So I don’t know if this would actually fall under the term of “street harassment,” but the other day I was working as a photographer for a bonfire event. I left around 9:30pm, so it was just starting to get dark. I was walking home because I lived about a half an hour walk away, and I was walking through my university’s campus. I was walking through a parking lot and saw this guy sitting in his car alone (I wasn’t close to the car, but I could see him pretty clearly). So, I know enough to know to start walking faster, and I kept him in the corner of my vision just to be cautious. I see him see me, and he pulls out his phone, points it at me, and can be doing what I can only assume to be video taping me as I walk by. His phone is up in front of his face and he’s moving it while I walk... obviously I panicked and started walking even faster. I was so terrified and didn’t know what to do. Once I was out of his sight I ran to one of the buildings on my campus and sat in there for 20 minutes before being able to walk the rest of the way home. I also called my roommate and talked to her on the phone until I got home.

I guess I’m wondering if his actions can actually be considered “harassment?” Because technically he didn’t say or do anything of a sexual nature... but he definitely made me feel uncomfortable and unsafe.

And does anyone have any advice on what I can do to feel safer when walking home at night (even just at 9:30pm)?