History of Feminism
Related: About this forumResponses to the Shit Men Say in Defense of Street Harassment
Almost every man we spoke to felt the remarks made to women in the streets were harmless and were an attempt at being neighborly. When we asked whether they were similarly neighborly to other men, their defense fell apart. They pointed out the absurdity of infringing on someones personal space in public in that way. Yet when we pointed out that these gender-based unsolicited remarks are street harassment by definition, they adamantly disagreed. While they were difficult, we realized that each one of these conversations was a step towards a harassment free neighborhood.
http://brooklynmovementcenter.org/post/responses-to-the-shit-men-say-in-defense-of-street-harassment/
niyad
(112,440 posts)geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)Because they know there'd be trouble, potentially big trouble.
My wife gets it walking to/from the subway when I'm not with her. The 75 year old guys with canes or walkers, it's kind of funny to her (and the other women in our building).
The 20-something guys who think it's funny to "step to" women passing by, notsomuch.
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)having to smile at their creepy attempts of sexualizing me to earn my pay, i see nothing cute in them.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)in our neighborhood's case there are overlapping issues of race, class, culture, gentrification etc. In some cases, hello just means hello but is not taken that way. One of the constant complaints about "new people" in our neighborhood is that they don't act friendly, say hello, etc.
We once had someone stand outside our window telling my wife to close the shades. Didn't occur to him how disturbing that might be.
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)which is odd cause i am such an isolationist.
a contradiction my kids laugh about a lot.
i chat with all. and really, it is easy to see where a person is coming from. maybe having experienced it for decades.
but, i hear ya.
redqueen
(115,096 posts)Women are at war in these streets."
This. This is why I can't fucking stand people who defend this, saying men are just being nice, and anyone who complains is being overly sensitive.
redqueen
(115,096 posts)Thank God for the 'real' good men who 'get it'--instead of that tiresome arguing, they're out there being proactive, not sitting behind a keyboard and whining about being picked on.
seabeyond
(110,159 posts)redqueen
(115,096 posts)seabeyond
(110,159 posts)seabeyond
(110,159 posts)rewarded and reassured that talking about women in this manner is simply a compliment, they will continue to be confused.
and dateless. and womanless.
then have a chip on shoulder and say... why????