You know what I hate even more that street harassment? The people who, after the fact, tell me that I should be flattered that I was noticed or "complimented." Some compliment. Seriously? UGHHHHHH.

A-fucking-men both of you.

I recently wrote about this very thing on my livejournal.

Seriously! At least they only say hi to you. I was on my way to work one morning and passed a man on the sidewalk. As I was approaching him I glanced at him to make sure I wouldn't collide with him or anything, and then looked straight forward again. Apparently I should have winked or ripped open my blouse or something because right as he was next to me he told me, "fuck off." Thanks, that's a great way to start my day.

This has been driving me up the wall lately. I have also been going on rants about it on my personal blog!

Since I live in Wisconsin, it is hard to enjoy summer even though it is the best time of year. From their comments, men think we are wearing summer clothing JUST FOR THEM it seems. BAH. This is so frustrating.

I had a guy who wouldn't stop looking at me yesterday follow me into the grocery store, and that was creepy. That's what I hate most, that these little comments and attitudes really all add up to (and represent) other really awful things in women's daily lives: stalking, violence, men thinking our bodies are their property, etc.

I particularly hate it when random men tell me to "smile." I hate the assumption that because they are men and I am a woman, I somehow am obligated to please them and to look my prettiest. Like their presence is so delightful that I must express that to them.

Ah, yes, I'd forgotten about the "why aren't you smiling" comments. Grrr I hate those, too. Thank goodness for Hollaback !! http://www.hollabacknyc.blogspot.com/

The thing I hate the most about street harassment is that I associate it with street crime--that is, if I've been yelled at somewhere, I assume I'm less safe generally in that area. I also hate how when I explain to guys about it, eg "I'm really mad! Some dirty old man was leering at my cleavage on the train..." I have to go into a pretty long explanation of why it's not OK, why wearing a less revealing shirt is a terrible solution, and why it only happens when I'm not traveling with a man. I don't ever want to have to explain to my friends that I saw a hobo's doodle when I was on the way to the grocery store. I hate street harassment, flashers, assholes who say dirty things to uninterested parties... it's VERY AGGRAVATING.
One time I was walking to the store and there was backed up traffic. Some dude in a golf cart said something to me and I flipped him off. His horrified face indicated that what he said wasn't dirty, so I took off my headphones to hear him ask for directions. Ooops! I gave him directions and felt bad the rest of the day. I get harassed often enough that I assume everyone is doing it!
Then again some guy walked up to me recently, I was originally going to dismiss him as a panhandler, but thought twice and listened to him, thinking he might need directions. Guess what. He was panhandling.

I get honked at and hollared at from passing cars the most and I hate that I can't respond to it. Often they're long gone by the time I focus on what's happened or start saying something. It usually happens during my daily runs and they can be really distracting and unnerving, like am I in the way of a car and about to get hit because why is it honking? And then when I look around I see the dumbass grins of the men in the car for a split second before they're gone.

I've posted this elsewhere on feministing, but here it is again, my website on street harassment: http://www.stopstreetharassment.com. I wrote my thesis on the topic last year and accidentally got recognition in press, including CNN, which has led me to contemplate a book - so I've got a companion blog where I'm looking for people's opinions on and experiences with street harassment to potentially be used in that endeavor. so feel free to share!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tb3YvvSIHNw

Women gives cat caller piece of her mind.

1st line of Verbal self defense

Identify the behavior, rather the person,
as offensive.
"Leave me alone"
"Stop bothering me"
"We're having a private conversation, stop interrupting us"
"Take your hands off me"
"Stop speaking to me like that"
"Stop harassing me"
"Stop yelling at me"
"Stop following me"
etc.

If you say,
"Fuck off asshole"
That person often fights the accusation of being an asshole (especially if they are drunk) and the offense is not addressed.

In my old neighborhood I would respond to cat calls with,"I don't appreciate that kind of talk"
or in certain cases,
"Did your mother raise you to talk to me like that?"

Where I live now, I either ignore or respond with,
"Hey, I don't appreciate what you said or how you said it" or "leave me alone." in Spanish

http://www.omniglot.com/language/phrases/leavemealone.htm