Women: Sexual harassment when running made me quit to stay safe

I stopped going to the gym after 8pm because men there would always stare at me. I overheard them commenting on how little they’d like to f**k me once. I won’t go in the mornings because there’s a creepy guy who noticed I go in the morning and watches me from his window. It’s fucked.

I (male) run a lot and it wasn’t till a few female friends told me their running horror stories that I realised men and women really do have very different lived experiences. I’ve never onced worried about my safety when im getting ready for a run.

Just stop it, and let woman run. Don’t say anything you wouldn’t to 6f 18 stone man. I wouldn’t want women to quit running many clubs would welcome any runner at any level.

It’s sad how many women don’t feel safe in public. My girlfriend hardly goes out without me with her and many women have shared their stories of harassment.

I just don’t know what the solutions are. New laws? Public safety ads like we do for driving/smoking? Education on harassment? Might be a good start.

All I do is walk my dog. Even with her, men will sexually harass me or do weird shit like purposefully lean over to blow cigarette smoke at my face when I’m walking past.

I’ve noticed that groups of 3+ men seem to be more confident with it. Had a few groups stop and stare at me, blocking the path and forcing me to walk into the road with my dog to get past. My dog is scared of cars so it’s really fucking dangerous but what else can I do? I ask them to move over, and they don’t do anything but stare.

All the men saying “I’ve never once felt threatened”, that’s great for you and all, but it doesn’t prove men have it safer. I got punched in the face by a stranger while running in Holyrood Park when I was in uni. No one is properly totally safe.

Edit: I’m fascinated by people downvoting my lived experience. It’s both sad and a bit terrifying.

I run in Spring/Summer only. It’s sad but I know it’s not safe when dark. It’s not really safe in light either but I know more people are around to assist if I really needed it. I also run with my warrant card just in case I ever have to step in for anyone else.

The fact I don’t feel safe as a police officer woman (sorry for the poor hot fuzz pun) to run at night is a sorry state of affairs.

I also rarely go out with “just the girls” or anything like that. It’s not how it should be but I’ll make sure to alter my lifestyle to ensure my safety. Don’t want to say part n parcel cos that’s a ridiculous cop out and I’d love to see it all change but until I do I’ll stick to other safer indoor exercise until then.

Had a female friend of mine tell me about a guy running alongside her that kept running in front and slowing down and turning around to look at her and grinning.

He wasn’t even dressed for exercise. Had a jacket Aladdin trousers, sandals and black rimmed wayfarer sunglasses on

He followed her for half a mile or so and only stopped because she stopped at a bus stop where four or five men she knew were. Even then he loitered stationary to see what she was doing but once she struck up a conversation with one of the guys the follower eventually just ran on.

She’s never seen him before or since. And the thing that makes me most uncomfortable she looks like she’s in her late teens despite being in her 30’s.

As a male of the species, a husband and father of a daughter, it’s completely dumbfounded me that anyone would think this would be appropriate.

And the fear she must have felt at the time must have been incredibly strong, being so close but simultaneously far away from the safety of her home and not wanting to show the creep where she and her children lived.

I’m male, not a good runner. But who the hell during the pain that is running think ‘oh yeah going to slap that ass’ whilst gasping for air as they get distracted

Yes this is genuinely exactly why I don’t run. I used to run at University and quit after a prolonged period of harassment. I’m yet to find anyone local willing to run with me plus my schedule isn’t regular enough to commit to someone.

Maybe I’ve always been lucky where I run but I’ve never been harassed running, female, running when I was 25-39 years. In London, England and wales, and west Europe. Running alone the majority of the time, through streets and parks. There’s a lot of safe places and people around too it seems.

Change is needed for all women not just a few young ladies. I know an elderly woman who was treated horribly by her husband. The old man who has gone crazy wants to sell their tiny little house pay taxes, brokerage, real estate transaction fees, etc etc and take his share to have an adventure of a lifetime that is promised by a 30 year old girl. This issue is not just for the young and fit and pretty but the entire gender. Wish BbC would give more attention and coverage to vulnerable senior citizen women who are facing a serious issue due to lack of empathy by men.

I have mentioned before on here that I quit running outside of the gym due to those in cars slowing down to match my running speed to honking.

They ask if I want a lift, or make weird “phwoar” sounds to trying to have a conversation with me (?).

First incident of cat calling and sexual remarks was when I was 10 years old walking home from girl guides. I’ve got a list as long as I am and so does the majority of girls I’ve spoken about it with.

I’d like to think times have changed and more men won’t tolerate it in their own presence at least and will do their part to keep it in check amongst their peers… On the other hand, the type to behave this way probably gravitate towards each other and keep to their echo chambers and there will always be creeps lurking. 😕