Why is it funny to yell dirty things at women walking on the road?

[stinglikeabee]

In Year 9, our history class were split into debating groups for a day. My group was assigned to represent Ancient Sparta, and to engage with the Ancient Athenians in spirited arguments on which society was superior. Unlike other debates we were not given any extra time to prepare our statements and had to come up with speeches on the spot. The

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[parlance]

{{{kitsune_stars}}}

But what can we do, other than teach our brothers, cousins, nephews, friends not to perpetuate this behaviour? What can I do that will get the message across that I do not want to be part of this anymore?

So difficult because I don't know if there's anything we can do other than talk to those closest to us... who may not be responsible for this kind of behavior in the first place. Because you want to tell them off, but as in the case where there are a number of them, you don't feel safe and you worry things will escalate if you dare to defend yourself.

I had an experience yesterday - someone yelling at me that I "looked good" from behind. I think he called me "Girl" too, which always makes me stabby. And when I ignored him, he kept yelling it. And I thought to myself, "he's about to get a verbal beatdown." But when I got closer to me and I could face him, all he said was "hi." Like he knew he was wrong, he just wanted to see what he could get away with with my back turned to him.

[stinglikeabee]

Because you want to tell them off, but as in the case where there are a number of them, you don't feel safe and you worry things will escalate if you dare to defend yourself.When I was 13, I thought as a feminist-grrl I had a duty to stand up and challenge these jerks to a fight. There were a couple of scary times where I spat in their faces and said really nasty things. I'm pretty sure the only way I survived at those times was because I was in public with people who could break up the fights. But why did I continue to take them to task? Because I was catcalled in front of my entire family by a greasy teenage biker and neither my dad or my uncle said anything

[parlance]

There were a couple of scary times where I spat in their faces and said really nasty things.

Oh, my.

neither my dad or my uncle said anything.

They should have had your back.

But yo know what, retaining some measure of dignity is worth it.

*nodding*

[stinglikeabee]

They should have had your back.

I've come to the conclusion the men in my family talk a big game, but are naturally cowards. The women are the true heroes here.

BTW, have you heard about the student who was assaulted by another man when she fought back against an attacker?

[parlance]

This just came up as a topic of discussion in one of my comms:

http://community.livejournal.com/blackfolk/6136369.html