The Oppressed Response, Age 12
Neighborhood bike ride, Bangkok, Thailand
Nice Gentleman: Pretty girls like you should smile more.
Me: ........ (I pedaled home as fast as I could. I was terrified.)
The Angry Response, Age 18
Video store parking lot, Berea, KY
Nice Gentleman: Hey baby, I'd like to take you home and f*ck your brains out.
Me: Really? I'm not interested but if you're that hard up, why don't you go home and f*ck your own mother? We both know you still live with her.
The Passive-Aggressive Response, Age 25
Triangle Town Center, Raleigh, NC
Nice Gentleman: You. Are. So hot. What's you name?
Me: Lorena Bobbit.
The Enlightened Response, Age 40 (just last month)
Kroger parking lot, Lexington, KY
Nice Gentleman: Excuse me, I can't help but ask - what's your name?
Me: You know, do you have a minute? You seem like a nice man. Well, just think for a second. Why on earth would I feel comfortable giving you - a complete stranger - any personal information about me? Would you want your mother or sister engaging strange men in parking lots? While I appreciate opportunities to connect with other human beings, I hope you can understand how a stranger approaching you in a parking lot can feel well, a bit unwelcome. To some women, this could even feel threatening. Please think about this next time you approach a woman by herself. Have a wonderful day.
To learn more about street harassment and how you can help stop it, please visit: http://www.ihollaback.org/
No comments:
Post a Comment