Following a report of a man allegedly exposing himself and ejaculating onto a woman’s leg on a Brown Line train last week, conversations started swirling about personal experiences with either witnessing or being a victim of sexual harassment or indecent exposure on CTA trains and buses. The really weird part? It seems accepted by some as just another common occurrence on public transit.
We wanted to keep the conversation going, so we asked our readers to share their stories. Here is a sampling — you’ll notice the stories run the gamut of the different train lines but sound mostly (unfortunately) the same.
(We’ll keep updating this post — share yours in the comments, here, post on our Facebook page or tweet to @redeyechicago/@jessicagalliart.)
“Was masturbated in front of on an empty brown line train. Got out promptly.” -@lallantonio
“guy in front of me started rubbing himself once and I just got off. it was a nearly empty train.” -@cometogether
“my gf and I got flashed, told we needed “real men” got threatened with corrective rape. We ignored them. No one defended us.” -@the_poetiquette
“a well-dressed middle aged guy repeatedly rubbed his erection on my arm during my red line commute from work a few weeks ago.” -@gingie24
“a normal-looking, sober man in a suit exposed himself on the Metra, offered $ to see my boobs, was surprised when I said no.” -@ninadngr
“#cta was with cousin on Brn, guy took penis out. PD said they couldn’t find on camera. Despite car # run # & description.” -@lucypigati
“Saw woman give $1 to guy asking for money. He tried to kiss her. She kept saying no. I stepped in, told the guy to go away … That was at bus stop at Lawrence & B’way. No else did anything. Woman asked me to walk her home; we got off at the same stop.” -@julieciaramella
