Experience of Street Harassment in London

[sierra_le_oli]

Yesterday, I was doing what everyone does, walking along the street. However, because I was walking while female, I was harassed three times. That's only unusual in that it was so many in a single day. The highlight was a group of men shouting at me from their car and throwing their fast food at me. At which point I called Wingnut to come and walk

Comments

[gmh]

*sigh* - did I mention that one of the biggest problems I have with being a pacifist is the continual temptation to make the world a better place by eliminating large portions of the male population?

(preferably with a circular saw or an angle grinder.)

[silly_swordsman]

As a first step, how about a tranquiliser dart gun loaded with oestrogen?

[bellinghman]

I see you're a believer in nature rather than nurture on this issue ...

Sadly, I doubt that even holding them down and giving immediate gender assignment surgery (with a craft knife and no anaesthetic) would change their attitudes.

[sierra_le_oli]

As a first step, how about a tranquiliser dart gun loaded with oestrogen?

Heh, that's a novel one. :-)

[ailbhe]

Hah. Yes.

[sollersuk]

Way back in the 70s when I was studying for an MSc, we used to have to walk from one class to another past a site where there were always men who made catcalls. We finally took to making very loud, very uncomplimentary, sexist comments about them. They soon shut up. However, this does need several people in order to work.

[sierra_le_oli]

Always nice to hear those stories. I've found getting back in the offender's face does work, but you have to pick your moments. Alas, none of the three qualified yesterday -- I was outnumbered in 2 of the 3 incidents -- which is probably one of the reasons why it bothered me more than usual.

[erikagillian]

You might like this site: http://hollabacknyc.blogspot.com/

[sierra_le_oli]

Thank you, that's a good one. :-)

[anonymous]

At first, when I moved to London, I thought it was better than Paris for getting hassled by men (unfortunately, I've not been able to find statistics on street harassment so far, so it's all anecdote). Even if I only go to Paris for a weekend, I never get away unscathed. Last time it was a man who felt the need to turn around and follow my hair down the street, talking at me all the way despite the abuse he was getting.

I maybe should point point out that you're lucky to be white, since french MaleChauvinistPigs tend to also specialise in racism? ;-|

More seriously, I'm dreadfully sorry that my country -which I love- still hasn't managed to educate a large part of its male children... one of the reasons I'm working abroad as often as I can is that the France I keep in my head when working in $furrinLand is much nicer than the one assaulting me when I come back.

Another reason, of course, is that being a furriner is fun!!! ;-P

FiX