How Teen Girls Experience Street Harassment -- And What They're Doing To Fight It

"Sexual harassment makes me feel unsafe and angry."

That's what 15-year-old Elizabeth has to say in an imMEDIAte Justice documentary about street harassment. ImMEDIAte Justice, a volunteer organization that empowers young women to tell their stories on film, worked with teens who wanted to share their experiences with catcalling and explain why it has to stop. A recent Hollaback! survey found that the majority of women worldwide first experience catcalling when they are aged 11-17.

In the short film, girls discuss their experience being catcalled and how it has changed their perception of the world. Namely, most of the teens who spoke out in the film no longer feel safe out in public.

"I've been harassed just about everywhere," 16-year-old Mary Beth says. "I've been harassed here at school, on the street, out with my friends, and even in amusement parks and stuff, where it's supposed to be kid-friendly."

The teens also speak to their male peers, who explain why they catcall girls.

"If a girl's wearing a crop top and short shorts, it looks like they wanna get catcalled," one boy says. "It looks like they want the attention... I'm pretty sure they don't think they're getting harassed. They're just flattered."

The teens created a music video, "Catcall For What," that was shown in L.A. high schools to raise awareness about street harassment. They also vowed to stand up for themselves and not let street harassers get away with their behavior.

"Every time I get harassed, I speak up." One girl concludes. "Because if I don't speak up for myself, who will?"

Watch the full video above.