I was walking downtown on my lunch break, and I saw an older man in a wheelchair who looked possibly homeless. I had a bad feeling walking toward him. I knew it was going to happen. I did my best to look studiously away, but predictably, the catcall came: “You’re too young to be that pretty.”
I was angry. I wanted to flip him off, kick him in the balls, do anything to let him know that that was wrong. Instead, in the response ingrained in women for our own safety, my instincts took over to keep me walking and ignoring. By the time I remembered that it was daylight in a public place and it would be safe to respond, I was probably far enough past him that he wouldn’t even see me flip him off. I realize this is a slightly different issue with the homeless in that they are in some ways exerting power the only way they can. That does not make it right. It is unacceptable regardless of who does it.
– SK
Location: Salt Lake City, UT
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