Having read many of the stories in this blog it is coming back to me just how many times I was harassed while living in Invercargill, arse end of the world.
During my two years in Invercargill, I was ordered to smile on multiple occasions, once had, “SUBWAY, EAT FRESH” (?!) screamed into my ear, told I was a f**cking bitch when I didn’t respond to an obnoxious, “Hi!” (those last two were both kids under the age of 12 years, but still male). I was hassled on the street for having pink hair, or wearing unusual stockings and regularly honked at when walking home in school uniform. A bunch of obnoxious guys made clicking noises (like “giddy-up horsey” type ones at me in the supermarket (that one really pissed off my boyfriend).
I don’t remember my time in that city fondly, but not since reading this did I figure out why I had such a lasting impression of people down their as being closed minded, obnoxious and unfriendly. All your stories have made these experiences come rushing back to me. Never before or since have I experienced such a sheer volume of unwanted comments and attention as I did in that city.
– Anonymous
Location: Invercargill, NZ
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Beckie says
Sadly abuse and harassment can leave bigger memories than the beauty of a place. I fought off an attempted sexual assault on a hillside path in the rocky mountains years ago.. A beautiful place but still now being alone on any wooded path years later my senses are alwayl heightened and on full alert. Sad. I feel foe you.
Jasmine says
As someone who grew up in Invercargill and moved to Dunedin to escape it, I can defintely attest to the prevaillence of harrassment there. I am sorry you had horrible experiences there.
I have many stories, including a group of boys in a car swerving at me as I was walking, being told I had a nice arse, having a younger boy biking beside me telling me matter-of-factly that I am ugly, hearing a boy saying in front of his friends “That girl looks like she needs a cock up her arse”, and plenty of whistles and toots. This has lead to me tensing up everytime I walk past a group of people, waiting for them to harrass me!