You know when you fight with someone and you think of a great comeback three hours after it was over? Well, this is my comeback to the guy that decided it was okay to make me feel uncomfortable in a place where I feel the safest, without a second thought.
"DAAAAAAYUUUUUMMMMMMM!!!" is not what I want to hear early in the morning walking to class wearing running shorts and a t-shirt. Not that my clothes should matter because I could've been wearing a g string and nipple tassels and that still doesn't give you the right to sexually harass me. It shows that women are told to cover up to not arouse boys, instead of teaching boys to not sexual a pair of Nike running shorts.
Deciding to catcall me from 30 feet away is going to make me hate you; not want to hook up with you. Might I ask, what would you have done if I responded positively to your lovely display of affection? Date you? Tell our kids that we met by you yelling vulgar things referring to my ass? The ironic part is that you wouldn’t have done anything because the TV episode you got that from didn’t go into detail as to what happens next.
Not only did you do this once, but you decided to yell even louder a second time as if I didn't hear you the first time. At first, I tried to ignore it and be polite, but I decided that for women everywhere I’m not putting up with this. So, naturally, I decided to yell back with a "f*** off." Which probably would've been spun to seem like I was being rude and he was just being nice. Thanks, but no thanks. I’d rather you keep it to yourself than pay me a “compliment.”
This article isn’t about sexual assault, it’s about applying the same principle of showing a girl unwanted attention and making her feeling like she is not allowed to say anything to such a minor offense.
“She didn’t say stop.” “She liked it before.” These are common responses from guys after being told that she actually didn’t like you touching her without her consent. In the moment do you think a girl is going to lash back at you for giving her attention in an already awkward position you’ve put her in? No. Do you think she wants to make a scene in front of her peers because of your selfish act? No. Are you stupid enough to not realize her body language says otherwise? Yes. Actually isn’t it common sense to know what you’re doing is wrong? Apparently not.
The saddest part is girls have been dealing with this since elementary school. At first, I thought it was funny, but now I’ve become fearful walking past men wondering if it could turn into something dangerous.It’s disheartening to know that you, some hormonal freshman, can make me feel uncomfortable in broad daylight on my own campus.
I understand you may think this comes across as a flirty gesture, but when that flirty gesture makes me scared to come into work, scared to go to class or scared to be alone with you; realize that you are contributing to every stereotype about sexual assault. How far are you going to take it until I have to step in and say no?
I had someone once say to me “I thought it was okay to touch you because I did it to the other girls.” This conversation is targeting the wrong victim. You are the victim- not me. Someone a long time ago should’ve been yelling at you for your behavior before you started yelling at women on the street.
