Harassing Third Graders (Charming!)

City females continue to endure persistent street harassment regardless of looks and irrespective of whether they have even hit puberty:

Virtually every female in the city has experienced street harassment, no matter her age, ethnicity, size or the way she’s dressed.

Often it’s just annoying, when it’s a comment in passing or the stereotypical catcalls from construction sites. But there are also times when it becomes offensive, threatening and a form of sexual assault.

“We have girls as young as 8 or 9 years old who say they are afraid to walk by this corner or down that street because they’ve had inappropriate things said to them and they’ve been followed or even touched by these men,” said Mandy Van Deven, director of community organizing for Girls for Gender Equity, a Brooklyn-based education and mentoring program. “This issue consistently comes up every time we ask girls about things they are struggling with.”