General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: 100 catcalls in a day. Experience how much fun this is NOT. [View all]F4lconF16
(3,747 posts)I agree, but I'm sorry it had to come at your expense
These lessons need to be taught to boys from when they are young. This can't be something you "learn" later in life--we need men to know and understand what respect for women is before they harass someone, before someone else like you has to experience that harassment.
I also think we need to make it very clear to young girls that this behavior is completely wrong and totally unnaceptable. Though clearly the onus is on men to fix this problem, until that happens, we need to provide girls with the tools to "defend" themselves (not the right phrasing, but I'm exhausted today so not going to worry about it). You're lucky that at that age you reacted angrily, that you fought it. Many don't, and being harassed and beaten down by men only reinforces the idea that it's their fault, that the men have a right to do that.
I had a friend call me two nights ago in tears because a guy was being an asshole to her. She felt so strongly that he was entitled to her company that she avoided going to urgent care because she didn't want to be late meeting up with him. It took me over 20 minutes to reassure her that she wasn't doing anything wrong by ignoring him and going to the doctor. She isn't the only friend who's had similar things happen, though. Girls need to know it's okay to have the confidence to tell a man to fuck off. They need to know just as much as men do that no one is entitled to her, ever.