Because, believe it or not, women don’t live their whole lives worring about what perfect strangers think about them.įirst time when I was twelve (I developed early), last time a couple of weeks ago (a good twelve years on) – and not even in the street, but going on a bloody hike in the fields – some tool and his mate were eyeing up my mates, and I heard one of them say, “no, that one.” He then proceeded to leer at my breasts, say “Nice t*ts, darling,” and, in response to my death stare (I was walking uphill at the time – I am generally far more vociferous), yelled back at us something that rhymed with rigid witch. Oh, and I could have been walking around in a bikini, and it still would not mean I wanted attention. and I shouldn’t have to pretend I don’t have a vagina to not be raped or harassed, because people with vaginas also have the right to walk the streets without fear, as have LGBTQ people and POC. And you simply can’t avoid either, because you aren’t hiding the fact that you are female, and it is that fact which these harassers pick up on and react to, nothing else. Women are harassed whatever they wear, and raped whatever they wear, because they are women, nothing more nothing less. Sour grapes, anyone?Īnd lest anyone starts the whole ‘men like complimenting lovely-looking ladies’ spiel, I don’t dress up walking around town, haven’t been wearing make-up whilst out, and my clothing could hardly have been said to be ‘sexy’. Actually, I was walking with my sister, and I casually said ‘sad git’, which I hadn’t realised he heard (not that I cared, I wasn’t really thinking about him and his feelings), and he gave me the finger…nice. I remember one in particular…I got a wolf whistle from a guy driving a red convertible(!) and I ignored him.

Like, I have no intention of dating anybody that walks up to me on the street and starts trying to get my attention. It’s totally random, and really not a compliment. Nothing too serious but it’s still annoying. I’ll start the ball rolling with a big hands up (and that’s just one of many). And because, unlike the CiF commenters, I actually understand that street harassment is one of those things whose effect can only be measured and understood by the victim, you get to define what it is. I really don’t think I need to waste any time taking down these these charming (for the most part) gentlemens, so instead I thought I’d ask for a quick hands up of anyone who’s experienced street harassment no need to leave a description or anything unless you want to, just a nod to show how depressingly normal street harassment is. (3) But women love it and ask for it – look, they’ve got boobs! (2) Street harassment hardly ever happens and it’s all ironic, harmless fun anyway. (1) When will these bloody misandrist women stop whinging and get the hell off the net? Cath Elliott has written an excellent piece on street harassment over at The Guardian’s Comment is Free, and once again the comments section has filled up with comments from arrogant little pricks whose thoughts on the matter can be summed up in one of three ways:

Take your hands off me you gutter slut