I was walking my dog outside of my building one Saturday late morning (around 11 am) when an elderly postal worker (late 60s, early 70s) jumped out of his truck to get the mail from a blue mailbox outside the building next door. He started shouting, so I turned to look and he yelled “GIRL YOU A NASTY LITTLE THING” and then proceeded to make humping motions. I ignored him, continued walking my dog. He continued to shout things at me until I made it back into my building. I called the USPS and reported the incident, but I doubt anything was ever done.

It’s not the first time I’ve been harassed in my neighborhood, it’s probably a weekly occurrence in some way or another, but it’s one of the first times it’s been so obvious when I’ve had my dog with me. After it happens I always beat myself up thinking I should have said something but in the moment you feel so degraded and helpless you just want to get out of the situation. It’s not fair, and it’s not right. I shouldn’t have to wonder if there will be some sort of repercussions for standing up for myself, but being a woman of smaller stature I do wonder. Even with my 70 lb dog at my side, I didn’t feel comfortable enough to say something.

Submitted by anonymous on 8/22/2011

Location: 16th and Harvard

Time of harassment: Day Time (9:30A-3:30P)

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