I was in a new city, in a new country, working a school-sponsored internship. On my college student budget, I figured I could easily do the mile walk and save myself the fare for a second bus and get a little extra exercise. This thrifty decision taught me that a lack of respect for women knows no international borders!
Four times a week, I made this walk. Every single week, at least two of these four times, I encountered some form of street harassment. Catcalls, honks, men pulling over their cars and trying to talk to me, you name it. They always avoided physical contact, so I didn’t think it was worthy of complaint, but it made me angry every single day.
As an adult, I should be able to walk down a street, in broad daylight, dressed in professional attire and feel comfortable. I never did. I felt embarrassed, dehumanized, exploited, and never, ever flattered.
The thing that made me most angry was the futility of this action that made me so uncomfortable. Did they think I would stop and offer them sex, right there on the street? Or even a date? Does any women ever do that? Did they think that’s the way to woo a woman? Did they think I liked it?
– Anonymous
Location: London, UK
anonymous says
This is the story of my life. 5 blocks to the train station. Sometimes just 1 block to the laundromat. I always know when a man is going to say something or stop and turn around to look at my ass as I walk past. Sometimes I interrupt to say, “Don’t talk to me”– or when I’m very angry, I just say “PIG.” and keep walking before they can say something. When it is unbearably hot, I still wear long pants and sleeves. I dread walking in my neighborhood–even for one block–every day. How unfortunate to not be able to walk outside your own home and feel comfortable and safe–as a human being, not a sex object. Men have no idea.