(crossposted from tumblr)

This is an article--and a LONG, LONG comments section--about women and girls' experiences with being harassed on the street. Catcalls, jeers, being touched inappropriately, being intimidated, everything like that. It's a really intense read and the page goes on for miles.

When I was reading it, my thought process went like this: "Wow, I'm glad I've never been harassed! Well, except for that one time. And that time. And that time. And that time..." Every time I've ever been harassed came flooding back and I wanted to make a post about it. I don't talk about this stuff very often to anyone and I think it's important to remind people that THIS SHIT HAPPENS TO PEOPLE EVERYWHERE, EVERY DAY, FOR ANY REASON OR NO REASON AT ALL. 

• When I was around 16, I was continually harassed by this older guy who hung out near the pool in my neighborhood. I was trying to get in shape, so I would walk there and back in the afternoons. He would follow me, trying to talk to me, ignoring how uncomfortable I was until I finally just ran from him. It happened so often and made me so scared that my dad bought me some pepper spray afterwards. Thankfully, I've never had to use it.


• People will STILL yell shit at me from cars for no reason. I don't know why or what they are even saying, but it's aggravating as hell. I don't like walking around in my neighborhood alone even though I've lived here for over a decade. I get nervous going to the fucking mailbox.


• An incredibly relevant, related story: when I was 13, I went to an anime convention dressed as a character from Bust-a-Groove 2. I met a guy who was dressed as another character from the same game and we walked around the convention together for the day. At the end of it, he kissed me. Like, out of nowhere. I was really surprised and unnerved, and he spent the next few days calling my house CONSTANTLY. My dad eventually had to make up a lie about how boys weren't allowed to call my house before he stopped. The kicker: this guy is still obsessed with me and another friend of mine, to this day, and is convinced we have some vendetta against him when we don't give a single fuck.


• I got a lot of shit at school as well, predictably. Some of my former middle school friends called me a dyke on the first day of high school, and I remember some guys in PE talking about how one of them wanted to "eat me out." 

An important point: I'm pretty heavyset, always have been, and for a long time I didn't consider myself attractive in any way (although I'm mostly happy with my appearance now). IT DOESN'T MATTER. Getting harassed doesn't necessarily mean they think you're attractive, and not getting harassed doesn't mean that you're ugly. The fact that this is a common reaction, no matter how brief, on behalf of a lot of girls (certainly it crossed my friend's mind when I told her about this, and I told her that looks have nothing to do with it), is fucking vile and really really telling about the prevalence of harassment and entitlement in our society. 

• Ship stuff from my shop
• Copy stuff for my manga class
• Do laundry
• Visit that place I am going to visit with my family for the wedding