Anon

Ever since I was a young girl, my parents told me not to go out on my own because someone could steal me or a man could rape me.

When I hankered after sweets and comics and asked if I could go to the corner shop on my own to spend my pocket money, I was told no because I could get run over by a car or kidnapped then raped by a male stranger.

If I went out shopping anywhere, it was with my family, some of whom were disabled so shopping trips took hours. I had to constantly be supervised for “safety reasons”. I felt sad because lots of school children, especially the boys were allowed to go to the corner shop on their own to buy toys, sweets and comics.

I envy young children in Japan who are sent on shopping errands by their parents and walk to school without their parents. In my country, kids get ferried about to school, other kids’ houses and sports activities by car, adding to the pollution. It’s so isolating. At least the kids in Japan learn to be streetwise and how to calculate shop change at a young age. Also they learn responsibility as they chat to their friends and wave to adults when on their way to school. Walking is fantastic exercise too! It isn’t perfect and there are dangers in that country, but at least kids there get to learn to look out for each other.

In my country, every adult, especially men are viewed as guilty until proven innocent. Anyone could potentially be an awful stranger who kidnaps and rapes girls.

I feel as though my growth and development has been stunted. Now I am a woman I feel terrified whenever I go out on my own or to the shops because I am worried that a man will attack, mug and rape me.

This is why I don’t go out much. I was never invited out much on nights out with other young people anyway. They probably thought I was timid and weird.

I have led a miserable life like a caged animal, terrified that my life will be ruined by a man.

I have hardly any friends and no one cares about this at all. I feel sad, lonely and lied to.

So many people said that I had my “whole life ahead” of me and that I’d gave a fun life as a young person. Their platitudes were so patronisingly wrong!

I have been laughed at for looking and acting nervous in public, constantly checking around for any attackers.

I have been shoved out of the way by a man in public while trying to help a disabled relative across a level crossing.

I have been catcalled in the street when walking or on my bike.

I have had men try and grope me without my permission.

I have had a miserable life of captivity because I am terrified that I might be assaulted or harassed by a man. I feel like my youth has been cruelly stolen from me. It was no fun at all growing up. I felt like I was being raised in prison.

I feel justifiably depressed because of my lack of freedom and social captivity, not because of a supposed “chemical imbalance” in my brain.