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Hekate

(100,133 posts)

18. We are taught from an early age to never talk to strangers -- because rape

Fri Oct 6, 2017, 09:41 PM

Oct 2017

We are taught to never engage, to keep moving, to ignore the insult and intrusion -- because rape.

You get that? It's always, always there, that subliminal message of assault. The little assault (invasion of personal space in public) that could possibly lead to the purse snatching and/or the big assault.

The culture encourages it, allows it. If I turn and confront, I take the chance that the perp won't stutter and collapse, but instead will escalate.

So this young woman undertook her "study" -- and she gets a lot of assault threats online.

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In case any DUers don't understand why most women HATE to be catcalled, [View all] pnwmom Oct 2017 OP

Good for her. LisaM Oct 2017 #1

Compelling photos. LuckyCharms Oct 2017 #2

Dominance Hekate Oct 2017 #8

The thing is... LuckyCharms Oct 2017 #11

We are taught from an early age to never talk to strangers -- because rape Hekate Oct 2017 #18

I do not encourage engagement with catcalling men. LuckyCharms Oct 2017 #20

Okay, got that Hekate Oct 2017 #21

And this young woman had at least one friend accompanying her, as a witness. pnwmom Oct 2017 #27

I think that is one reason. Another is the men know the woman is out of their league but Dustlawyer Oct 2017 #37

Not to belittle or turn the tables or... ProudLib72 Oct 2017 #3

Happened to me once in my life. LuckyCharms Oct 2017 #4

That's right. They have to walk to work through a gauntlet. n/t pnwmom Oct 2017 #7

I've watched catcalling videos on youtube. LuckyCharms Oct 2017 #9

Then you'll understand how unwelcome it is. And I'm sure you realize it's much more common pnwmom Oct 2017 #5

Yes, and like LuckyCharms said ProudLib72 Oct 2017 #10

As a male I would hope that basic human decency would tell someone that it is wrong. nycbos Oct 2017 #6

As a male, I've never understood catcalling. christx30 Oct 2017 #22

Thanks for your awareness and acting on it positively. n/t pnwmom Oct 2017 #43

It doesn't look as if any of these men learned anything from this. enough Oct 2017 #12

Thank you. raging moderate Oct 2017 #30

She's a brave woman. 50 Shades Of Blue Oct 2017 #13

Powerful message Beringia Oct 2017 #14

"If women on the street said I looked nice, it'd make my day!" WhiskeyGrinder Oct 2017 #15

+1. I was going to post it. Thank you for doing so. . . . nt Bernardo de La Paz Oct 2017 #16

I used to have that happen to me and my friends yuiyoshida Oct 2017 #17

I learned back in college in NYC to walk straight past them BigmanPigman Oct 2017 #19

I have always learned to be nice and deferernt so as not to arouse any anger in the smirkymonkey Oct 2017 #23

Right. Women and girls in that position are vulnerable, whether they know it or not. n/t pnwmom Oct 2017 #24

It doesn't end there Lazy Daisy Oct 2017 #38

Or maybe any kind of job. pnwmom Oct 2017 #40

When I was 9 years old NastyRiffraff Oct 2017 #25

Disgusting! I remember being a 6th grader walking in my suburban neighborhood, pnwmom Oct 2017 #26

Once, at age 13, I had my breast grabbed. raging moderate Oct 2017 #31

Yes! That was sexual assault and of course it was terrifying. pnwmom Oct 2017 #32

Ugh... I feel like I need to shower. procon Oct 2017 #28

I remember one night a friend of mine and I were walking to her Doreen Oct 2017 #29

Your looks have little to do with it really. My mom got propositioned once when she was very... Hekate Oct 2017 #33

I agree. Just like men rape without regard to appearance, they make catcalls. pnwmom Oct 2017 #36

You have a very good point. Doreen Oct 2017 #42

When I was working downtown SF in 74 I used to run quickly pass where the construction workers were kimbutgar Oct 2017 #34

As Jerry Seinfeld noted, it doesnt work. bluepen Oct 2017 #35

Why do these guys smile for selfies? IronLionZion Oct 2017 #39

When they do it with their buddies it's a bonding opportunity. pnwmom Oct 2017 #41

I have never been able to understand such behavior. MineralMan Oct 2017 #44

I was so happy when I turned 40 Chalco Oct 2017 #45

I wonder if it is illegal to turn around and aim a big black pen at them and pretend it is a gun Maraya1969 Oct 2017 #46

This is some ryan_cats Oct 2017 #47

Who's going to beat them? Not the young woman just trying to go where she's going. n/t pnwmom Oct 2017 #48