It's happened a few times in the last couple of weeks. Comments from random men as I'm walking in the street. Not rude comments or swearing or anything lecherous you understand but still it's made me feel vulnerable and quite frankly, I hate it.
The first time was at a busy tube station in half term, it was the post work rush and I politely asked a group of teenage boys to move from the left hand side of the escalator so I could pass. They did move, but not before coming back at me with a few choice saracastic comments. The second occasion I was walking down my street on the phone to a friend, as she picked up I said something along the lines of 'hey lovely, how are you?' To which the young men walking down the street towards me kindly offered their responses. Both occasions were in daylight, both occasions weren't overtly offensive in any way and on both occasions it was a group of young lads obviously being cocky for the sake of impressing their mates.
But nonetheless, their unasked for and unwanted interaction made me suddenly feel a bit threatened. Here were these groups of lads, who I suddenly realised were much bigger than me, who were trespassing on normal social conduct by speaking to me in the way they had. I'm sure they didn't give it a second thought but it made my blood boil. It brought to mind all the occasions I've had my bum pinched, been wolf whistled at and the time I got groped in a market in Morocco but couldn't tell who it was when I turned round. When on occasion I have reacted, the men always respond like I'm being uptight, can't take a joke or they call me frigid. What god given right do men think they have that they can get away with such behaviour? I hate that partly because they are bigger and stronger, men will always have the physical edge. I hate that I am always careful when I'm out, I never leave my drink alone, I make sure I know how to get home and don't walk down dodgy streets at night. All because of this tiny proportion of the male population who have no respect for women.
The irony is that I bet men like this who shout out comments to random women in the street would go utterly mental if some other guy shouted something similar at their girlfriend, sister or mum. So why is it okay for them to say it to me? Why doesn't this occur to them? Is it because, like I did, no one calls them up on it? You hear horror stories about people getting stabbed after asking kids to pick up litter and it just makes you think, is it worth saying something for the odd catcall? Probably not. Does it make me feel vunerable, frustrated and ultimately angry at the injustice of it all? Absolutely.
