I wear the veil, and in my country many girls wear veils too, we are the biggest Muslim country.
I thought wearing the veil will always help me keep my dignity, or it’s kinda guaranteed to make myself safe. At least it will keep the stereotype that i am a “good girl” and “don’t messed up with me.”
But it was changed when i was in my high school.
Firstly, it happened when i was about go home, and there are some guys called at me: “Girl”.. I was ignoring them until they repeated many times, and said that i am a bitch because i was ignoring them.
I was pissed off, and then came to them and said, “What’s matter boys? You all SHOULD not talk to me that way, didn’t this veil prove you that i aint a slut?”
That was just the beginning. When i was in my first year of college, everyday i took the train. Then came one day, a stalker followed me from station until i took my train. In the train, he was standing behind me. And i’ve got a sexual harassment, because the train was very crowded, maybe no one notice that, he grabbed my ass, though i am wearing veil that time..
It’s kinda crazy, man sometimes doing crazy things because they often think that we, woman is weak and a second-class..
It actually wasn’t about wearing a veil or not. Any woman in this world SHOULD be RESPECTED, whoever they are..
– Movi Riana
Location: Bogor, Indonesia
Share your street harassment story today and help raise awareness about the problem. Include your location and it will be added to the Street Harassment Map.
Golden Silence says
It just shows that it doesn’t matter what you’re wearing or how covered up you are, the men will still harass.
Thank you for sharing your story.