It Started at 13

When I was 13 it started.

I was walking down the street and a man honked at me from his car and whistled.

When I was 15 a man approached me in Penn Station.

He asked me if I had ever worked in “the industry.” I said I had not. He asked me if I would be interested in working in “the industry.” I said I would not. He gave me his business card and, thankfully, he left. I believe he was a pimp and, as indicated by his business card, wanted me to work in porn.

When I was 16 a man filmed me on the Subway.

As soon as I realized I got up and left but I can only imagine what he did with that tape.

Two weeks ago I was walking with some friends when three men started shouting at us.

They told us that we were hot and aggressively tried to sell us drugs. We stubbornly did not acknowledge them but they followed us for 5 blocks.

These are only a few of the instances men have sexually harassed me in public.

It is not okay.

It is never okay.

This is rape culture and it needs to be stopped.