There are so many different ways that someone can cross your boundaries. Some of us are taught from birth to accept when someone invades our mental or physical space. Sometimes we don't realize just how much we've accepted or what kind of toll it is taking until something wakes us up. For me one of those wake up calls came on the way home from work when a man grabbed me on the A train in NYC. I was frozen - silent. I didn't know what to say and nobody else on the train seemed to think much of it. It really started to hit me how this kind of invasion, in various forms, happens every single day here. Sometimes I experience degrading or frightening comments or actions several times in one trip. I'm not the only one.

Personally, I am tired of wondering if I did something to warrant these actions and comments. I am tired of having some stranger stress me out or shame me when I am going about my normal every day activities. There has been a long standing culture of blame or just plain indifference regarding the degrading experiences many women have on the streets. But things are changing! Just recently, there was a hearing on the street harassment of women and girls held by the NYC Council’s Committee on Women’s Issues. Tons of news outlets picked it up and awareness is growing. Leaders are stepping up in cities all over the world to fight and they need our support.

Please donate what you can to empower these leaders to keep doing great things in their communities. If you can't donate, be sure to check out what is going on in your city.

Note: If you are like a lot of my guy friends and don't think street harassment is a thing... ask some of your friends that are women what kinds of things have happened to them out on the city streets. Donate $5 for every story that makes your skin crawl!