Builders

J

I was out for a run in my local community. As I ran past a group of builders I heard a comment directed towards. I stopped and asked the person what he said. He immediately held his hands up in defence. Another builder spoke for him and said ‘he said good morning’. I replied ‘good morning’. As I was running off another said ‘he fancies you’ and there was a background of jeers. The point is – did they think a woman out running alone wanted to engage with a group of male builders? No, they were showing off in front of eachother at my expense, intimidating and embarrassing me for their entertainment. I always stop and challenge men in these situations and I hope other women will do the same. The fact remains that I was worried about running home the same way.

Anonymous

We had work done to our house a few years ago during which my husband made his own, and changed joint, decisions without communicating with me. I believe decisions that effect both of us should be made together. We are about to have further work carried out. At the initial consultation with the builder (at which my husband was not present) he said he would ask my husband to make the decision about an aspect. I didn’t react verbally but he might have seen me reacting non verbally! I am now anxious that decisions will again be made by my husband without me. It’s bad enough as it is but I am also the one paying for all the work (as I earn quite a bit more) and I paid for the majority of the house too! When I spoke to my husband about my desire to be involved in making decisions he swore at me and is sleeping in the spare room tonight! The only small saving grace is that I don’t have to suffer his snoring tonight.

Sarah

I was walking back home from university one afternoon when I walked past 5 builders working on a house. One of the builders decided to sing ‘sex bomb’ really loudly in my face as I walked past, the other builders thought this was so funny, but it wasn’t. I just ignored them and carried on walking because I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it, but thinking back over the event I really wish I’d said something because he wouldn’t like it if I got in his face and did the same. It annoys the hell out of me when guys think they have the right to act like they do just because I’m female.