“I bet they’ll think again before they demand gratitude from a stranger on the street”

I was walking home at night and passed by these ridiculous guys sitting on a bench. I tried to avoid eye contact because I didn’t want any attention from them. Of course, that never works.

One of them said, “Have a good night darling,” in what he must’ve thought was a seductive voice. I said nothing back and kept walking.

But it unfortunately didn’t end there. The man was annoyed I didn’t say anything back. “You could say THANK YOU,” he said condescendingly.

Something in me snapped. I have had these incidents numerous times; guys reprimanding me for not THANKING them for harassing me, staring at me penetratingly, calling me beautiful, or basically just acknowledging my existence. Sorry, didn’t realize I should drop to my knees and show so much gratitude for you being a disrespectful asswipe.

I screamed back so loud that my friends told me they could hear it from the upper floors.

“Shut the f**** UP!!!! Guess what DARLING? I don’t want your f****cking attention, you stupid HARASSER! You think because I am a girl I won’t do anything? F***k with me and I’ll f***k you up!”

I marched into my house and left them stunned in silence. At that point, all the rage that had boiled in me was released. Yelling back isn’t always the safest response, of course. People can have weapons. These men could’ve followed me home, except they didn’t. I was “lucky” in that sense, that I had friends waiting for me and that they didn’t know which floor I lived on, that they were paralyzed by my words. But in another sense, I won’t deny that I felt invincible. They never expected such a strong, loud voice from what they perceived to be a little girl. But I am a grown ass woman with a great screaming voice. They never knew what hit them. That’s what made it such a satisfying experience.

I bet they’ll think again before they demand gratitude from a stranger on the street. I hope they remember my voice every time they think they’re entitled to a girl’s gratitude when they harass them. It could be as simple as a righteous tone of voice, penetrating stare or something more serious like assault, but I hope they realize that girls won’t keep silent, that they can’t silence them or control their actions.

– The Voice

Location: New York

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