Street Harassment

Written by a Gathering Currents 2025-2026 Intern. Edited by Co-Executive Director Lilly Fellows.

Street harassment is any public unwanted behavior that harms another person. Stop Street Harassment (2015) defines it as:

“...unwanted whistling, leering, sexist, homophobic or transphobic slurs, persistent requests for someone’s name, number or destination after they’ve said no, sexual names, comments and demands, following, flashing, public masturbation, groping, sexual assault, and rape.”

Unfortunately, street harassment is an everyday threat for many people who live in urban areas. It mainly affects women, with 85% experiencing some form of it and 30% experiencing confrontational harassment (being followed, touched, etc.). This enforces gender based discrimination and increases levels of anxiety for those using public spaces. 

If you see street harassment happening or experience it yourself, here are some ways you can respond:

• Get to a Safe Place

  • Find someplace where many people are. Put distance between yourself and the harmdoer. 

• Call out the Harmdoer

  • Explicitly tell them to stop and identify them so other bystanders know what they are doing.

• Call in the Harmdoer

  • If you feel safe, open up a conversation with the harmdoer to bring attention to their harassment and educate them on why it is wrong. 

• Recruit Allies

  • Approach bystanders and ask them for help. 

• Document the harm

  • Film or audio record the harassment to show police. If you are alone, call someone you know so that the harmdoer knows someone else is listening.

• Disengage and Ignore the Harmdoer

  • Do not give the harmdoer the attention they seek. 

• Contact Authorities

  • Call 911