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“It made me feel like an object or toy”

August 10, 2017 By Contributor

I’m a 17 year old girl and I live in a nice neighborhood. The neighbors all watch out for each other. My parents have no problem with me walking the dog by myself around the block. So when I volunteered to walk the dog, my parents simply handed me a bag and the leash without any second thoughts. After what happened, however, I am no longer to go out on my own.

I hadn’t expected it to happen; I’m tall and slim with no noticeable curves. I figured most boys wouldn’t take notice of me. I know now that it doesn’t work like that.

For a while, the walk went well. I smiled at neighbors and keep myself and my dog out of the way of any by-passers. It was when i was walking down my own street to return home that i heard someone shouting my name. Confused, i stopped and turned to the car that had pulled up at the intersection across the street. it was a small light electric blue car that obviously wasn’t new. A guy i somewhat recognized from elementary school had his head out the passenger window, calling my name. he starts talking to me, saying something about how he remembers me from elementary school before i switched to private school. he tells me he remembers how we used to date all the time and kiss. I’m not sure if I’m hearing this right because i have done neither of those things in my life. i felt uneasy and anxious talking to this guy, and this time it wasn’t because of social anxiety.

That’s when he asks me if i want to kiss again, for old times sake. My blood ran cold when he said that and i immediately dropped any politeness i had been trying to keep. i tell him no. he asks me why, as if the answer isn’t already obvious. why would i kiss a guy in a car that i barely remember and know that he is lying about us dating?

He keeps talking, however at this point i want nothing more to do with him and begin to walk away. he yells something about my private area and his car speeds off, thankfully in the opposite direction. i was panicking and felt absolutely repulsed. i wanted to be out of this body that felt so dirty. my skin felt like it was crawling, trying to get off. it did not make me feel confident or happy. it did not feel like a compliment. it made me feel like an object or toy. i spent the rest of the evening feeling disgusted of my own self and scared.

– Anonymous

Location: My neighborhood

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SSH will not publish any comment that is offensive or hateful and does not add to a thoughtful discussion of street harassment. Racism, homophobia, transphobia, disabalism, classism, and sexism will not be tolerated. Disclaimer: SSH may use any stories submitted to the blog in future scholarly publications on street harassment.
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