Street harassment and stranger harassment are one in the same. I am an American woman who owns a small hotel in Livorno, Italy. It’s a family hotel that is pretty much for tourists, locals can’t stay.
Street harassment is so bad in Italy, I barely go outside. The only time I go out is when I am with my partner and sometimes I still get kisses blown at me, and stares. Because we are a mixed couple, people don’t assume that we’re even together.
Today, while at the hotel, a man called. He wanted to book a room for December 30-31. My Italian isn’t so great, so I apologized. He said that he already knew that I was American and had an athletic build. Then asked if he could book an escort for those nights. Oh my God!
I stay in the house day in and day out because people of the stares, lewd remarks, gestures and comments I have received within the five years of living here. To be harassed in my own business and have someone assume that I am somehow involved in prostitution because I am a woman of color, enrages me. Here, you can’t even hide or take control of your own environment!
- Anonymous
Location: Livorno, Italy
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