Anonymous asked: Thank you for your post on street harrassment. It happens all the time; I go out running and strangers call me "baby," tell me to smile, follow me, assess my body. I don't respond to these rude men because they are also threatening; if I respond they may take it as an invitation for physical harrassment. Like so many others, I stare ahead, stone-faced, but it's time we start talking about this, loudly. It's time men stop responding with the advice that I should not wear shorts or go out alone.
You are absolutely right Anon - most of the time we cannot respond or defend ourselves in any way, as that only escalates the situation and puts us in even more danger.
And talking about it is really important. We have to stop placing the onus on the victims to change their lives to “avoid/prevent” abuse, but squarely on the heads of perpetrators and those who enable them by staying silent or making excuses for the abuse they dish out on others.
Chin up, you are NOT the broken one. You are NOT alone.
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atheologist said:
I’ve noticed that ignoring the comments often makes it worse, too. I’ve been called fat, ugly, and racist (what?) for ignoring men who catcalled me. One even threatened to shoot me when I didn’t respond! So basically I feel screwed either way.
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sleepydumpling posted this
