Please or to access all these features

AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To ask how many women have either been sexually harassed in the street in the teenager or have a daughter who has?

238 replies

Carla786 · 11/02/2026 11:59

For context I'm Gen Z. I live in a very quiet neighbourhood & through my teens was never harassed. There's lots of building works in my area often but builders have always been fine & so has everyone else. I've never witnessed anyone else my age being harassed either (nor adult women). Some of my friends are the same, some unfortunately not (most don't live in my area)

However, I know this is not typical. I've read so much on here about people being harassed in school uniform, having daughters harassed etc. How common is this? Surveys show pretty high results too...

Was it always like this? Has it got worse or better? I've read some arguments it was worse in 70s-80s, others that online misogyny & porn has made harassment of teens worse.

OP posts:
Doranottheexplorer · 11/02/2026 12:14

All the time as a teen and in my twenties. Stuff shouted out of vans. Used to hate walking past building sites. I actually stopped running in my 30s because I got so sick to death of men saying stuff as I ran past.

Slightly relieved to now be in my mid 40s and largely invisible.

BeatrizBoniface · 11/02/2026 12:13

I was a teen in the 70s. It was regarded as part of life. That's what happened. If you were lucky, it was just comments.
I started work in the 80s and it was commonplace in the workplace as well.
It was only later that I realised it didn't have to be part of life for girls and women.

Catza · 11/02/2026 12:13

I'm in my mid 40s. So I was a teen in early 90s. I was constantly sexually harassed including as an 11 year old by an older boy at school and one of the teachers. I had two instances of serious sexual assault and endless instances of being touched up on public transport. Lived in a fairly safe city with low crime rates although I do wonder whether this was due to non-reporting. Was also approached by a man in a car as a 15 year old offering me an "opportunity" to participate in adult film industry.
I think my experience is quite "normal" sadly.

Egglio · 11/02/2026 12:12

I was a teenager in the 90s. It started in last year of primary and didn't really end until I was pregnant at the age of 25. I have been cat called in school uniform by men, assaulted on a bus a couple of times, grabbed in clubs and been subject to inappropriate comments from colleagues and patients. All because I have a very large bust. It was literally all the time.

Nevergotdivorced · 11/02/2026 12:11

i was a teen in the 70’s it was rife on the streets and in the workplace.

Disturbia81 · 11/02/2026 12:11

Mid 40s and it’s got worse

HoskinsChoice · 11/02/2026 12:10

What's the plan for the information you're asking for? If you ask for people to share their experiences of abuse, they should have an understanding of why you're asking and what you intend to do with the information?

Carla786 · 11/02/2026 12:09

Disgusting ..how many men do this, I don't want to think. Presumably a lot of repeat offenders,,but still...

Are cities & towns worse, I wonder? Rural areas less? Or not?

OP posts:
StrictlyAFemaleFemale · 11/02/2026 12:08

Was a teen in the 90s. Yes.

GreenEyesIsBack · 11/02/2026 12:06

All the time.

PinkArt · 11/02/2026 12:06

A survey showed 97% of women aged 18-24 have been sexualy harassed. My only surprise was that it wasn't 100%. I'm mid 40s and haven't really seen any change in the last 30 years, other than building sites being less of a problem these days.
I think body type impacts how bad it is for some women though - I'm very curvy and from chats with friends I seem to get more random comments than much more attractive but more athletically built friends.

GroovyChick87 · 11/02/2026 12:05

Most times when I went out to be honest. I still get it now and again if I'm out on my own without my husband and kids, but it's usually just looking rather than comments. As a teen it varied from boys my own age to adult men, starting from when I was about 13.

Carla786 · 11/02/2026 12:00

Sorry, I meant 'as a' teenager, not 'in the'. Must ask MNHQ to change it.

OP posts: