I don't know how many times I have to say NO to men to stop them from harassing me. In October I wrote an article about street harassment, something I endure every single day. Friday night after my shift was no exception, though it was the first altercation I've ever had. As many of you know I take the bus; it's my main source of transportation.
When I got on the bus I went straight to the back and sat by the corner to the right. I had my headphones on, minding my own business when this old man approximately 60 years old sits two seats next to me. He kept on staring at my phone then at my face. I looked over to the window on my right and I can see his reflection on it and I observed him every single time he kept looking at me he would slightly lean to his right and try to see what I would be texting. At that point, I stopped messing with my phone and just continued listening to music and looked straight ahead.
Minutes later the old man tells me something and I listened, he asked me what bus goes to the airport and I told him. Then he took that as an opportunity and started talking to me asking me where was I coming from? Where did I work? How old was I? If I was in college, If I could give him my number so he can text me. The whole time I just gave him short, vague answers. He then moves closer to me and corners me. I couldn't get up even if I wanted to because he blocked my only exit. That was when I started feeling uncomfortable. He told me he didn't want to sit in the middle because it was uncomfortable. Keep in mind the bus was very empty, barely anyone was on the bus so there were plenty of other seats he could've gone to; so why in the world would he sit by me. Every time he leaned in, pointed in front of me and talked to me I cringed. I felt so uncomfortable I was about to scream.
As soon as we got to the final stop he doesn't get up and gets off, he scoots over and lets me pass. I got off that bus so fast it felt like I was flying. I sat down on a bench and when he got off the bus he was still lingering around. One lady that was on the bus saw that he was staring at me still and proceeded to sit next to me. I was thankful for that because I knew he would've sat next to me. Unfortunately, her bus came so she had to go; my heart sank and I just started preparing myself for what came next.
Except what came next wasn't what I was expecting at all. Another guy around my age maybe a little older comes and sits next to me. Oh great, I thought. Guy #2 says, "hey you look like someone I can talk to." He then asked me what I was mixed with. When I told him that I wasn't he then tells me he knows many languages including Spanish, but that I should add him on Snapchat so I can see for myself. At this point, I didn't want any more social interactions with anyone else. Guy #2 asked me if I was in a relationship and I said yeah, my phone was open at this point and my home screen had a picture with Stanaj it was the one I took with him at JoJo's Concert.
When I stopped talking he moved on, but eventually, the old guy came back around and guess what? Yes, you guess it he sat next to me and there was definitely lots of other places for him to sit. He, of course, started talking to me. This time there were no short vague answers. All of his attempts at conversation came with an aggressive NO. When it came time for the bus, he also got on the same bus and sat in front of me. I stared him down so hard that he got up and moved. I was relieved at that point.
Why does anyone think it's okay to just do things like that? If I am not responding to you or trying to interact with you in any way that should be enough to leave me alone. I don't want to talk to anyone and I don't need you "friendship." You don't need my number, you don't need to hit me up. Don't "compliment me" because I know my own worth and I don't need a stranger to tell me in a constant loop. You don't have any right to make me feel uncomfortable, you don't have a right to harass me because you think that because you are a man you are superior to me. We are all equals. Treat me as if I was your daughter, sister, mother. If you don't want this type of interaction happening to them, then why do you think it's okay to do it to me and others?
