From 10 years old onwards I’ve experienced constant sexual harassment in my life. An early example was of walking home with a friend and a group of older teenage boys whistling and laughing at us as we approached their group and as we walked by two of them exposed themselves and both had erections. We ran home shocked. We didn’t know what it was all about to be honest, didn’t have the words to tell our parents, but instinctively knew to get away. I developed breasts early and it drove the boys in school crazy. Constant comments and groping. One time a few boys from school called to my home (I was about 12 and my parents were at work) and when I answered the door one of them grabbed my breasts then threw money at me? They all ran away giggling and laughing. As a young woman I am unable to count the amount of times men would whistle at me, rub themselves against me in busy clubs or bars, grab my breasts, grab my genitals and try to kiss me (which is the most stomach churning sometimes). In my working life if I was in any way nice to a male colleague they’d think I wanted a sexual relationship, even though at this stage I was married with a child, they’d make advances at work gatherings or comment on how I looked “really great” in this or that or say inappropriate things about how it was a pity I was “already spoken for”. Let’s not even mention the staring because life is too short. As a 40yr old I felt the harassment has eased, I guess I’m not as desirable anymore, which further compounds the fact that in many men’s eyes my worth isn’t much more than their sexual satisfaction. Or so I thought. Maybe the pandemic meant less exposure to men because post lockdowns I’ve noticed the stares here and there, the attempts to get into my personal space and touch me (not breasts, I’m not that green anymore) and recently a friends partner has called to my home with spurious reasons, hugged me (it’s that passive aggressive shit, if I say no to a hug am I the bitch for misinterpreting his intent) and commenting on how well I look. As I type all of this I wonder why it is I’ve never reported any of it, officially or otherwise. I guess I’ve felt it’s part of being female – warding off male attention, but in a way that doesn’t result in you being labeled a bitch or in some way making the man aggressive. I’m drained after sharing this.