How to Deal with Street Harassment: Practical Strategies That Work
Street harassment is something that far too many of us have experienced—whether it's a catcall, a racist remark, or being followed on the street. It’s a form of public misconduct that targets people for who they are, how they look, or who they love.
And it's not just about gender—harassment can be fueled by racism, homophobia, how you look, religious intolerance, and other forms of prejudice.
This guide is here to give you practical strategies on how to deal with street harassment, as well as a sense of community, because no one should have to deal with this alone.
Whether you’re a woman dealing with catcalls, comments, or worse while out in the city, an LGBTQ+ person coping with verbal abuse, or someone subjected to racial harassment in public spaces, you’re not alone, and this guide is here to help.
It’s not your fault
Before we dive in, let me say this clearly: you are not to blame for any street harassment you've experienced. It doesn’t matter what you were wearing, where you were, or what time of day it was. The responsibility lies solely with the perpetrator.
What is Street Harassment?
Street harassment refers to any unwelcome attention, comments, or actions directed at someone in a public space. It can come in many forms—from inappropriate jokes and invasive questions to physical intimidation or outright hate speech. It’s often about power, intimidation and control.
Key Statistics:
80% of women have experienced sexual harassment in public spaces (Stand Up International, 2023)
Over 50% of women have changed their behaviour due to harassment—avoiding certain places, changing clothes, or carrying self-defence tools (UN Women Global Report)
64% of LGBTQ people reported experiencing anti-LGBT+ violence or abuse (Galop Hate Crime Report 2021)
1 in 3 Black people in the UK report experiencing racial harassment in public spaces (Equality and Human Rights Commission)
73% of people with learning disabilities and/or autism said they had been victims of hate crime (Dimensions UK 2021, Hate Crime Statistics)
Personal Perspective:
As a teenager, I was harassed walking to school in my uniform by a group of builders who shouted sexual comments at me for weeks. I eventually took a longer route just to avoid them. And that was just the beginning.
Like many women, I’ve been followed, touched without consent, stared at, catcalled and verbally abused in broad daylight, on trains, on a busy street, in supermarkets—you name it.
These experiences stay with you, they cause underlying anxiety in public, and they’re far too common.
Types of Street Harassment
Before we jump into the specifics, let’s take a moment to acknowledge something important: street harassment can look and feel different for everyone. Sometimes it’s loud and obvious—other times it’s subtle but just as unsettling.
You might brush it off in the moment, only to feel it hit you hours later. That’s normal. You're not overreacting. You're responding to something real.
In this section, we’ll break down the different forms harassment can take—so you can name it, recognise it, and better understand what’s happening when it happens. Because once you can see it for what it is, it becomes a little easier to respond, set boundaries, or reach out for support.
Verbal Harassment:
Catcalling, whistling, unwanted compliments
Sexualised comments about your appearance or body
Demands for a smile or phone number
Racist, homophobic, transphobic comments, or slurs based on your physical or mental ability.
Non-verbal Harassment:
Leering or aggressive staring
Inappropriate gestures (e.g. licking lips, obscene hand movements)
Following or loitering near someone.
Physical Harassment:
Unwanted touching or groping
Blocking someone’s path
Brushing against or pressing into someone deliberately
Sexual exposure or public indecency (e.g. flashing)
Pushing, bumping into you, or physical assault.
Digital/Public Hybrid Harassment:
Being recorded without permission
Online sharing of images or video taken in public.
Why Street Harassment Happens: The Psychology of Perpetrators
Street harassment is often brushed off as someone being “a bit forward” or “just joking,” but the truth is far more serious. It’s not about attraction or misunderstanding—it’s about power, control, and intimidation in public spaces.
People who harass others in the street are often motivated by a desire to dominate or provoke.
Sometimes they’re seeking attention or trying to impress others.
Other times, they act out of entitlement, believing they have the right to your time, your space, or even your body.
Common motivations include:
Asserting dominance: Intimidating or testing boundaries to feel in control.
Seeking validation: Trying to impress others or boost their ego.
Entitlement: Believing they deserve your attention or compliance.
Boundary testing: Pushing limits to see what they can get away with.
Dehumanisation: Reducing someone to an object, stereotype, or spectacle.
Many harassers rely on silence. They count on people freezing, staying quiet, or feeling unsure of how to respond. They also count on bystanders not stepping in.
That silence is what allows them to keep going—and it’s why naming and understanding these behaviours is such an important first step toward stopping them.
How to DEAL WITH Street Harassment
Let’s be honest—when someone harasses you in public, it can catch you completely off guard.
You might freeze.
You might feel unsure whether to say something, walk away, or call someone.
That’s a normal reaction to an abnormal situation.
There’s no one-size-fits-all way to respond, and no “perfect” reaction. What matters most is your safety and comfort.
The tips in this section are designed to give you options on how to deal with street harassment—tools you can choose from depending on what feels right for you in the moment. These aren’t rules. They’re choices.
Whether you’ve experienced street harassment yourself or you want to support someone else, this section offers practical responses that can help you feel more prepared and empowered.
Some are quiet and subtle.
Others are bold and vocal
All of them are valid.
Your response should always prioritise your safety.
Here are four options:
Option 1: Ignore and Disengage
Keep walking. Don’t engage.
Focus on getting to a safe place.
This can be a smart strategy when you feel a confrontation could escalate.
Example: One woman shared how she continued walking after a man made repeated comments, choosing not to respond because she didn’t want confrontation.
Option 2: Set a Firm, Clear Boundary
Use short, strong statements: “Leave me alone.” “Stop talking to me.” “Back off.”
Maintain a confident posture.
Use this if you feel safe and want to establish a boundary.
Remember: You’re not responsible for their reaction. You’re allowed to speak up. BUT! Don’t get into an argument with them! Whatever you say is unlikely to change their opinion and behaviour.
Option 3: Call Attention to the Behaviour
Raise your voice: “Why are you following me?” “Stop touching me!”
Say it loud enough for bystanders to hear.
The intention is to activate help from others and put the harasser on the spot.
Although bear in mind that, sadly, bystanders may not help.
Tip: Use specific language—like “Stop rubbing up against me!”—to alert others to what’s really happening.
Option 4: Escape and Seek Help
Walk or run to a populated area, shop, or public building.
Ask a bystander for help.
Activate a personal safety alarm.
If you feel in imminent danger or they have physically assaulted you, use physical self defence (reasonably and proportionately). Check out our online self defence courses (link at end) for demonstrations of effective physical responses.
Tip: I keep a personal alarm clipped to my bag—it’s easy to grab and loud enough to shock and draw attention.
Scenario-Based Strategies
Every situation is different, and how you respond depends on your surroundings, how safe you feel, your personality, and what support is available.
Below are real-world scenarios to deal with street harassment—some inspired by personal experiences shared in our podcast—and possible ways you might respond using the four strategy options.
Scenario 1: Persistent Verbal Harassment
Situation: You're walking to work when someone shouts, “Hey beautiful, smile for me!” You ignore it, but they continue: “What’s wrong, can’t take a compliment?”
Response Options:
Ignore and Disengage: Keep walking without engaging, eyes forward. Head toward a public area or café if needed.
Set a Boundary: “Don’t talk to me like that.” Say it firmly, and keep walking.
Call Attention: “This man is harassing me!” loudly enough for others to hear if you feel safe.
Escape: Cross the road or enter a nearby shop to remove yourself from the situation.
Scenario 2: Physical Intimidation in a Public Space
Situation: You leave a shop, and someone steps in front of you, blocking your path. “Where you headed, sweetheart?” When you try to step around, they mirror your movement.
Response Options:
Set a Boundary: “Move. Now.” Say it clearly and confidently.
Call Attention: “Stop blocking me. You’re making me feel unsafe.”
Escape: Walk around and enter the nearest business or approach someone nearby.
Use Your Voice: If needed, raise your voice to draw attention and startle them: “Back off!”
Scenario 3: Being Followed
Situation: You notice someone behind you and feel like they are following you. When you cross the road, they do too.
Response Options:
Change Route: Turn into a shop or café, or cross the street again. Walk confidently.
Ask for Help: Ask a bystander to help you.
Escape: Run and escape to a safe place. Activate your personal alarm.
Tip: We have a podcast episode on what to do if you are being followed that looks at this situation in detail.
Scenario 4: Harassment on Public Transport
Situation: A man stares intensely at you on the bus and begins filming you with his phone.
Response Options:
Move: Get up and change seats, ideally closer to the driver or other passengers.
Set a Boundary: “Stop filming me. That’s not okay.”
Call Attention: Say loudly, “This man is recording me without my permission.”
Report: Tell the driver and ask for help. Record the incident if safe to do so.
Scenario 5: Group Intimidation
Situation: A group catcalls and mocks a trans person in a park, laughing and commenting on their appearance.
Response Options:
Escape: Walk away calmly and confidently without engaging.
Find Allies: Move toward other people, a café, or security.
Ask For Help: Ask a bystander if you can stand with them while you call the police.
Record and Report: Note faces and details if safe. Consider reporting later.
Scenario 6: Intersectional Harassment (Race, Gender, Religion)
Situation: A Black Muslim woman is waiting at a bus stop when a man starts shouting anti-Muslim slurs.
Response Options:
Leave: If you feel unsafe, calmly walk away or cross the street.
Document: Discreetly record the incident if it feels safe to do so.
Ask for Help: Speak to a nearby person: “Can I stand with you while I call the police?”
Report: Later, report to police, Tell MAMA, or Stop Hate UK.
After any encounter—whether you reacted, froze, or disengaged—it’s okay to feel emotional. Take time to reflect.
Safety Tips and De-escalation Techniques
Be aware of your surroundings
Avoid arguing with someone aggressive
Use confident body language
Trust your instincts
Use personal safety tools, such as an attack alarm
Speak up for others if it’s safe
Have a safety plan and rehearse responses.
When and How to Report Harassment
Report if:
There was physical contact or serious threat
The behaviour was persistent or targeted
You feel your safety is at risk.
Where to report:
Local police
Transport authorities
Workplace or school
Organisations like Stop Hate UK
How to report:
Record date/time/location
Save any evidence (videos, photos, audio)
File a report online or in-person.
If you need to talk to someone about your experience, reach out for help, there are lots of support services available.
Final Thoughts
Street harassment is about power.
It’s not your fault.
Your safety comes first—and how you respond is up to you.
If you’ve ever frozen, or felt unsure what to do, you’re not alone.
Now that you know more about the options to deal with street harassment, take a moment to think back to an experience you’ve had. Imagine yourself handling it today, using any of the responses we’ve talked about. That simple mental rehearsal can help you feel more prepared if it ever happens again.
And finally—remember this:
You deserve to feel safe. You are not alone. You are not the problem.
Let’s keep talking, sharing, and supporting one another.
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Check out our podcast episode on street harassment against women