being harassed or assaulted.
- 81% said they had seen a women being harassed before and 63% said they had intervened on behalf of a woman one or more times.
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Harassment across Arab world drives women inside
We are so happy to hear there was a street harassment conference! Now we just need to figure out how to score an invite to the next one.
Our friend and fellow blogger Holly Kearl posted this on the conference. The Associated Press also published an article:
"The sexual harassment of women in the streets, schools and work places of the Arab world is driving them to cover up and confine themselves to their homes, said activists at the first-ever regional conference addressing the once taboo topic.
Activists from 17 countries across the region met in Cairo for a two-day conference ending Monday and concluded that harassment was unchecked across the region because laws don't punish it, women don't report it and the authorities ignore it."
To read the rest of the article, click here.
Our friend and fellow blogger Holly Kearl posted this on the conference. The Associated Press also published an article:
"The sexual harassment of women in the streets, schools and work places of the Arab world is driving them to cover up and confine themselves to their homes, said activists at the first-ever regional conference addressing the once taboo topic.
Activists from 17 countries across the region met in Cairo for a two-day conference ending Monday and concluded that harassment was unchecked across the region because laws don't punish it, women don't report it and the authorities ignore it."
To read the rest of the article, click here.
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Police hunting subway pervert for X-rated gross-out on G train
From the New York Daily News today:
Cops are searching for a subway pervert who they say exposed and fondled himself in front of an 18-year-old woman in Queens.
The sicko sat across from the teen on a Queens-bound G train at the Woodhaven Blvd. station in Elmhurst on Nov. 7 at about 3a.m., cops said.
He allegedly stared at the victim and pleasured himself.
The woman bolted from the train when the doors opened and boarded a Brooklyn-bound train out of the station, police said.
Monday, December 14, 2009
There is Nothing Sexy About Sweatpants, Sir.
I was on the 7 train going into Manhattan a few weeks ago. The car I was in wasn't very crowded, and there was plenty of room for people to sit, or at least not have to crowd each other while standing. I was sitting on the train playing on my iPhone when we suddenly went underground so I put my phone down and decided to look around the car and people watch. When I looked to my left, I noticed a man in his 30s standing in front of a girl who was sitting on the train. At first I didn't think much of it, but when I looked a second time I noticed his sweatpants were pulled tight against his crotch. I looked again and saw that he was purposefully standing in front of the girl, pulling his pants tight against his erection. She was trying to look down at her phone to avoid looking at his thingy. I regret not taking his photo because I'm sure he's done this to others.
Submitted by Alexandra
Submitted by Alexandra
Friday, December 11, 2009
Hollaback Cited in a Report on Transit Safety for Women!
In a recent report on women's safety in public transit (found here), author Loukaitou-Sideris, a professor of urban planning at the UCLA School of Public Affairs, was quoted saying:
"The perception that a bus station, train car, parking lot or particular neighborhood is dangerous forces many women to alter their travel patterns. This limits their access to the most basic of rights — to move freely in the public sphere. The situation is worse for low-income and minority women, who may reside in high-crime areas, travel back from work at odd hours, and lack the resources for private transport, such as cars and taxis."
The report cited HollabackNYC as one of the grassroots groups organizing for improved safety in public transit for women. To read an article in Metro Magazine on the report, click here. To read an article in Physorg, click here.
"The perception that a bus station, train car, parking lot or particular neighborhood is dangerous forces many women to alter their travel patterns. This limits their access to the most basic of rights — to move freely in the public sphere. The situation is worse for low-income and minority women, who may reside in high-crime areas, travel back from work at odd hours, and lack the resources for private transport, such as cars and taxis."
The report cited HollabackNYC as one of the grassroots groups organizing for improved safety in public transit for women. To read an article in Metro Magazine on the report, click here. To read an article in Physorg, click here.
Co-Founder Sam Carter Holla's in the Washington Square News
Co-Founder Sam Carter recently published a Letter to the Editor in the Washington Square News.
"While Jenny Tai's reporting was a welcome contribution to the evolving debate on subway and street harassment in this city, unfortunately she did not dig deep enough to uproot some data and details that reveal just how widespread and pervasive this problem is in this city, and, indeed, around the world.
Hanging her reporter's cap on one unreliable (and MTA-collected) statistic — that 587 sexual offenses on the subway system have been reported — was a poor choice for this complex issue."
More...
"While Jenny Tai's reporting was a welcome contribution to the evolving debate on subway and street harassment in this city, unfortunately she did not dig deep enough to uproot some data and details that reveal just how widespread and pervasive this problem is in this city, and, indeed, around the world.
Hanging her reporter's cap on one unreliable (and MTA-collected) statistic — that 587 sexual offenses on the subway system have been reported — was a poor choice for this complex issue."
More...
Thursday, December 10, 2009
HollabackNYC is one of top ten Feminist Blogs!
Ok, so I realize that this happened a year ago: but no one told us! We are proud to be listed as one of the top ten feminist blogs by Take Part.
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Male Allies!
Here is a short, informal, anonymous survey from Holly Kearl where men can share their thoughts specifically on how best to reach men on this issue and engage them in ending it.
Male allies, please take a few minutes and share your thoughts on this topic:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7SS33XL
Holly will be incorporating these comments into her upcoming book!
Male allies, please take a few minutes and share your thoughts on this topic:
https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/7SS33XL
Holly will be incorporating these comments into her upcoming book!
Be Part of a Focus Group on Subway Safety!
Do you feel safe riding NYC's public transit system? Give yourself and others a voice, by sharing your mass transit experiences.
In mid-January, New Yorkers for Safe Transit (NYFST) will be hosting two focus groups for survivors of gender and discrimination-based violence and harassment on New York City’s public transportation system. We're seeking focus group participants for two 2 hour sessions (6-8 pm). We are interested in hearing first-hand accounts from women, people of color, LGBTQGNC individuals, youth, and low-income individuals.
With your help, we will be able to raise public awareness on this issue and continue progress towards eliminating harassment and violence on mass transit.
Please spread the word and contact us at info@nyfst.org to sign up and more information on dates and location.
Light refreshments will be served and $4.50 MetroCards will be provided.
In mid-January, New Yorkers for Safe Transit (NYFST) will be hosting two focus groups for survivors of gender and discrimination-based violence and harassment on New York City’s public transportation system. We're seeking focus group participants for two 2 hour sessions (6-8 pm). We are interested in hearing first-hand accounts from women, people of color, LGBTQGNC individuals, youth, and low-income individuals.
With your help, we will be able to raise public awareness on this issue and continue progress towards eliminating harassment and violence on mass transit.
Please spread the word and contact us at info@nyfst.org to sign up and more information on dates and location.
Light refreshments will be served and $4.50 MetroCards will be provided.
Tuesday, December 8, 2009
No Such Thing as a Safe Commute in this City
Just want to share my recent episode of street harassment there are so many to share. I was walking down the street (of course) and a gypsy taxi driver ask me if I needed a taxi. I said no thank you. Of course he took this opportunity to make a slick remark about how sexy I was to him. I ignored like I didn't here anything.
Then I went into the store. He watch for me to come out. and I purposely avoided going back in his direction. he then started yell things like "sexy" and then he yelled "champion" I kept walking like I didn't hear him I guess he got angry any then yelled out "Big Draws." I maintained my composure although I wanted to say some thing back.
Then to add on more embarrassment I called 311 to complain about the gypsy taxi drivers and their constant street harassment. They then referred me to 911 and told me they would have to send a police officer to my home in order to make a complaint.
Submitted by Teisha
Then I went into the store. He watch for me to come out. and I purposely avoided going back in his direction. he then started yell things like "sexy" and then he yelled "champion" I kept walking like I didn't hear him I guess he got angry any then yelled out "Big Draws." I maintained my composure although I wanted to say some thing back.
Then to add on more embarrassment I called 311 to complain about the gypsy taxi drivers and their constant street harassment. They then referred me to 911 and told me they would have to send a police officer to my home in order to make a complaint.
Submitted by Teisha
Monday, December 7, 2009
A Hotline Success Story: (212) 267-RAPE
This is an update to the post "I didn't think he'd be able to get one past me" from December 4th.
WOW. I just wanted to write and give an update to my story. As I said, I was so shaken up that I didn't have the mind to get off the train after the assault and find a police officer. I knew that I would definitely report it but the man was pretty non-descript and got off amidst hundreds of other people so I didn't think it would matter if I reported it right then or the next day.
It happened on Wednesday evening during rush hour and I found the number for the NYC sex crimes hotline (212) 267-RAPE finally yesterday and called. They were so nice and called me back after having spoken with the transit precinct in my area that would handle the situation. She asked me if I would be willing to go out there and look through some mugshots and press charges. I was beside myself--I felt grateful someone had even answered the phone, let alone that they were taking the situation seriously. I said absolutely and took the train straight out to the precinct, which is actually located in the Van Wyck Blvd. subway station in Queens.
The officer was expecting me and got some initial information and had her partner take the full report. I described the guy to the best of my ability--I gave estimates of his weight and height and I could remember some of the details of his face and what he was wearing. She asked if I would be able to pick him out of some photos and I said sure I would try. She asked why I didn't report it after it happened because there had been an officer on that platform at that time and it could have facilitated the process. I just told her because I was shaken up and didn't think it would make a difference. I just wasn't prepared for something like that to happen and didn't want to get off at the same stop as the creep, either.
The two detectives I needed to speak with had gotten called out to something so she said unfortunately I would need to come back to look through the photos and I said that wasn't a problem and her partner offered to walk me out to the train. As we were walking out the two detectives walked up and I was elated. I couldn't believe the good fortune. They took me into their office and apologized for having me repeat the story but they needed to get as many details as possible. They set me up on a computer and offered me water and asked if I needed to use the phone since there wasn't any cell phone reception down there. We entered some search parameters in the database and I began clicking through dozens of pages of criminals. There were whole pages of people who looked nothing like my assailant and I just clicked through. Given the nature of the crime I wasn't so sure he would be in the system--because he hadn't committed a rape or outright exposed himself and I know that "smaller crimes" like public groping and indecency are reported, let alone prosecuted, with much much less frequency.
I asked how advanced the system was and if I could set aside certain photos that were more similar than others just to kind of give them a more general idea of what he looked like but unfortunately that wasn't really possible. There were thousands and thousands of photographs and so another detective entered some more specific criteria and revised the search while another brought out a new binder with print outs of criminals that have been arrested more recently. I was pretty sure the mugshot efforts would be futile but I was so grateful for the incredibly respectful and smooth experience I was having with reporting such a gross and heinous, albeit sometimes shrugged off, crime. I really couldn't believe it.
I opened the binder and started flipping through a few pages while the detectives pulled out even more binders that I could look through next. I had maybe flipped through about 10 pages and I turned a page and my heart just nearly stopped. My legs went absolutely limp and I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my body. My heart started racing and my hands were shaking and I said "omigosh--my heart is racing and my legs are limp and there's adrenaline pumping and I don't know why I would have this experience if this weren't him" And the female detective laughed and said "Well that's a pretty good sign." And I said "that's the guy." And the male detective asked me with what percentage of certainty I could say that it was him and I felt so surreal, couldn't believe I was actually picking someone out of a book of mugshots and that out of a city of 8 million people, this perp was actually in the book, and I said "100% that is the guy." He had been arrested only once before, three years ago, within a week of the crime against me, for something similar. His physical statistics matched what I had given them in my report almost to a T. In the report I had remembered some freckles on his nose and we zoomed in to the photo and sure enough-little brown freckles.
So there's a search warrant out for this guy and one of the officers had just seen him on the train the day that I went in. He's definitely out there and no stranger to NYC's pervy little world. They said that if and when they pick him up they'll bring him in and I'll stand behind a glass window and I'll pick him out of a lineup. I have no idea what to make of the situation--filing the report for my own personal sanity and reponsibility and having an officer take it down and not shrug it off or tell me there was nothing they could do about it was beyond my own wildest expectations. That all this has happened as a result is absolutely incredible and mind boggling. If this creep is picked up and released or picked up and questioned and it makes him think twice about prowling around and spreading his misery and disease to others I will be happy. If this creep is picked up and I am able to press charges...well I have no idea what kind of effect that would have on me. But a big amount of justice took place yesterday and for that I am happy.
Submitted by Violet
WOW. I just wanted to write and give an update to my story. As I said, I was so shaken up that I didn't have the mind to get off the train after the assault and find a police officer. I knew that I would definitely report it but the man was pretty non-descript and got off amidst hundreds of other people so I didn't think it would matter if I reported it right then or the next day.
It happened on Wednesday evening during rush hour and I found the number for the NYC sex crimes hotline (212) 267-RAPE finally yesterday and called. They were so nice and called me back after having spoken with the transit precinct in my area that would handle the situation. She asked me if I would be willing to go out there and look through some mugshots and press charges. I was beside myself--I felt grateful someone had even answered the phone, let alone that they were taking the situation seriously. I said absolutely and took the train straight out to the precinct, which is actually located in the Van Wyck Blvd. subway station in Queens.
The officer was expecting me and got some initial information and had her partner take the full report. I described the guy to the best of my ability--I gave estimates of his weight and height and I could remember some of the details of his face and what he was wearing. She asked if I would be able to pick him out of some photos and I said sure I would try. She asked why I didn't report it after it happened because there had been an officer on that platform at that time and it could have facilitated the process. I just told her because I was shaken up and didn't think it would make a difference. I just wasn't prepared for something like that to happen and didn't want to get off at the same stop as the creep, either.
The two detectives I needed to speak with had gotten called out to something so she said unfortunately I would need to come back to look through the photos and I said that wasn't a problem and her partner offered to walk me out to the train. As we were walking out the two detectives walked up and I was elated. I couldn't believe the good fortune. They took me into their office and apologized for having me repeat the story but they needed to get as many details as possible. They set me up on a computer and offered me water and asked if I needed to use the phone since there wasn't any cell phone reception down there. We entered some search parameters in the database and I began clicking through dozens of pages of criminals. There were whole pages of people who looked nothing like my assailant and I just clicked through. Given the nature of the crime I wasn't so sure he would be in the system--because he hadn't committed a rape or outright exposed himself and I know that "smaller crimes" like public groping and indecency are reported, let alone prosecuted, with much much less frequency.
I asked how advanced the system was and if I could set aside certain photos that were more similar than others just to kind of give them a more general idea of what he looked like but unfortunately that wasn't really possible. There were thousands and thousands of photographs and so another detective entered some more specific criteria and revised the search while another brought out a new binder with print outs of criminals that have been arrested more recently. I was pretty sure the mugshot efforts would be futile but I was so grateful for the incredibly respectful and smooth experience I was having with reporting such a gross and heinous, albeit sometimes shrugged off, crime. I really couldn't believe it.
I opened the binder and started flipping through a few pages while the detectives pulled out even more binders that I could look through next. I had maybe flipped through about 10 pages and I turned a page and my heart just nearly stopped. My legs went absolutely limp and I could feel the adrenaline coursing through my body. My heart started racing and my hands were shaking and I said "omigosh--my heart is racing and my legs are limp and there's adrenaline pumping and I don't know why I would have this experience if this weren't him" And the female detective laughed and said "Well that's a pretty good sign." And I said "that's the guy." And the male detective asked me with what percentage of certainty I could say that it was him and I felt so surreal, couldn't believe I was actually picking someone out of a book of mugshots and that out of a city of 8 million people, this perp was actually in the book, and I said "100% that is the guy." He had been arrested only once before, three years ago, within a week of the crime against me, for something similar. His physical statistics matched what I had given them in my report almost to a T. In the report I had remembered some freckles on his nose and we zoomed in to the photo and sure enough-little brown freckles.
So there's a search warrant out for this guy and one of the officers had just seen him on the train the day that I went in. He's definitely out there and no stranger to NYC's pervy little world. They said that if and when they pick him up they'll bring him in and I'll stand behind a glass window and I'll pick him out of a lineup. I have no idea what to make of the situation--filing the report for my own personal sanity and reponsibility and having an officer take it down and not shrug it off or tell me there was nothing they could do about it was beyond my own wildest expectations. That all this has happened as a result is absolutely incredible and mind boggling. If this creep is picked up and released or picked up and questioned and it makes him think twice about prowling around and spreading his misery and disease to others I will be happy. If this creep is picked up and I am able to press charges...well I have no idea what kind of effect that would have on me. But a big amount of justice took place yesterday and for that I am happy.
Submitted by Violet
AMNY: Transit cop charged with raping teen
In today's AMNY: Transit cop charged with raping teen. Thanks to Heather Haddon, one of our HOLLAheroes, for reporting this awful crime. When station booth attendants are being cut left and right, every man counts.
"A 29-year-old transit cop charged with raping an 18-year-old woman is scheduled to face a judge on Wednesday.
Shawqi Ahmed, an officer since January 2006, was arrested by the NYPD Friday. Ahmed allegedly met the woman at a Brooklyn club on Thanksgiving and raped her in an apartment later that night, according to published reports. The NYPD would not confirm the details of the incident yesterday.
“It’s particularly a travesty considering this was someone people depend on to keep them safe,” said Emily May of Holla Back, a Web site documenting harassment and sexual abuse in New York City.
The case will go to a grand jury at Kings County Criminal Court, a DA spokesman said."
Sunday December 6, 2009 6:28 PM By Heather Haddon
"A 29-year-old transit cop charged with raping an 18-year-old woman is scheduled to face a judge on Wednesday.
Shawqi Ahmed, an officer since January 2006, was arrested by the NYPD Friday. Ahmed allegedly met the woman at a Brooklyn club on Thanksgiving and raped her in an apartment later that night, according to published reports. The NYPD would not confirm the details of the incident yesterday.
“It’s particularly a travesty considering this was someone people depend on to keep them safe,” said Emily May of Holla Back, a Web site documenting harassment and sexual abuse in New York City.
The case will go to a grand jury at Kings County Criminal Court, a DA spokesman said."
Sunday December 6, 2009 6:28 PM By Heather Haddon
Friday, December 4, 2009
"I didn't think he'd be able to get one past me"
I've lived in NYC for five years and felt very fortunate that I had not yet experienced a sexual assault on the subway, as most of my friends have. I feel as though I am a very alert person but these perverts are just too good at being perverts and it snuck up on me.
A five foot tall man with a cap got on the W train at 59th St/Lexington during evening rush hour without any bags and carrying nothing. I was standing right by the door and I got a bad feeling about him as he got on, especially seeing the sideways glance a middle school age girl was giving him as she backed away from him and moved onto the train. I didn't think he'd be able to get one past me so I carried on, reading my book and keeping a sideways glance on him.
The car was packed and he was so sly--inching closer and closer as I silently questioned if he was too close. His face was getting all contorted and he was breathing weird but out of the corner of my eye I could see that his face and torso were facing forward, so it didn't appear he was pressing himself up against me. But I'm wondering where his body is and so I look down to see how he is turned and I see his big giant erection. This is when I flip out and start shoving him and hitting him away from me, pushing myself to the other side of him and shouting YOU FUCKING PERVERT GET THE FUCK OFF ME. I have always been prepared to be very loud and vocal if this happened to me and so I said very loudly "THIS FUCKING CREEP IS RUBBING HIMSELF UP AGAINST ME, THIS FUCKING PERVERT."
I don't think anyone flinched. The doors opened and without turning around to look at me he sheepishly crawled off the train like a fucking animal on a full moon. One woman did applaud my having vocally publicized the violation but I didn't feel I had done enough. Incredible how someone can commit a sexual assault and leave the situation with the victim feeling as if they had done something wrong. There are some very sick and diseased souls in this city and I can only hope that this experience will allow me to help another victim cope in the future. I knew about Holla Back NYC before the assault but I honestly was so shaken up that I couldn't collect my senses enough to take a photo or try to follow him and call the police. I just wonder what he did on the platform before he got on, and where he went next.
Submitted by Violet
A five foot tall man with a cap got on the W train at 59th St/Lexington during evening rush hour without any bags and carrying nothing. I was standing right by the door and I got a bad feeling about him as he got on, especially seeing the sideways glance a middle school age girl was giving him as she backed away from him and moved onto the train. I didn't think he'd be able to get one past me so I carried on, reading my book and keeping a sideways glance on him.
The car was packed and he was so sly--inching closer and closer as I silently questioned if he was too close. His face was getting all contorted and he was breathing weird but out of the corner of my eye I could see that his face and torso were facing forward, so it didn't appear he was pressing himself up against me. But I'm wondering where his body is and so I look down to see how he is turned and I see his big giant erection. This is when I flip out and start shoving him and hitting him away from me, pushing myself to the other side of him and shouting YOU FUCKING PERVERT GET THE FUCK OFF ME. I have always been prepared to be very loud and vocal if this happened to me and so I said very loudly "THIS FUCKING CREEP IS RUBBING HIMSELF UP AGAINST ME, THIS FUCKING PERVERT."
I don't think anyone flinched. The doors opened and without turning around to look at me he sheepishly crawled off the train like a fucking animal on a full moon. One woman did applaud my having vocally publicized the violation but I didn't feel I had done enough. Incredible how someone can commit a sexual assault and leave the situation with the victim feeling as if they had done something wrong. There are some very sick and diseased souls in this city and I can only hope that this experience will allow me to help another victim cope in the future. I knew about Holla Back NYC before the assault but I honestly was so shaken up that I couldn't collect my senses enough to take a photo or try to follow him and call the police. I just wonder what he did on the platform before he got on, and where he went next.
Submitted by Violet
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Men Who Harass Me: One Woman's Partial Collection
This is the 38th in the series.
Submitted by Sally N.
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Murray Hill Maniac
Living in New York CIty, I've dealt with so much street harassment that I've come to feel it's not even worth the effort to say or do anything in response... I just continue walking and hope that a terrible tragedy befalls the catcaller/hisser/groper/leerer/perv as soon as he's out of my line of vision. Still, I've never really felt unsafe because I stick to populous, well-lit areas.
That all changed about a week ago when I was walking near the corner of 34th St. and 2nd Ave. around 2 pm on a Saturday. As I turned the corner from 2nd Ave. onto 34th Street, the creepiest-looking toothless man started yelling and cussing at me as he walked towards me, aggressively calling me a bitch and making a scene. No one who was walking by did a thing or even looked our way. Anyway, I just sneered at him, and then he really got in my face, yelling "BITCH! BITCH! BITCH!" over and over again. I flipped him off and kept walking because this guy seemed pretty unstable and I didn't want to get into a physical confrontation with him.
As he passed me (he was walking in the opposite direction), I heard him continue to yell increasingly obscene slurs. I turned around and saw him making repulsive gestures with his hands that obviously simulated rape. Then he yelled, "I'M GONNA STICK MY DICK IN YOUR ASS AND PUT IT IN YOUR MOUTH," along with other absolutely repulsive things.
A few seconds later, after he was a bit farther down the block, the shock of this harassment had worn off and I was just plain furious. I backtracked and, because he was walking slowly, turned around to see him him turn the corner onto 2nd Ave (the corner I originally came from). I walked really slowly and kept my eye on him until he took a seat on a planter near the corner. As I walked toward him, I kept my eyes on my cell phone, pretending I was texting. Then I stopped, and when he noticed me there (I was about 30 feet away), he started yelling "BITCH!" over and over again at him.
I glared at him, and the only thing I could think to say to him that wouldn't gratify him was just to say calmly and very condescendingly, "You are so, so sad." Then I walked away, hearing him yell maniacally at me as I walked away. It was gratifying to have the last word, and to keep my cool and show him that no matter what he yelled, I would neither stoop to his level nor give him any indication that his behavior was acceptable.
I think the worst part of this incident, however, was that I felt completely humiliated, as if my old gray sweatpants and faded windbreaker had somehow invited this harassment. It was degrading just to repeat to my boyfriend the things this guy had said to me. Unfortunately, I didn't hear about HollaBack until after the incident (I saw the New York Times article that mentioned it) so I didn't take a pic... but I wish I had. I would've taken an entire photo album (joking... kind of) especially to warn other women in the Murray Hill area who might come across this jerk.
Looking back on it, I'm not sure if I would approach anyone like that again simply because I don't want to risk putting my life in danger. Even now, as I write about what happened, my pulse is racing, both out of anger and from a feeling of being threatened by this loser.
I also didn't know until a few days ago that calling 911 to report disorderly conduct could've resulted in a ticket for the perv. I've resolved to call 911 in the future when I'm harassed, because let's face it: seeing one of the multitude of pervs in NYC being accosted by the police would be infinitely more rewarding than saying anything to men like the one I faced that Saturday.
Submitted by Allison
That all changed about a week ago when I was walking near the corner of 34th St. and 2nd Ave. around 2 pm on a Saturday. As I turned the corner from 2nd Ave. onto 34th Street, the creepiest-looking toothless man started yelling and cussing at me as he walked towards me, aggressively calling me a bitch and making a scene. No one who was walking by did a thing or even looked our way. Anyway, I just sneered at him, and then he really got in my face, yelling "BITCH! BITCH! BITCH!" over and over again. I flipped him off and kept walking because this guy seemed pretty unstable and I didn't want to get into a physical confrontation with him.
As he passed me (he was walking in the opposite direction), I heard him continue to yell increasingly obscene slurs. I turned around and saw him making repulsive gestures with his hands that obviously simulated rape. Then he yelled, "I'M GONNA STICK MY DICK IN YOUR ASS AND PUT IT IN YOUR MOUTH," along with other absolutely repulsive things.
A few seconds later, after he was a bit farther down the block, the shock of this harassment had worn off and I was just plain furious. I backtracked and, because he was walking slowly, turned around to see him him turn the corner onto 2nd Ave (the corner I originally came from). I walked really slowly and kept my eye on him until he took a seat on a planter near the corner. As I walked toward him, I kept my eyes on my cell phone, pretending I was texting. Then I stopped, and when he noticed me there (I was about 30 feet away), he started yelling "BITCH!" over and over again at him.
I glared at him, and the only thing I could think to say to him that wouldn't gratify him was just to say calmly and very condescendingly, "You are so, so sad." Then I walked away, hearing him yell maniacally at me as I walked away. It was gratifying to have the last word, and to keep my cool and show him that no matter what he yelled, I would neither stoop to his level nor give him any indication that his behavior was acceptable.
I think the worst part of this incident, however, was that I felt completely humiliated, as if my old gray sweatpants and faded windbreaker had somehow invited this harassment. It was degrading just to repeat to my boyfriend the things this guy had said to me. Unfortunately, I didn't hear about HollaBack until after the incident (I saw the New York Times article that mentioned it) so I didn't take a pic... but I wish I had. I would've taken an entire photo album (joking... kind of) especially to warn other women in the Murray Hill area who might come across this jerk.
Looking back on it, I'm not sure if I would approach anyone like that again simply because I don't want to risk putting my life in danger. Even now, as I write about what happened, my pulse is racing, both out of anger and from a feeling of being threatened by this loser.
I also didn't know until a few days ago that calling 911 to report disorderly conduct could've resulted in a ticket for the perv. I've resolved to call 911 in the future when I'm harassed, because let's face it: seeing one of the multitude of pervs in NYC being accosted by the police would be infinitely more rewarding than saying anything to men like the one I faced that Saturday.
Submitted by Allison
Friday, November 20, 2009
The METRO talks about the newest version of Hollaback!
Amy Zimmer, a member of our HOLLAfame, wrote an article yesterday in the Metro about our new IPhone app!
Here's the story:
"NEW YORK. HollabackNYC, the Web site that encourages people to upload pictures of their harassers, is developing an iPhone app. They hope to use GPS mapping, to tag people’s pictures and reports, to an online map. E-mail alerts will be sent out in real-time. The data would be compiled in an annual report sent to police, public officials and the media."
RightRides has generously offered to incubate this initiative, but we need help. Hollaback has been running with zero budget for four years, but we need funds to make this a reality. Help us out by donating!
Here's the story:
"NEW YORK. HollabackNYC, the Web site that encourages people to upload pictures of their harassers, is developing an iPhone app. They hope to use GPS mapping, to tag people’s pictures and reports, to an online map. E-mail alerts will be sent out in real-time. The data would be compiled in an annual report sent to police, public officials and the media."
RightRides has generously offered to incubate this initiative, but we need help. Hollaback has been running with zero budget for four years, but we need funds to make this a reality. Help us out by donating!
"Sexual Harassment Is ‘No. 1 Quality of Life Offense’ on Subways"
Yesterday there was a public hearing on harassment and assault in the subways. There, the police called sexual harassment "No. 1 Quality of Life Offense." Hey NYPD, people talking loudly on their cell phones is a quality of life offense. Harassment and assault is violence.
Still, we are glad the NYPD has taken notice and grateful for all the press on the issue:
"Subway Perv Reports Going Up" Metro International. (Check out the sidebar on the next generation of Hollaback!)
"Sexual Harassment Is ‘No. 1 Quality of Life Offense’ on Subways, Police Say" New York Times. (Check out the mention of New Yorkers for Safe Transit, co-founded by HollabackNYC!)
"Subway Harassment Complaints On The Rise" NY1.
"Complaints of sexual abuse on subway worst in Manhattan" New York Post
"Gal's wild 'goosed' chase" New York Post (Note: Oraia is helping us launch the Hollaback Iphone app!)
"Police: Subway Sexual Harassment the Top Quality of Life Concern" AMNY. (Check out the quote from Tara Rose, who submitted her story to HollabackNYC a couple weeks ago!)
"Sexual Harassment On Subways An 'Underreported Crime'" Gothamist.
Still, we are glad the NYPD has taken notice and grateful for all the press on the issue:
"Subway Perv Reports Going Up" Metro International. (Check out the sidebar on the next generation of Hollaback!)
"Sexual Harassment Is ‘No. 1 Quality of Life Offense’ on Subways, Police Say" New York Times. (Check out the mention of New Yorkers for Safe Transit, co-founded by HollabackNYC!)
"Subway Harassment Complaints On The Rise" NY1.
"Complaints of sexual abuse on subway worst in Manhattan" New York Post
"Gal's wild 'goosed' chase" New York Post (Note: Oraia is helping us launch the Hollaback Iphone app!)
"Police: Subway Sexual Harassment the Top Quality of Life Concern" AMNY. (Check out the quote from Tara Rose, who submitted her story to HollabackNYC a couple weeks ago!)
"Sexual Harassment On Subways An 'Underreported Crime'" Gothamist.
Thursday, November 19, 2009
On the bridle path in Forest Park, Queens
This little man apparently wanted to have a measuring contest with my horse. He lost.
Submitted by Kit
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
Men Who Harass Me: One Woman's Partial Collection
This is the 37th in the series.
Submitted by Sally N.
"show us your titties, cigarette girl"
i was parking in the parking structure at work at university of Michigan hospital. as i turned around the corner i saw 3 men walking up the ramp towards the door of the hospital. as i drove by one of them yelled something about showing him my titties. i stopped my car and yelled "are you talking to me?" and he says "show us your titties, cigarette girl." i told them to go fuck themselves and then i went inside and told security. they sent an officer out to talk to them and also kicked them out as they didn't have any reason to be there. the officer asked if i wanted to press charges but i said no. i didn't want to deal with the "justice" system. although after reading this site i wish i would have since so many women don't really have this opportunity.
Submitted by Chelsea
Submitted by Chelsea
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Breaking News! Councilmember Lappin Stands Up for Lady Straphangers!
We just got word that Councilmember Jessica Lappin, introduced a bill that would require the NYPD to collect data on complaints of sexual harassment on the subway system (inappropriate touching, public masturbation, etc.)
This makes Councilmember Lappin one of our HOLLAheroines!
UPDATE! Check out the rest of the story in Our Town East Side, with Hollaback quotes at the end.
This makes Councilmember Lappin one of our HOLLAheroines!
UPDATE! Check out the rest of the story in Our Town East Side, with Hollaback quotes at the end.
Monday, November 16, 2009
This Frog Won't Turn into a Prince
This guy was making kissing sounds at me on Prince st between Broadway and Crosby street on 11.16.09 around noon. Being able to send you a photo makes me feel a little better, so thank you.
Submitted by Mary
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Halloween's Scariest Story
This was taken at the Union Square 14th St station. My friend and I were waiting for the 4 train and were dressed up for Halloween. She was fighting with her boyfriend and also quite inebriated so she sat on the platform (ew, but what can you do?). I crouched next to her to comfort her. That's when I noticed some a**hole on the opposite platform zooming in on my friend's crotch and his flash go off. He actually walked to the edge of the platform and bent to get her crotch. I tried to alert her, but she was too drunk to move. I pulled my camera out, and he immediately hid behind a metal pillar. I snapped the shot as fast as I could and shouted some choice words at him. He hid behind that damn pillar until the next train came. I wish the photo was less blurry. I was shaking with anger. It had already been a bad night and though I've been harassed before, no one's ever aimed a camera at me. It felt so violating that someone I don't know has a picture of my friend's crotch, and possibly me, is showing his stupid friends, and maybe posting it on the internet somewhere. He was a young guy, mid-twenties, with short black hair. He wasn't wearing a costume, but a maroon track jacket and jeans. It was so frustrating to just stand on the other side of the platform while that perv looked at his camera. At least there's Holla Back.
Submitted by Tara
HollabackNYC in the NYTimes!
From the New York Times article:
"Holla Back NYC lets women post pictures of men who harass them on the street. Holla Back struck such a nerve when it was introduced in 2005 (and led to more than one arrest) that now there are 20 Holla Back sites."
Holla!
"Holla Back NYC lets women post pictures of men who harass them on the street. Holla Back struck such a nerve when it was introduced in 2005 (and led to more than one arrest) that now there are 20 Holla Back sites."
Holla!
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Men Who Harass Me: One Woman's Partial Collection
This is the 36th in the series.
Submitted by Sally N.
HollabackNYC cited as a case study in a new report!
HollabackNYC and our friends and collaborators at RightRides and New Yorkers for Safe Transit are cited in this new report:
How to Ease Women´s Fear of Transportation Environments: Case Studies and Best Practices
Hollaback is on pages 38-40. Holla!
How to Ease Women´s Fear of Transportation Environments: Case Studies and Best Practices
Hollaback is on pages 38-40. Holla!
Monday, November 9, 2009
Three Strikes You're Scared
My boyfriend lives downtown, and to reach him I have to walk two blocks to get to the N, R, or W train at 6th ave. This requires me to walk down west 28th street, and it is a eventful walk every time I do.
Every time I walk down 28th, one or more men feel like they have to say something to me. Its the flower district, and when the venders put all their plants out on the street, I am forced to walk through a jungle and been in close spaces with several men who are always giving me the up-down, I feel them start to enclose on me and get too close for comfort. It seems like every time I make that walk to the subway, someone will tell me I am "beautiful" or that they "want to talk to me". Recently, I had more than the normal amount of comments..
I was returning from my boyfriend's place, and as I walked out of the subway stairs, immediately after a man standing right outside the exit said "hey miss I wanna talk to you", and even followed me for a bit! I held my breath and walked faster, but as I passed a parking garage another man started to comment on my appearance! So I walked faster... and then as I reached 29th street ANOTHER man started to make kissing faces at me! All of this happened within three minutes, and I felt like my security was being stripped away with each harassment.
Now I find myself trying to avoid taking the N R or W even though it is the closest and most convenient subway. Sometimes I'll make my trip 20 minutes longer if it means I don't have to walk on 28th. If I am leaving my boyfriend's place after dark, I'll shell out the extra money for a taxi, have him escort me, or even call my friends and tell them to meet me on the platform. Literally, every time I am on that street a man has to make some obscene comment to me. The walk from my place to that subway is only 10 minutes, but it is always the longest walk of my life.
Submitted by Susanna
Every time I walk down 28th, one or more men feel like they have to say something to me. Its the flower district, and when the venders put all their plants out on the street, I am forced to walk through a jungle and been in close spaces with several men who are always giving me the up-down, I feel them start to enclose on me and get too close for comfort. It seems like every time I make that walk to the subway, someone will tell me I am "beautiful" or that they "want to talk to me". Recently, I had more than the normal amount of comments..
I was returning from my boyfriend's place, and as I walked out of the subway stairs, immediately after a man standing right outside the exit said "hey miss I wanna talk to you", and even followed me for a bit! I held my breath and walked faster, but as I passed a parking garage another man started to comment on my appearance! So I walked faster... and then as I reached 29th street ANOTHER man started to make kissing faces at me! All of this happened within three minutes, and I felt like my security was being stripped away with each harassment.
Now I find myself trying to avoid taking the N R or W even though it is the closest and most convenient subway. Sometimes I'll make my trip 20 minutes longer if it means I don't have to walk on 28th. If I am leaving my boyfriend's place after dark, I'll shell out the extra money for a taxi, have him escort me, or even call my friends and tell them to meet me on the platform. Literally, every time I am on that street a man has to make some obscene comment to me. The walk from my place to that subway is only 10 minutes, but it is always the longest walk of my life.
Submitted by Susanna
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Thanks for making us #1!
Your votes got us back to the number one position, but the Knight News Foundation competition rages on until December 15th.
If you haven't voted yet, don't wait!
If you haven't voted yet, don't wait!
Glass Bottles, Bikes, and Borough Park
I've never felt unsafe before. That may be surprising, as I live in New York City, but I've never really feared for my physical safety. I'm a big lady and I've always felt comfortable walking or biking or taking the train at any hour of the day or night.
Last night, two men on a dark street stripped me of that sense of security.
I was riding my bike home from my friend's house around 1:30AM. I had dressed up for Shabbat services in a cute, short dress and was feeling a little chilly. I was riding mechanically slowly, really only looking forward to getting home so I could curl up in my warm bed and watch some dumb recorded tv shows.
I ride through some pretty desolate areas on this route. Keep in mind, I've ridden this route several times a week since I started biking. I've ridden it at four in the morning before. It is the only way I use to get home when I've gone anywhere east of Prospect Park.
I approached the overpass of the D train on 39th street right near my apartment and passed two men. All of the sudden I heard someone running behind me and I turned around to see one of them chasing me on my bike. He was running full out only a few feet behind me. I screamed out "What the fuck are you doing?" and started pedaling as fast as I could. They screamed "bitch" at me and threw a glass bottle which shattered near my tires.
I was three blocks from my home.
I rode at full speed the last three blocks. When I got to my house, my hands were shaking so badly I could hardly lock up my bike. I was terrified that the men would have followed me home. I ran up my stairs and locked the door, finding an empty apartment. I sat on my bed shivering with fear, unable to really process what had just happened.
When I looked back at that man chasing me, I truly thought that he would overtake me and pull me off my bike. There aren't a lot of street lights in that area and even less people out on the street. If they had wanted to take my bag, they could have. If they had wanted to sexually assault me and slit my throat, they could have. These are the thoughts that kept me awake as I huddled in my bed, to scared even to cry.
I don't know what they've left me. I ride my bike every single day. I ride it to work, to friend's houses, to the grocery store, to rehearsal, to meetings, to parties, and anywhere I want to go. I haven't bought a monthly metrocard since June. My bike is an essential part of how I interact with the city. It's my life. Yet now, when I think about riding in some of the areas where I travel on a regular basis -- I am terrified. What if this happens again? What if next time I'm not fast enough? What if they do get me off my bike? I'm so scared, but I'm not allowed to be -- I need my bike.
How can I reclaim the sense of physical security that they've taken from me?
Submitted by Emma
Last night, two men on a dark street stripped me of that sense of security.
I was riding my bike home from my friend's house around 1:30AM. I had dressed up for Shabbat services in a cute, short dress and was feeling a little chilly. I was riding mechanically slowly, really only looking forward to getting home so I could curl up in my warm bed and watch some dumb recorded tv shows.
I ride through some pretty desolate areas on this route. Keep in mind, I've ridden this route several times a week since I started biking. I've ridden it at four in the morning before. It is the only way I use to get home when I've gone anywhere east of Prospect Park.
I approached the overpass of the D train on 39th street right near my apartment and passed two men. All of the sudden I heard someone running behind me and I turned around to see one of them chasing me on my bike. He was running full out only a few feet behind me. I screamed out "What the fuck are you doing?" and started pedaling as fast as I could. They screamed "bitch" at me and threw a glass bottle which shattered near my tires.
I was three blocks from my home.
I rode at full speed the last three blocks. When I got to my house, my hands were shaking so badly I could hardly lock up my bike. I was terrified that the men would have followed me home. I ran up my stairs and locked the door, finding an empty apartment. I sat on my bed shivering with fear, unable to really process what had just happened.
When I looked back at that man chasing me, I truly thought that he would overtake me and pull me off my bike. There aren't a lot of street lights in that area and even less people out on the street. If they had wanted to take my bag, they could have. If they had wanted to sexually assault me and slit my throat, they could have. These are the thoughts that kept me awake as I huddled in my bed, to scared even to cry.
I don't know what they've left me. I ride my bike every single day. I ride it to work, to friend's houses, to the grocery store, to rehearsal, to meetings, to parties, and anywhere I want to go. I haven't bought a monthly metrocard since June. My bike is an essential part of how I interact with the city. It's my life. Yet now, when I think about riding in some of the areas where I travel on a regular basis -- I am terrified. What if this happens again? What if next time I'm not fast enough? What if they do get me off my bike? I'm so scared, but I'm not allowed to be -- I need my bike.
How can I reclaim the sense of physical security that they've taken from me?
Submitted by Emma
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Men Who Harass Me: One Woman's Partial Collection
This is the 35th in the series.
Submitted by Sally N.
Hollaback Video-Style!
We are pleased to present one girl's Hollaback re-enactment:
Submitted by Dana
Submitted by Dana
Monday, November 2, 2009
Brooklyn Spitter
This keeps happening to my friends in Crown Heights (brooklyn) where I live: there is a man that walks around (maybe about 5'11", burly very chubby) with a big dirty black quilted coat on who shuffles up to women, and SPITS on them! He has tried to spit on me twice. It's TERRIFYING and has happened while it was still dark out before I went to work. I saw him again (on Nostrand Avenue) Friday night, but was with my boyfriend. He beelined toward me, but saw my boyfriend and shuffled off.
I have heard two other people say this man has spit directly on them! I was hoping maybe someone out there would know more about who this crazy brooklyn spitter is?
Submitted by A. T. S.
I have heard two other people say this man has spit directly on them! I was hoping maybe someone out there would know more about who this crazy brooklyn spitter is?
Submitted by A. T. S.
Saturday, October 31, 2009
Men Who Harass Me: One Woman's Partial Collection
This is the 34th in the series.
Submitted by Sally N.
Thursday, October 29, 2009
Vote for Hollaback 2.0!
We are currently rated #2 out of 243 applications. A #1 ranking will help us secure the funds to make this initiative happen.
HOLLABACK against street harassment! Vote now, here.
HOLLABACK against street harassment! Vote now, here.
Tuesday, October 27, 2009
Men Who Harass Me: One Woman's Partial Collection
This is the 33rd in the series.
Submitted by Sally N.
Monday, October 26, 2009
Vote to Help Bring RightRides to DC!
Reposted from Hollaback DC:
How much would you love to see safe, free rides for women and LGBTQ individuals on weekends through a partnership with Holla Back DC! and Zipcar? Wouldn’t that be cool? Well, we want to bring a RightRides chapter to the DC metro area.
To make this a reality, Holla Back DC! is asking you to vote for this idea through Ideablob. If we win, half of that $10K would be used to bring RightRides to DC. But we need YOU to make it happen! We urge you to take one minute to register through Ideablob and vote for HBDC! A vote for us is a vote for a safer DC for all. And hey, good ideas spread, so get your friends and family in other places to vote to make our nation’s capital a safe place!
Read about our plans, register, vote, and spread the word.
As always, a heartfelt thank you for your votes and continued support. Holla Back DC! is a community initiative that would not be possible without the loving support from people like you and the DC metro community.
How much would you love to see safe, free rides for women and LGBTQ individuals on weekends through a partnership with Holla Back DC! and Zipcar? Wouldn’t that be cool? Well, we want to bring a RightRides chapter to the DC metro area.
To make this a reality, Holla Back DC! is asking you to vote for this idea through Ideablob. If we win, half of that $10K would be used to bring RightRides to DC. But we need YOU to make it happen! We urge you to take one minute to register through Ideablob and vote for HBDC! A vote for us is a vote for a safer DC for all. And hey, good ideas spread, so get your friends and family in other places to vote to make our nation’s capital a safe place!
Read about our plans, register, vote, and spread the word.
As always, a heartfelt thank you for your votes and continued support. Holla Back DC! is a community initiative that would not be possible without the loving support from people like you and the DC metro community.
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
Grazed, then Chased
I live in Philly but since we are almost a New York suburb and we have no Holla Back yet, I'm sending my story to you.
I walk into a bookstore in Old City, it's one of my favorites because it's all used books and there are so many books, they pile them up everywhere, it's like cairns up and down the aisles. It's always an adventure to go in and generally fun to strike up conversation with fellow book lovers. That evening was hot and humid, I had a sun dress on. I found my favorite section and started scanning for books. I hear someone walking down the aisle and press up against the shelves to make room (there were 5 or 6 towers of books near my feet), I hear the individual say something, Hey, Hi, What's up sort of greeting, but at the same moment I feel him graze my butt.
In that instant two things cross my mind - it was an accident/he did it on purpose. The blood rushes to my face because I know it was no accident. I lean back from the shelves and dig my nails into the book I'm holding. I look at him, he doesn't look back. I pay for the book, he quickly leaves the store but turns back to look at me as he passes the window. All manner of gruesome scenarios invade my mind and I count to 20 and leave the store.
Two blocks down the street, I'm still boiling, mostly that I didn't do anything, and then I hear it. "Hey, hey miss" I turn to find him jogging down the block towards me across the street. I cross the street screaming any and all obscenities at him, and so the people near us get the picture, yell at him for groping me in a bookstore, being a pervert, asshole and the like. He turns, walks away, turns again and then starts running down the street.
I hope I have scared him one tenth of what he scared me.
I walk into a bookstore in Old City, it's one of my favorites because it's all used books and there are so many books, they pile them up everywhere, it's like cairns up and down the aisles. It's always an adventure to go in and generally fun to strike up conversation with fellow book lovers. That evening was hot and humid, I had a sun dress on. I found my favorite section and started scanning for books. I hear someone walking down the aisle and press up against the shelves to make room (there were 5 or 6 towers of books near my feet), I hear the individual say something, Hey, Hi, What's up sort of greeting, but at the same moment I feel him graze my butt.
In that instant two things cross my mind - it was an accident/he did it on purpose. The blood rushes to my face because I know it was no accident. I lean back from the shelves and dig my nails into the book I'm holding. I look at him, he doesn't look back. I pay for the book, he quickly leaves the store but turns back to look at me as he passes the window. All manner of gruesome scenarios invade my mind and I count to 20 and leave the store.
Two blocks down the street, I'm still boiling, mostly that I didn't do anything, and then I hear it. "Hey, hey miss" I turn to find him jogging down the block towards me across the street. I cross the street screaming any and all obscenities at him, and so the people near us get the picture, yell at him for groping me in a bookstore, being a pervert, asshole and the like. He turns, walks away, turns again and then starts running down the street.
I hope I have scared him one tenth of what he scared me.
Tuesday, October 20, 2009
Street Harassment that Led to Assault
Reposted from the New York Post:
An ex-con is back behind bars for groping a young woman in broad daylight as she walked into her SoHo apartment building, police sources said yesterday.
José Marrero, 32, allegedly stalked the 23-year-old victim for three blocks on Oct. 4 while saying, "Hey beautiful, come with me, let's go somewhere."
The suspect, who has done time for drug charges, pounced as she stepped into the lobby of her building on Varick Street near Broome streets at 8:30 a.m., sources said.
The victim tried to fight off the attacker, but Marrero allegedly threw her to the ground, rubbed his body against hers and molested her.
Two witnesses stumbled upon the attack, prompting the suspect to dash off, but the victim picked Marrero out of a photo array.
The suspect was arrested last Wednesday and charged with burglary and sexual abuse.
An ex-con is back behind bars for groping a young woman in broad daylight as she walked into her SoHo apartment building, police sources said yesterday.
José Marrero, 32, allegedly stalked the 23-year-old victim for three blocks on Oct. 4 while saying, "Hey beautiful, come with me, let's go somewhere."
The suspect, who has done time for drug charges, pounced as she stepped into the lobby of her building on Varick Street near Broome streets at 8:30 a.m., sources said.
The victim tried to fight off the attacker, but Marrero allegedly threw her to the ground, rubbed his body against hers and molested her.
Two witnesses stumbled upon the attack, prompting the suspect to dash off, but the victim picked Marrero out of a photo array.
The suspect was arrested last Wednesday and charged with burglary and sexual abuse.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Be in a Street Harassment Documentary!
Maureen K. Doll is making a short film on street harassment and she needs your help. Are you a woman who has been street harassed in New York City? Today? Yesterday? Five years ago? Whatever your experience, she wants to hear about it. Tell your friends. Tell your neighbor. Tell your mother. And contact her at l.acrobate@gmail.com. After completing a brief questionnaire, you may be invited for an interview. Regardless, your input is invaluable---thank you in advance.
This project is a part of The New School graduate program in documentary studies.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Garbage
A garbage truck full of men whistling at you isn't so bad. Except when you are walking home alone at night on a street without a soul in sight. Then it is terrifying.
Submitted by Emily
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Perv Flashes Kids
This guy (in camo) has pulled out his penis twice & displayed it to our sidewalk sale and children.
Submitted via cell phone
Ass-Swipe Harasser
This lowlife asshole always stands on the Manhattan bound side of DeKalb ave off the L line and tries to swipe people with found metrocatds. He always gets up in girls personal space and harasses them if they say no and use the machine. A week ago, I had firmly said "NO" and he started immitating me so I told the MTA person at the other end. Obviously he had gotten away so after taking his picture today, I hope he gets caught!
Submitted by Danielle
Friday, October 9, 2009
Bigots: It's None of Your Business
These are two incidences that happened within the same week in July, in downtown Toronto. I'm used to people asking me where I'm from, because they get confused about how someone who looks European has such an "ethnic" name. But in the space of one week, I had two creepy strangers come up to me and use my "exotic" ethnicity as an excuse to hit on me.
Incident one: I was listening to my iPod waiting on the subway platform at Spadina. A guy comes up to me and says something, I take my headphones out, and this is seriously what he says: "Excuse me, are you German? Because you look so good in that dress."
I was in a really good mood, so I just smiled politely and said no. Then he started asking "Norwegian? Swedish? Swiss?" He went through pretty much all of Western Europe before he started on Eastern Europe. I told him "You'll never guess, and I'm not going to tell you."
Then he acted all offended, "You're not going to tell me? That's so mean, why are you being mean to me? Can I have your number so I can call you and find out where you're from?"
Luckily, the subway came then, and I just said "I'm not single, and it's none of your business anyway." He looked pissed!
Incident two: This one actually really pissed me off. I went to the store at the ground level of my apartment building to buy cigarettes. I was turning to go back into my building when a skeezy looking middle aged guy stops me.
"Excuse me, where are you from? Are you from Switzerland?"
That day I really wasn't in the mood for it, and I was pretty cold when I said "No." and tried to leave. But it was right in front of my building and he was following me. He started going through all of the Western and Eastern European countries, when I noticed his accent and asked where he was from. He said he's Albanian, and I said, ah, my great-grandfather was Albanian. Then he says, "Okay, so how about a nice Albanian girl like you has a coffee with a nice Albanian guy like me?"
I told him no, I'm married and I don't have coffees with strange men. He then proceeded to tell me that I couldn't possibly be married because I look "too fresh and lovely, and married women are all tired and unhappy", and he asked if my husband was Canadian. I told him "My husband's ethnicity is none of your business, he's a Muslim and I'm a Muslim, and neither of us have coffee with people who stop us on the street."
Then he got REALLY MAD, and told me not to be Muslim because only poor Albanians are Muslim, and I'm too young and beautiful to be married to a Muslim man! I didn't bother telling him that it's my Italian husband who's the convert, I just walked away. A dirty pervert and a bigot!
Submitted by Zeyneb
Incident one: I was listening to my iPod waiting on the subway platform at Spadina. A guy comes up to me and says something, I take my headphones out, and this is seriously what he says: "Excuse me, are you German? Because you look so good in that dress."
I was in a really good mood, so I just smiled politely and said no. Then he started asking "Norwegian? Swedish? Swiss?" He went through pretty much all of Western Europe before he started on Eastern Europe. I told him "You'll never guess, and I'm not going to tell you."
Then he acted all offended, "You're not going to tell me? That's so mean, why are you being mean to me? Can I have your number so I can call you and find out where you're from?"
Luckily, the subway came then, and I just said "I'm not single, and it's none of your business anyway." He looked pissed!
Incident two: This one actually really pissed me off. I went to the store at the ground level of my apartment building to buy cigarettes. I was turning to go back into my building when a skeezy looking middle aged guy stops me.
"Excuse me, where are you from? Are you from Switzerland?"
That day I really wasn't in the mood for it, and I was pretty cold when I said "No." and tried to leave. But it was right in front of my building and he was following me. He started going through all of the Western and Eastern European countries, when I noticed his accent and asked where he was from. He said he's Albanian, and I said, ah, my great-grandfather was Albanian. Then he says, "Okay, so how about a nice Albanian girl like you has a coffee with a nice Albanian guy like me?"
I told him no, I'm married and I don't have coffees with strange men. He then proceeded to tell me that I couldn't possibly be married because I look "too fresh and lovely, and married women are all tired and unhappy", and he asked if my husband was Canadian. I told him "My husband's ethnicity is none of your business, he's a Muslim and I'm a Muslim, and neither of us have coffee with people who stop us on the street."
Then he got REALLY MAD, and told me not to be Muslim because only poor Albanians are Muslim, and I'm too young and beautiful to be married to a Muslim man! I didn't bother telling him that it's my Italian husband who's the convert, I just walked away. A dirty pervert and a bigot!
Submitted by Zeyneb
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Hollaback is about to go 2.0!
We've been working hard for the past few months with our friends at RightRides on a new generation of Hollaback. We want to create an online map where women can "Hollaback!" directly from their cell phones. Quick, 140 character stories can be submitted through three easy portals: a) text it, b) tweet it, and c) submit it through a "Hollaback" mobile phone app. Once we launch in New York City, we want to take it worldwide.
What do you think of our idea? We need your help. Click here to tell us:
http://bit.ly/14Egc2
and vote for our idea to make it happen.
Once you are done with that, spread the word to your networks. Cut and paste this to your facebook, twitter, Myspace, and LinkedIn pages:
Vote for Hollaback 2.0 http://bit.ly/14Egc2 then repost to end street harassment!
What do you think of our idea? We need your help. Click here to tell us:
http://bit.ly/14Egc2
and vote for our idea to make it happen.
Once you are done with that, spread the word to your networks. Cut and paste this to your facebook, twitter, Myspace, and LinkedIn pages:
Vote for Hollaback 2.0 http://bit.ly/14Egc2 then repost to end street harassment!
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Fucking Rude with an Attitude
I was harassed less than 1/2 hour ago.
I went to the supermarket. I got out of my car and walked toward the store. As I was walking, I noticed a man but ignored him because my focus was on walking to the supermarket and getting what I needed. I heard someone call out to me, and the man had a friend with him. I turned around and one of them said that they liked my dreads. I said thank you and continued walking.
One of them then said something about me being "fucking rude with an attitude" and how he liked that, and he said not to do it again because it turned him on. Then one or both of them said something about wanting to fuck me.
It scared the shit out of me. But I walked fast and tried not to look obviously scared.
I got the 2 items that I needed and before leaving the store, I asked the cashier to please call security to walk me to my car. The security guard obliged and said that it's a damn shame (with other expletives thrown in there) that I have to be afraid of the men in my culture, and that if I ever felt unsafe again to call security and they'll walk me to my car anytime.
I'm still rattled.
Submitted by P.
I went to the supermarket. I got out of my car and walked toward the store. As I was walking, I noticed a man but ignored him because my focus was on walking to the supermarket and getting what I needed. I heard someone call out to me, and the man had a friend with him. I turned around and one of them said that they liked my dreads. I said thank you and continued walking.
One of them then said something about me being "fucking rude with an attitude" and how he liked that, and he said not to do it again because it turned him on. Then one or both of them said something about wanting to fuck me.
It scared the shit out of me. But I walked fast and tried not to look obviously scared.
I got the 2 items that I needed and before leaving the store, I asked the cashier to please call security to walk me to my car. The security guard obliged and said that it's a damn shame (with other expletives thrown in there) that I have to be afraid of the men in my culture, and that if I ever felt unsafe again to call security and they'll walk me to my car anytime.
I'm still rattled.
Submitted by P.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Strength in Sisters
This man was on the G train heading to queens around midnight Friday night. He came into the car alone, and proceeded to sit in front of me and my sisters.
Then he wouldnt stop staring at us .. and feeling himself..
So I took out my camera and snapped him in the act. He asked if I had taken a picture of him, and I said.. no, no I did not.
All the while.. he stared. He made me completely uncomfortable, and I took out my mace in case he tried anything. But there were too many people on the train.. thank God!
Submitted by Veronica
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Village Assault
On Sunday afternoon a random stranger attacked my friend. He came up from behind us with no warning and when I asked him why he claimed that she had bumped into him and not apologized. He knocked her teeth loose and she is covered in bruises and scrapes from how hard she hit the ground. I followed him several blocks up University Place and when I grabbed his shirt to try to keep him from running away he punched me multiple times and bit me before several guys wrestled him to the ground in front of the Whole Foods in Union Square. That's when I got these photos.
Submitted by Cori
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Wedding Planning
Standing on the corner of 3rd avenue and Pacific in Brooklyn, chatting excitedly about wedding planning with my bride-to-be friend Colleen, when a man walks past us slowly and whispers: "Cold. Bitch."
He sauntered on, we shuttered with a cold chill of fear.
Submitted by Emily
He sauntered on, we shuttered with a cold chill of fear.
Submitted by Emily
Friday, September 25, 2009
Scared like a child who thinks about monsters.
One day as I walked a friend to the train station, I noticed a man in my periphery against a wall by the station, I walked her down and then noticed on my way up that the man against the wall was still there and now trying to get my attention. So oh course my first response is to ignore the bastard, but this man proceeded to follow me. Only a few feet from the station, he proceeded to use his body to corner me up against a wall. My instinct told me to push him away. However, when I pushed I was so scared that I didn't know my own strength, I shoved him back. He stumbled a few feet backwards and became enraged. I saw in his eyes that he was going to hurt me, so I ran.
Of course, it was the only moment that I have seen this area so empty that I had to run and be chased a full block until I found some people on the street. They were a construction crew. I ran in between them and pointed at the crazy man chasing me. They used their body to block the crazy guy and told me to run home. As I was running home, I could still hear this crazy guy screaming at me about what he would do. As soon as I got home, I locked all the doors and thought about how frightening this was. I was scared. Scared like a child who thinks about monsters. How can one person make another person feel like this in one moment. I am truly sick and tired of this harassment. Since coming to NYC, I understand why people become agoraphobic. Enough is enough. I will not be silenced.
For awhile, I tried to figure out what it is about me that lured these violators to single me out. Is it the way I walk? Is it because I am so short and small? Is it because I seem weak? Is it because of the way I dress?....In the end, why the fuck does any of this matter. It is just plain unacceptable.
Enough is enough.
Submitted by Michelle
Of course, it was the only moment that I have seen this area so empty that I had to run and be chased a full block until I found some people on the street. They were a construction crew. I ran in between them and pointed at the crazy man chasing me. They used their body to block the crazy guy and told me to run home. As I was running home, I could still hear this crazy guy screaming at me about what he would do. As soon as I got home, I locked all the doors and thought about how frightening this was. I was scared. Scared like a child who thinks about monsters. How can one person make another person feel like this in one moment. I am truly sick and tired of this harassment. Since coming to NYC, I understand why people become agoraphobic. Enough is enough. I will not be silenced.
For awhile, I tried to figure out what it is about me that lured these violators to single me out. Is it the way I walk? Is it because I am so short and small? Is it because I seem weak? Is it because of the way I dress?....In the end, why the fuck does any of this matter. It is just plain unacceptable.
Enough is enough.
Submitted by Michelle
Thursday, September 24, 2009
A Guy Who Gets It
Good story: so I was harassed today at least five or six times, all around the chelsea neighborhood. When I was about to get on the subway at 28th st, a sleazy guy went, "ooh, nice dress sexy." A guy walking right behind me overheard and muttered "what an asshole." After so much harassment it was nice to know not all men think talking to women that way is ok! Thanks dude behind me for making my day.
Submitted by Rachel
Submitted by Rachel
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Repeat Offender
As a high school student coming from suburbs riding to school into Manhattan fifteen years ago it was a shock to see a grotesque looking man performing this action [masturbating] "in front of me". It was then again years later commuting to Manhattan to work and seeing another disgusting grin faced gray haired man coming into my train car sitting on the other end of the train and committing the same act. In fear I slowly moved head away and tried to remain my composure . Later that afternoon I tried to report the incidence to a train conductor but since it was late in the day too late for anything to be done... back then cell phones didn't have that camera feature that could allow you take the pictures and report them, something I could have really used...
Submitted by Jacqueline
Submitted by Jacqueline
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
I wish I could carry around a sword.
I'm beginning to hate men, I am beginning to hate walking outside. I am turning into a racist. I'm becoming an asshole. I wish I could carry around a sword.
Today on the F train towards Jamaica at about 8:00am, a man with reflective shades sat in front of me in a crowded train. It seemed strange that he had been wearing reflective sunglasses in the morning in an underground train. I soon realized that after a couple of minutes, he was masturbating. At this moment, I leaned in and yelled if that's what he's doing. He could not respond; however, because this is the second time this has happened to me, I decided to yell some more. I was enraged. I am so sick and tired of being harassed. I'm becoming an asshole with no tolerance for this type of behavior. So, I continued to yell at this man until the entire train knew what he was doing. I woke the lady next to him to inform her that she had been sitting next to an pervert masterbater. Then, I proceeded to curse this guy out some more. Then to my surprise another man on the train started to yell at him saying that if he doesn't stop that he was going
to hurt him.
ATTENTION: WOMEN PLEASE SAY SOMETHING !!!
I think what surprised me the most was not that someone stood up with me, but that it was a man. None of the women on the train said anything when they heard and understood what was happening to me. Are we that afraid? We need to ban together and look out and help each other. When I see other women getting harassed, I always jump in to help. Where are the women to help me? How can we curb this type of harassment, if not everyone tried to change it.
What can I do to help change this?
Submitted by Michelle
Today on the F train towards Jamaica at about 8:00am, a man with reflective shades sat in front of me in a crowded train. It seemed strange that he had been wearing reflective sunglasses in the morning in an underground train. I soon realized that after a couple of minutes, he was masturbating. At this moment, I leaned in and yelled if that's what he's doing. He could not respond; however, because this is the second time this has happened to me, I decided to yell some more. I was enraged. I am so sick and tired of being harassed. I'm becoming an asshole with no tolerance for this type of behavior. So, I continued to yell at this man until the entire train knew what he was doing. I woke the lady next to him to inform her that she had been sitting next to an pervert masterbater. Then, I proceeded to curse this guy out some more. Then to my surprise another man on the train started to yell at him saying that if he doesn't stop that he was going
to hurt him.
ATTENTION: WOMEN PLEASE SAY SOMETHING !!!
I think what surprised me the most was not that someone stood up with me, but that it was a man. None of the women on the train said anything when they heard and understood what was happening to me. Are we that afraid? We need to ban together and look out and help each other. When I see other women getting harassed, I always jump in to help. Where are the women to help me? How can we curb this type of harassment, if not everyone tried to change it.
What can I do to help change this?
Submitted by Michelle
Monday, September 21, 2009
Take a Street Harassment Survey!
Reposted from Stop Street Harassment:
Dr. Kimberly Fairchild is one of the few academics studying street harassment. Check out her article from 2008, written with Laurie A. Rudman: “Everyday stranger harassment and women’s self-objectification” in Social Justice Research, 21(3), 338-357. Her article is based on research she conducted at Rutgers University about street harassment and its relationship to women’s self-objectification. In a one-sentence summary, she examined the question: if men objectify women in public, are the women likely to internalize that view of themselves and objectify themselves?
Currently, she’s examining whether or not changes in context alter women’s responses to street harassment and she’s also studying women’s emotional responses. She’s conducting an online survey as part of her research and is working to gather more responses, especially from men (for contrast). Please take it and share the link. Thanks!
Dr. Kimberly Fairchild is one of the few academics studying street harassment. Check out her article from 2008, written with Laurie A. Rudman: “Everyday stranger harassment and women’s self-objectification” in Social Justice Research, 21(3), 338-357. Her article is based on research she conducted at Rutgers University about street harassment and its relationship to women’s self-objectification. In a one-sentence summary, she examined the question: if men objectify women in public, are the women likely to internalize that view of themselves and objectify themselves?
Currently, she’s examining whether or not changes in context alter women’s responses to street harassment and she’s also studying women’s emotional responses. She’s conducting an online survey as part of her research and is working to gather more responses, especially from men (for contrast). Please take it and share the link. Thanks!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Tragically Perverted
This perv was trying to sell a watch on the W train while touching himself and looking up women's skirts. It was pretty tragic.
Submitted by Elizabeth
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Upskirt-video 'perv' exposed
From the New York Post:
A tech-savvy skirt-chaser fitted his boots with cameras and victimized women as they walked through Union Square Park, cops said yesterday.
Eric Pierson, 43, from Brooklyn, was seen walking behind women near East 15th Street.
He was carrying a viewer, which was connected by wires through his pockets to tiny cameras lodged in the tongues of his boots, cops said.
Police moved in on him on Sept. 2 and found recordings showing the legs and underwear of another eight victims, authorities said.
Pierson was arrested and charged with unlawful surveillance.
A tech-savvy skirt-chaser fitted his boots with cameras and victimized women as they walked through Union Square Park, cops said yesterday.
Eric Pierson, 43, from Brooklyn, was seen walking behind women near East 15th Street.
He was carrying a viewer, which was connected by wires through his pockets to tiny cameras lodged in the tongues of his boots, cops said.
Police moved in on him on Sept. 2 and found recordings showing the legs and underwear of another eight victims, authorities said.
Pierson was arrested and charged with unlawful surveillance.
D Train Douchbag Strikes
I just got back home from work. While half way there on the D train to Brooklyn, I was watching a music video on my Ipod, I decided to look up to see what stop I'm at and saw a man sitting at the back end across from me, jerking off. He was staring at me too, it was soooo very disgusting, the train wasn't even empty, there was a women sitting close to him too, but she was sleeping and there were plenty of other people near where I was sitting, I can't believe he got the nerves. I would've snapped a picture and report it but I left my phone at home... ugh the worst time not to have a camera.
Submitted by Anonymous
Submitted by Anonymous
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Coffee Shop Gawker!
You would think New Yorkers with their "seen it all" attitude wouldn't look twice at two lesbians. But there's always someone who feels like they have the right to do or say whatever they want to you when you're a woman out with your partner.
My girlfriend and I were reading in a cafe in Union Square. I leaned over to give her a kiss and this perv starts taking pictures with his camera phone. My girlfriend has a camera phone and suggested I take his picture. This isn't the first time a man has taken pictures of us when we are out together. He's definitely one to keep an eye out for if you're gay and out with your girl.
Submitted by Anonymous
Monday, August 17, 2009
Perv Hits a Nerve
The recent story of the perv caught masturbating on the train has hit a nerve. It's no surprise, it seems like everyone in New York has either seen someone masturbating on the train or knows someone that has. The subway cars are the living rooms of New York: we read, daydream, listen to music, play video games, and sip coffee. Interupting this moment of solice, isn't just annoying - it's scary.
Kudos to Amy Zimmer and the Metro for taking another look at this story, here. HollabackNYC's Emily May is quoted, "the MTA says crime is down over the last three years, but crime to who?,” she asked. the Canadians have also taken note, and recently did this piece on BBN3:
Kudos to Amy Zimmer and the Metro for taking another look at this story, here. HollabackNYC's Emily May is quoted, "the MTA says crime is down over the last three years, but crime to who?,” she asked. the Canadians have also taken note, and recently did this piece on BBN3:
Thursday, August 13, 2009
HollabackNYC's Emily May on NBC!
NBC is reporting that the man whose picture was taken while masturbating on the subway was caught. Hollaback's Emily May was interviewed for the story on behalf of New Yorkers for Safe Transit:
Check out our friends at Stop Street Harassment for a comprehensive look at the story.
"You know, I've seen hundreds of women try and take these reports to the police, and sometimes they are successful. Sometimes they will get someone who is good. Most of the time, they're not."To see the full story, click here. The question is: do you have to take your story to the media for the police to take action? I hope the police will take this story to heart and set protocols and procedures that keep all New Yorkers safe.
Check out our friends at Stop Street Harassment for a comprehensive look at the story.
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Call 311 for a Pothole or a Penis
A woman saw a man masturbating on the subway, snapped his pic, and took it to the police. Problem solved, right? Not at all. They told her to submit it to 311, the city's information hotline. Considering that according to a 2007 report, 10% of riders are assaulted and only 14% ever report it, this news is no less than tragic. This woman took a leap of faith, only to be shot down. How are we ever supposed to end harassment and assault on the subways if the authorities are insistent on pretending it doesn't matter?
From the Metro New York:
From the Metro New York:
“It’s an ongoing problem of the police showing insensitivity to harassment, lewdness and violence against women on subways,” said Emily May, co-founder of Hollaback NYC, which encourages people to post images of their harassers. “It discourages women from reporting.”Kudos to the woman who took the picture and filed the complaint. The city needs more heroines like her. As for the police, better protocols and some sensitivity training are in order.
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Minnie Mouse Gets Groped (Seriously)
It looks like even Minnie Mouse is not safe from street harassment. From today's New York Times:
"A 60-year-old man has been convicted of groping a woman in a Minnie Mouse costume at Walt Disney World. [...]
He was convicted Tuesday of misdemeanor battery and sentenced to write the victim an apology, serve 180 days probation and complete 50 hours of community service. Moyer must also pay $1,000 in court costs and possibly undergo a mental evaluation.
The victim says she had to do everything possible to keep Moyer's hands off her breasts."
Monday, August 10, 2009
How Not to Get a Date on the 6 Train...
...by harassing a nice young woman as soon as she sits down next to you in the only free seat, and then telling her you wouldn't sleep with her if she was the last woman on earth. But that's what this guy (bottom right, not a great shot) did. And continued to hassle her ("white bitch" "nasty skank" etc.) despite her impressively cool-headed ignoring of him. Then tell "come on baby" as she gets off the train.
So yeah, all you heteroguys out there, take note. The whole sexual harassment pick up strategy doesn't work so good.
(in the spirit of full disclosure, the woman thought he probably had mental health issues or was drunk/high, but I heard him speaking quite lucidly before she got on)
Submitted by Claire
Friday, August 7, 2009
Who Let the Dogs Out?
As I was leaving my house to walk my dog, a passing tan-colored van slowed down in the middle of the street and the male driver (probably in his 40s) stuck his head out the window, looked back at me, and smiled creepily. I looked at him and snapped "What?!” His smile dropped, and he goes (completely expressionless) "Nick rack", and then drives away. Another passenger in the car simultaneously yelled "Nice..." (something - I couldn't hear the rest).
Ten minutes or so later, I'm still walking my dog, and the same van drives by AGAIN, with the same dickless creep this time just GLARING at me. I see it go further up the street and slowly turn back onto the street where he'd originally harassed me - it looked like he was pulling over there. I started getting nervous at this point, because that's where I was headed and it’s the street I live on. I started thinking of what I'm going to do if he's indeed parked there and waiting for me (I could have turned around, but going the other way would have added another 20 minutes onto my walk, and it was getting close to sunset). Fortunately, he wasn't there when I got to my street. But I'm so tired of going outside and then wishing I hadn't left the house at all.
Submitted by Amy
Ten minutes or so later, I'm still walking my dog, and the same van drives by AGAIN, with the same dickless creep this time just GLARING at me. I see it go further up the street and slowly turn back onto the street where he'd originally harassed me - it looked like he was pulling over there. I started getting nervous at this point, because that's where I was headed and it’s the street I live on. I started thinking of what I'm going to do if he's indeed parked there and waiting for me (I could have turned around, but going the other way would have added another 20 minutes onto my walk, and it was getting close to sunset). Fortunately, he wasn't there when I got to my street. But I'm so tired of going outside and then wishing I hadn't left the house at all.
Submitted by Amy
Carroll Street Creep
I was at the Carroll street stop off the G/F at 2:30am on a Thursday reading a book on the bench along with 5 other people and the f train came (not my train... waiting for the G) and this guy next to me (early thirties wearing an ipod) tries to force himself on me as I am screaming and pushing him off. He runs on to the train, and no one says or does anything. It all happened so fast, didn't get a photo, totally shocked and horrified. WTF! Ladies beware of perverts late night on this stop.
Submitted by Leah
Submitted by Leah
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Station Booths Close, Leaving Riders Unprotected
Today's AMNY article highlights the MTA' s station booth closures. HollabackNYC recently co-founded New Yorkers for Safe Transit with RightRides, Girls for Gender Equity, and NOW-NYC. New Yorkers for Safe Transit has protested these cuts alongside TBOU, a transit union. HollabackNYC's Emily May is quoted in the article:
186: Station agent positions cut this year
105: Booths closing
65: Booths closing in Manhattan
126: Subway stations without a PA
9: Stations that are also losing a station agent
A: Subway line with the most stations lacking a PA
“Without that worker, people are really defenseless,” said Emily May of New Yorkers for Safe Transit, an advocacy group protesting the cuts. “Who are they supposed to reach out to if they are assaulted or harassed?”Here are the stats:
186: Station agent positions cut this year
105: Booths closing
65: Booths closing in Manhattan
126: Subway stations without a PA
9: Stations that are also losing a station agent
A: Subway line with the most stations lacking a PA
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Hidden in Plain Sight
I had experienced so much aggressive harassment over a three day period- men cat calling me as I’m walking toward them and then calling me a bitch and a cunt when I passed them without responding- in my neighborhood, I decided to take a summer scarf and drape it around my shoulders, to cover the bare skin I was revealing by wearing a tank top. It was hot, and I wanted to wear a tank top, but did not think I would make it from my house to the subway without this intense harassment that was making me crazy. As I exited my apartment and attempted to walk down my stairs, I encountered a maintenance man who was also making his way down the stairs in front of me. He saw me, turned to me and smiled and said hello. I smiled back and said hello. He then proceeded to walk down three rows stairs backwards, facing me, looking me up and down the whole time and smiling at me, like we were doing something together. My skin crawled. I couldn’t even say hello to this man without him taking it as some sort of romantic or sexual invitation. As soon as I reached the bottom of the stairs, as he stood there, just staring at me weirdly, I took the scarf that was around my shoulders and wrapped it around my head, almost instinctively. I walked past him quickly with the scarf fully covering my hair, my shoulders and part of my face. It was one of those kind of checkered patterned scarves that some Christian organizations had petitioned Duncan Doughnuts remove from an actress in a commercial last year because they said it had Arab which equaled terrorist connotations or some crazy shit like that. Whatever. I made my way from my apartment to the subway in relative piece that day, with the exception of one young construction worker who actually stepped into my path as I was walking, to make eye contact with me around the scarf, and repeated “hello, hello mommy.”
Submitted by Chavisa
Submitted by Chavisa
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Dehumanizing Dairy Truck Drivers Get Caught
On July 31st I had a dispute on the corner of E 7th St. and 1st Ave. with two truck drivers of Hollywood Dairy LTD. The location of this business is 3190 Rawlins Ave., Bronx, NY 10465. The New York commercial license plate of their truck read: 31228 JT. There were three drivers, two harassed me. I have photos of the truck and the aggressors. I am a woman in my twenties.
I was walking by and one of the drivers hissed at me (familiar to any woman, never appropriate to do this to a stranger, a woman, but there was certainly nothing palliative about his way of hailing this ugly sound at me, his sound effect was in no way mild or naive; it was sharp, accustomed, unmistakably aggressive and disrespectful). I challenged the person who thus disrespected me, I wanted an apology, and he and one of the other men set in on me, insulting and demeaning me in every possible way (mocking my intelligence, sanity, appearance, and investment in the situation. Any bigot surprised to be called out will try to downplay his accuser).
I called the police and was waiting for them to arrive, so I was next to these men without an ally for about twenty minutes, trying to reason, losing my temper, and being ludicrously, sadistically baited. I want these men held accountable. I want Hollywood Dairy held accountable for putting such nuisances on the street to interfere with and to denigrate women. The incident was very upsetting to me. I do not treat people this way, I do not see people in the dehumanizing, small way that could only have allowed them to treat me as they did. Ignorance is unfortunate, but it cannot be an excuse for bigotry and demeaning aggression.
I have contacted various news channels, as well as the police again, and I have left messages for and mailed a long letter to the manager(s) of Hollywood Dairy. Please hold these people responsible (let there be an affecting consequence) for their bigoted behavior that caused me great stress, which I did not deserve. No woman should be taken out of her peace on her own streets.
Submitted by Lia
On the Track, Off His Rocker
I was waiting for the train in a mostly empty station at 2:30 AM on 8/1/09. Soon a man walked down the stairs. I glanced up at him and looked back down at my game. About 5 minutes later, I looked up again and saw that he was staring at me and masturbating on to the track. I was so freaked out that I didn't say anything or take a picture. I just ran to the other side of the station. People walked down to the track soon after and he ran away. He looked pretty unremarkable. White tank top, blue jeans, fair complexion, and dark hair.
Submitted by Aria
Submitted by Aria
Monday, August 3, 2009
Jerk gets all Dolled up for Sexual Assault
Was on the 4 train downtown from union square the other day around 9am and this 40ish year old white man in a nice looking coat kept looking at me he then got up from his seat when the train got crowded. I thought I had moved away from him but then I felt something on my leg and turned around to have his hand going up my dress. He quickly pulled it away as I yelled you're disgusting. He said gimme a break, come on and picked up his bag as I moved away from him and got off the train.
Submitted by Anonymous.
Submitted by Anonymous.
Sunday, August 2, 2009
From Obnoxious to Downright Creepy
On account of having been jumped about a month ago, I don't have a phone (I suppose I could get a new one) but I wish I coulda taken a photo of my new best friends from last night. I'm used to light heckling, especially in summer. "Hey baby can I ride with you?" usually gets you a quick "Sorry, I'm not into men with cars." Which also usually gets a laugh from passers by. This dude last night. who I really wish I could have photographed, wouldn't quit though. Weird shit. He said "eenie meani miny moe." What does that even mean? That and a lot of "you know you look good" lip smacking. I looked hot and tired, because I was. But then the light changed and he drove off and I headed across Atlantic and only realized when I got across that the other cars had all turned and dude was slowing way down to wait for me. Which took it from obnoxious to downright creepy. I wound up backtracking on to the sidewalk to find another way home.
Submitted by Amanda
Submitted by Amanda
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