Velocistar237

chroniccheesylust:

Sending this from my phone while waiting for the bus because I need somewhere to vent.
Again.

I’ve never had street harassment actually scare me before.
Feel uncomfortable?
Sure, but today was the first properly scary experience.

I was walking through St Albans - a middle class (I HATE to bring out the “class” card, but you know what I mean. You can usually walk around this city, day or night, alone, and feel safe), SAFE city. Even there, in broad daylight, on a Monday morning, it happened.

I walked past a group of young men, 18-25ish at a guess. One commented “That skinny bitch is shaking her arse, but she ain’t got no arse to shake, stupid whore”. (Offensive: “skinny bitch”, objectification, and “stupid whore”, in case that really needs pointing out).

Another responded “I’d make that arse shake while she screamed for me to stop”. (Insinuating rape, great).

Their conversation then turned into them graphically describing how they’d each like to rape me.
All while I was within earshot.

In situations like that, how do you respond?

If you get angry, you’re giving them a response - a response which is usually met with their laughter and more remarks to taunt you and remind you that you’re “just a girl”.

If you laugh it off, you’re basically letting them know that it’s OK - giving them permission and giving off the impression that it’s totally acceptable behaviour.

If you ignore them, as I did on this occasion (although I’ve been known to use the anger card before), they often carry on making these disgusting remarks, waiting for a reaction of sorts.

I just don’t understand what gives ANYONE the right to make a woman feel this unsafe and violated.

There was an article going round a few weeks ago (it’s on my blog somewhere, but as I’m on my phone I can’t search for / link to it) ***EDIT: ON MY COMPUTER NOW, ARTICLE IS HERE*** about how men tend to think street harassment isn’t a big deal as it doesn’t happen to their female friends when they’re around, often not realising that they are the reason why, the deterrent from unwanted attention and remarks.
I just want to post this to show them that it is.

P.S. In response the fucking stupid reaction I often receive (basically always from male rather than female friends - I’m NOT saying that all or even most of my male friends react like this, however) of “But you should find it flattering” - please explain to me exactly which bit of any of this is a compliment.

This is absolutely fucking disgusting.