Thursday, July 26, 2007

being a woman sucks sometimes

as i was exiting the subway in a not so nice area of town this older black dude with white jeans and sunglasses says, "ooooh baby. you lookin fine!" as i pass.

and, like i always do when random men on the street catcall or otherwise degrade me, i ignored him.

he continues, "hey! i'm talking to you! you're not going to say thank you?"

and i keep walking. he's stopped completely

"ahh, i see! you're mute! that's good! because when i rape you, that means you won't be able to scream!"

for all those men who don't contemplate what it's like to be a woman, who have no understanding of the way that women are treated differently than men on a daily basis, remember this: you will probably live your entire life without being sexually harassed by strangers on the street. i have to listen to this shit every single day.

in other words, the "hey mama, i know you want my cock in your pussy" bit is getting quite old.

as are the little horn taps from gypsy cab drivers. and the kissy noises from the opposite side of the street. etc., ad infinitum.

9 people who played with me:

Blogger Cousin said...

Chicago has an ordinance for downtown street performers where they can't be very audible past 100 feet (I think it's 50 db's but not sure) in any direction. I don't think it'd violate the First Amendment to extend that to catcalls. Where's Rudy's broken window theory when you need it?

7/26/2007 12:35 PM  
Anonymous Anonymous said...

Okay so there's never any excuse for shit like that. But just as men are less likely to be harrassed than women, women who dress demurely are less likey to be harrassed than women who don't.

The hijab is clearly the way to go...

7/26/2007 3:12 PM  
Blogger Syar said...

Woffle : I'll have to respectfully disagree. Living in a majorly Muslim country, I see girls in hijabs and full cultural-cover up get hit on and harassed as much as the rest of us un-covered up heathens.

Sometimes, people are just assholes.

This isn't so much about dressing up and the virtues of the hijab, but the disrespect and indifference some people have when it comes to sexual harassment and treatment of women. If someone could silence those catcalls forever, that'll be the real way to go.

7/27/2007 1:33 AM  
Blogger Alla said...

jazz: yeah you won't be able to scream either when i rip your dick out and make you eat it

7/27/2007 3:34 AM  
Blogger Joe said...

Come on, have you even tried the nose picking thing?

7/27/2007 2:48 PM  
Blogger Jon said...

well, you know what they say... "With great boobs comes great responsibility." Personally, I think it's say that you don't understand this concept Jasmine. I mean, if you aren't going to satisfy all the sexual fantasies of the random guys that see you on the street, who will? They are out there trying. They are using their best tactics, and failing with you. Don't you care about that? Are you that heartless? I'm sure there will come a day when the situation is reversed, and you will see an attractive man on the streets, try a similar approach and be rebuffed. Then, and only then, will you understand the true pain that you are inflicting. Maybe then you'll finally learn how to act in a proper society. I just hope it's not to late.

Really though, by ignoring them, you're doing the best thing possible. There is nothing you can say or do to change a guy like that. I'd just make sure the ipod is always charged up, and keep the volume high enough to properly drown out such nonsense. Or wear a fat suit everywhere... your call.

7/28/2007 4:39 PM  
Blogger NicoleC said...

Jon: Because fat women aren't subjected to catcalls and general inappropriateness? That comment would probably be as offensive to a fat person, as the comment that douchebag made to Jasmine.

7/30/2007 4:29 PM  
Blogger Bridge said...

I have a great tactic to get people to leave me alone (though I'm not sure it'd work for you, different sex, city and continent etc so I'm not going to pretend to know the cultural differences), but..

Sit on the bus / tube / train. When anyone gets on, make eye contact, smile maniacally while cocking your head to one side and then pat the seat next to you.

Everyone walks past. Works a fucking charm.

7/31/2007 6:50 PM  
Blogger Peter said...

Looks like things haven't changed. In the 1950's, it had to have been worse. Just look at this Body Care & Grooming video from back then, and talk about what's "normal" behavior to men in response to attractive/well-kempt females.

http://www.scribblevillage.com/?p=409

Terrible

8/02/2007 1:20 PM  

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