I have lived all over the Bay Area and now the East Coast. I also traveled for work through the Midwest. It happens everywhere. Women often protect men from the knowledge of what we deal with on a daily basis. We shouldn’t, but we do it because it is part of our patriarchal conditioning.

An environment *might* be easier to change than men, but the onus is on men to change. Here’s another thing: when I’m with my male partner, the street harassment is virtually non-existent. The most I have to deal with is someone noticeably checking me out (which I also hate). When I am alone, it is a whole different world.

Does this mean that we should follow Saudi Arab’s format and limit women’s movement outside without a male escort? No. We should be America and make sure that we make this country safe for women, no matter what “environment” she is in.