Street Harassment

[emmelinemay]

It's still happening, but as I now have Obvious Headphones, I can pretend it isn't happening, and ignore it most of the time.

Here's what I wrote last year
(link is to the tagged entries, so scroll down past this one!)

Someone on 2wheelsbetter linked me to an article I thought fit quite well along with those rants, so those of you that were interested in those (which was broadly split between the women that understood, and the men that got offended and said BUT I'M NOT LIKE THAT to which I'd reply read this)

"Why do you think it's OK to harass women?" I said calmly, loudly. The man froze, then a look of fear washed over his features. He shrank like a worm. "What?" he snivelled, his eyes sliding to the floor. "I didn't say anything bad ..."

"It doesn't matter what you said, I didn't say that you could speak to me. It's not OK to whisper in a woman's ear when she's going about her business.


There are also some 'but WOMEN DO IT TOO' and yes, but 'I'M NOT LIKE THAT' comments to the article there too. I sincerely hope I don't have to explain to anyone reading why this makes me cross.

from one of the comments:
It would be great if, instead of claiming we're making a fuss about nothing, the decent men out there accepted that this *is* a problem for a lot of women and make it clear when they see it happening that they don't think harassing women is funny or acceptable.

Comments

Re: i can't beleive i'm dignifying this with a response

[emmelinemay.livejournal.com]

It is also one of the few conditions that is NEVER ever questioned.

How do you know? Have you been present when women have been asked about it? no, Because this is done in private.

And it's NOT sexist to say you can't understand period pain or PMT. YOU CAN'T. You are a MAN, you can't get PMT, you never WILL get PMT. Ergo, you will NEVER be able to understand it.

I will NEVER understand the pain of being kicked in the balls. Because I don't have any. I can sympathise, but not understand. this is NOT SEXIST.

and jesus h christ, learn to read. I didn't say you said it didn't exist.

It DOES exist, you questioned it's validity as a reason to leave work, and that it is never questione. it's a valid reason to leave work. What you are basically saying is that we are *privileged* to be able to suffer from PMT and period pain, because it means we can leave meetings. Do you not see how ridiculous that is? Really?

And yes, I have been questioned about my 'womens problems' before, on many occasions, as have, I'm sure, many women who suffer from them.

Expelled for PMT

yes. she set fire to her maths block at school and was expelled. She had to get a certificate from the doctor to explain why one week in ever 4, if she needed to leave school for her PMT, she could. The male teachers were arses about it too, and never believed her. I lived with her at uni, an can confirm one week out of every 4, she was a fucking nutter.

Ok, clothing. In a place where men have to wear suits, women still have to look smart. We can't wear jeans or short skirts, we still have to look professional. Your argument is week at best. Discrimination? Because you wear a suit to work? please.

And turning my arguments back on me?

Well done, your male privilege is showing.

Re: i can't beleive i'm dignifying this with a response

[load-of-flannel.livejournal.com]

Turning your arguments back you demonstartes the hypocricy of your statements about me.

Is it likely you'll actually reply to some of the points I raised or are you solely looking to engage in debate with those who already agree with you?

See the way discussion works is that you respond to a point I make.

I have responded to yours.

What you instead choose to do is to whinge about my posts with someone else whilst neither of you it would appear can actually engage with me.

Kindly look carefully and see what my position is, its anything but misoginy. Wheras your position on me is pure uninformed bigotry.