Being 11

On a crowded public bus when the conductor repeatedly groped my left breast. That is really my first memory of having breasts, as my body had begun to change a few months / weeks before the incident.

Action Shero Aarti Laxman Rastogi

Place: Chennai

Being 9

I've always been aware of catcalls and whistles and stares, ever since I was a young girl growing up in the 90s in what used to be one of the safest cities in India - Kolkata. It's hard to recall my first memory.

At some time it had started to seem a matter of course that running errands for my mum at the grocer's nearby in the evenings would mean crossing the group of boys sitting around in their bikes and leering. It was also a matter of course that I would have my head bowed with fear of eye contact. I may have heard them say things clearly aimed at me which I didn't understand at the time, though I felt the intent vaguely. Or they sang snatches of film songs when I passed. I was terrified of going out into the streets alone and would slouch to blur my growing breasts.

Though I'm relatively more equipped to handle eve-teasing now than when I was 9 (well not really; petite me was hugged successively last year by a random old man and a high school student on Delhi streets), I'm still afraid of the chance eye-contact with strangers on the street. It's ridiculous, having to live with that fear and walking blinkered because of a large number of men that would probably get a hard-on at the sight of a polo mint.

Action Shero Kaushani

Place: Kolkata, India

Being 5

The first time I experienced sexual harassment in public spaces, I was five years old, walking to school with a male friend my age. Older boys surrounded me, pinching my cheeks and trying to lure me to one of their houses. My friend ran away and I stood crying, scared. The dad of another friend saw what was happening and he thankfully intervened and helped me get to school safely. This experience taught me that public spaces are not always safe for me, a message that was reinforced hundreds of times by men who harassed me and even chased or touched me without consent when I was a teenager and a young woman in my 20s and 30s.

Action Shero Holly

Being 12

My first vivid memory of sexual harassment occured when I was around 12 or 13 years old. Those were the days when E-ticket booking was not common, and one had to reserve the seats online, and the ticket would be delivered at your doorstep.

Since my both my parents have jobs, I had the task of collecting the ticket.

The doorbell rang at around 3 in the afternoon. This is how it should've happened. I open the door but not the grill, collect the ticket, read out the PNR number, sign the slip and close the door.

Except that is not how it happened.

I collected the ticket, took the list and asked for the place to be signed upon.

There was the locked grill between us and yet that did not bother him.He cupped my breast and squeezed it and at the same pointed out the place to be signed.

I quickly signed on the paper, returned the papers to him and shut the door behind me.

This happened twice.

To this day, I shudder to think what would've happened if the grill wasn't locked. Also, i'm writing this story anonymously, not because I prefer not to disclose my identity, but because when I think of this incident, its a little hard to digest the fact that I had been a victim of child abuse. That I just let him get away with it. That I knew what he was doing, but did not slap his hand away, because I was so terrified and shocked

Action Shero Shipra

Place: Bangalore

Being 4

Calcutta. Maidan. February 27th. 8pm. My mother and I were really excited about the elaborate book fair that took place every spring. We entered this stall of books on art. Ever since i was a child, those books appealed to me. So engrossed in one of the books, I failed to notice the presence of a middle aged man (my guess would be 40ish) too close for comfort. Suddenly, this man started commenting on a human anatomy book, few decibels above normal, as if to grab my attention. He said things like "Bah, ki shundor...ei shober-i toh dorkar". (Wow, so beautiful, only all this is important). I looked at what he was commenting and was highly disturbed to see him staring at a rendering of a nude woman. I kept glancing through other books, as it was the ONLY way by which i could ignore what had just happened. Soon enough i could feel something poking me. I swiftly turned to find that very man rubbing his erected genitals on me. I was in a state of shock and my mind was blank. Somehow my instincts made me run to my mom who was just five steps away. I couldn't explain to her anything at that moment but just pointed out to that man. I don't know what she understood, what she assumed but she guarded me from that man and we left that stall.

Shockingly enough, that man followed us to the next stall without our notice, and this time he tried the same thing on my mom. Both of us petrified, left that place immediately and were too scared to even console each other.

Action Shero Anonymous

Place: Kolkata

Being 12

When I was harassed for the first time in yehlanka, I felt no better than a punching bag.two boys on the bike were taking round outside my house. They exactly knew where I lived and how far I travelled. They would often pass sleazy comments at me to draw attention. On one of my trips to the market, when I was walking alone on the road, they came behind me and try to grab my back. Thankfully I turned and jumped in the bushes. They missed the prey. I felt quite victorious but threat and imposing seance of danger still lingered. On my way back from the market, the same men on the very same bike fisted and punched me hard on my hip. It was pretty obvious from the way they hit me that they were angry. They were angry because they missed their target or were they angry because I teased them unintentionally by being able to protect myself from them the first time. After closed retrospection, I came to a dilemma. I had a choice to make. Either to get felt up and sexually harmed or to be violently hit and abused. Should I just surrendered or put up a fight knowing that I will loose.

Action Shero Anonymous

Place: Gujarat

Being 6

When i was younger, I never fully understood the concept of religion or god. But i did like going to the vast temples in my hometown. There was always place to run around and always place to sit and play. I had a favorite temple - because it was quite, small and hardly anyone ever came there. I never imagined that, that would be a bad thing. On one of these occasions, i ran to the temple and there was a man there who I had never seen before. The priest wasn't there.He was sitting at the back side of the temple and when i got there he pulled me over and sat me on his lap. The smell of alcohol on his breath was obvious. He had his arms wrapped around me, and wouldn't let go even when I asked him to. He made me sit there for about 5 minutes. He touched my hair and stroked my back and spoke to me in a slurred voice. Almost as if he was being 'affectionate'. He didn't let me go. He almost kissed me when he heard the priest coming back, and then he let me go. I ran home and I never went to a temple willingly again. Even though, many other things have happened since then, I'll never forget this for the rest of my life.I never asked for it.

Action Shero Anonymous

Being 11

When I was in class 6, we lived in an apartment in Marredpally, Hyderabad. Close to my home, there was a quaint temple. Ever so often, I would visit that temple alone to escape the noise and feel a sense of calm. Back then, I truly believed I felt a connection with God. One evening after school, I told my mother I wanted to go to the temple. This temple was one of those with a huge tree and a place to sit around it. As I sat there, a man was walking alone in the temple. A few minutes later, I completely forgot about his presence and went about my routine. As I was absorbed in my own world, much like 11-yr-olds are, when I felt someone's hands around me. The same man picked me up and cradled me in his arms. He brought his lips close to mine when I tried to scream. He held onto me tighter and I felt helpless. He was not heavily built. But I remember that part of my body was numb from the shock to even react or in this case run. I remember screaming for help. But my voice was barely above a whisper and the temple was empty. When I did manage to escape his touch, I ran home, crying all the way. For a long time, I couldn't explain to my mother or sisters what had happened. I don't think I ever fully explained it. But they understood the gist because somewhere deep down, they had all lived similar experiences. I have never been able to write or talk about it. I am 22 and I still find it difficult to walk by the temple without feeling shivers. But today, with ample distance from the incident, I am brave enough to remind myself that back then, over time and even now, I am not to be blamed. Every time a story of abuse, “eve-teasing” or harassment arises, I am forced to relive so many of those traumatic experiences. These suppressed memories are unnerving and vivid, almost like it all happened yesterday. I find myself repeatedly questioning the similarities between each of the incidents, if any. Wondering what I could have changed. What could I do differently in the future? I have to make a conscious effort to tell myself, it is not my fault and not dwell on those insignificant details. I have never asked for it.

Action Shero Anonymous

Place: Secunderabad, India

Being 15

This was in 1996. I was walking down Wood Street in Kolkata with a friend. We were heading towards my house which was just about 4 mins by walk. The time was about 7:30PM. We were busy talking while we walked. Suddenly I looked towards my right and my friend was not there. Then I looked around and walked back to find her. I saw a man with his back towards me. I walked upfront and realized that he was forcefully trying to kiss her and she was struggling. Instantly I pulled her towards we with all my strength. The stranger pulled out a knife from his pocket and said "chilayegi to chod dunga". I was too shocked to believe what was going on. At that moment I could not think of doing anything else but run for our lives. I grabbed my friends hand and we started to run as fast as possible. We were both trembling with fear. We reached my house and informed both our parents immediately. My friend kept crying and brushing her teeth. Her parents came to pick her up. She did not come to school for a week. I can imagine the trauma she went through. My hands and legs were trembling for a long time and I could not sleep properly. The face of that molester kept coming in my head. He was a short stout, bald middle aged man with blood-shot red eyes. I can still remember his face after so many years. If I would ever see him again I would want him behind bars.

Action Shero Anonymous

Place: Kolkata

Being 12

I was visiting a fun fair with some friends. The walk from the exit to my car was a little long. Mobiles weren't that common then and I couldn't call my driver to escort me till the car and being young such a thought never even crossed my mind. Whilst walking to the car, I got stuck between a mob of people mostly men. I was groped, my butt was pinched, attempts were made to touch my breasts but I shielded them 'atleast'. With shame in my mind and whatever little dignity I felt I had left them, I sat in the car and went home. That day the fearless tomboy in me grew up suddenly to become a 'girl'. This was not how I'd expected the transition to take place. I  have never shared with with anyone. Not even the friends I went to the fair with.

Action Shero Harshika

Place: Bhopal, India

Being 4

I have a most vivid memory of that first experience...of harassment in public spaces.. I was traveling in a bus with my parents... The bus was crowded and to avoid the push i was made to sit in uncle's lap. For those who travel in city buses must have seen this.. I personally offer seat to kids all the time and especially girl child. This lecherous male put his hand in side my shorts and play with my vagina for more than 5 mins...the was so crowded that no one could see it and my mother was standing at some distance.... I must have been 3 or 4 years old. This is one thing ill never forget.. This is one thing I have never shared with any one…

Action Shero Anonymous

Place: Delhi

Being 12

I was in a public bus going to school and I remember those eyes staring at me. I was in my uniform. It was a white colour physical training (PT) uniform. I remember being stared at almost the entire journey. It almost felt as if I was not wearing any clothes. I remember being so uncomfortable with my body.

There are two more such memories all between the age range of 12-15. One was where I was groped in the bus and I was too young to do any thing about it but I was so angry with myself and felt like cutting off that part of me.

The earliest experience of being violated was at such a young age that its much later in life that I realized what that man was doing. He was a half bald man, the uncle types, a man in his mid 40's and he would often come in the public bus I would travel back home in. He would give a smile, help me find a seat and then come near me and and rub his penis on my hand. I would be holding on to my school bag and my hand would be in such a position that he could easily do it. It only years later that I remembered that warm sensation on my hand and I don't know how I figured out what was actually happening.

Its not that I was unaware of things at that age. My mother has always been very particular about discussing harassment on the road and what safety measures my sister and I should take if such an event is to occur but it did not even strike me!

Action Shero Parmeet

Place: Kolkata

Being 10

I was pinched on my breasts and my hips.

Action Shero Anonymous

Place: Delhi, India

Being 10

I was walking to my friends house (a five minute walk from where I lived). I remember it was a Sunday, it was quiet on the streets with not a lot of traffic. I was navigating my way through the pot holes, parked cars and was happy in my world. Before I knew it some guys on motorcycle came from behind slapped my butt and before I could react they had whizzed by laughing and whistling. I just stood there for a moment in shock.

I was angry at what had just happened. I was even more angry at myself for not being able to react & defend myself.

Action Shero Anonymous

Place: Ballygunj, Calcutta , India

Being 11

I was about 11 or 12, don't remember exactly, but I do remember by first incident of street sexual harassment rather vividly, because it was one of the worst I've encountered till date. And not just because it was the first.

31st December, New Year's Eve, Park Street, Kolkata. Crushing crowds, jolly, riotous, loud and happy, car horns and yells of "happy new year!" everywhere. I'm walking with one hand in my dad left hand, and my mother and brother are walking right in front of us. The footpath is crowded like Ashtami night, but there's a relatively orderly procession bi-direction foot traffic.

When we're next to Flury's, going towards Magnolia, suddenly I feel a bunch of hands, at least 6-7, clutching at, groping, pinching my butt all at the same time. It hurt, and was completely unexpected. I had never experienced and don't recall seeing any instance of street sexual harassment before this. It was a group of boys going in the opposite direction on the same footpath. I twist around, utterly shocked, to see some leering faces for a moment before they melt into the crowd, but that moment of shock when my body is turned is enough for the rest of the same group of boys to collectively grope my breasts. Several hands, again, tugging, squeezing and pinching cruelly for a brief moment that feels stretched in time. I turn forward again, even more shocked and scared, and have a fleeting impression of wide grins before they're gone forever.

This whole incident takes a few seconds, and is almost invisible in the noise and crowds and confusion. It was extremely well-planned and executed, with almost militaristic precision. My father, right next to me and still holding my hand, has no idea what's just happened. We are borne along in the opposite direction by the crowd. It takes a week or more before I can get the memory of those touches off my body. The anger I don't think has worn off yet.

Action Shero Anonymous

Place: Kolkata, India

Being 14

I was 14 and walking to school alone, because I was mad at my girlfriends. In a big field along my way a 17 year old male tried to rape me. I hit him with my books and ran away. He chased me but stopped when I got to a populated area. I was wearing a pretty new dress and felt so pretty that morning. After that I was scared to be along with any male, forty years after I will still never walk alone in the woods or an open field, and worst of all I was and am scared to feel pretty.

Action Shero Beckie Weinheimer

Place: Bountiful, Utah United States Of America

Being 12

A 12-13 year old boy stalked, faced me, put his hand forward to feel me up and said 'Do you know that I can rape you?'

Action Shero Anonymous

Place: Bangalore, India