Teenage

Anon

When I was 17 at a school party a boy blatantly sexually assaulted me by coming up behind me when I was sitting down and grabbing me and kissing me after I had already made it clear to him, I wasn’t interested. There were over 100 people there that night, and only one girl asked if I was ok (thank you E!). I called him out about it when in class the next week because he was claiming I was a ‘slag’ who was all over him – which was completely untrue, I was scared and embarrassed and went along with it in the moment because I had no idea what to do – 17-year-old me was too embarrassed to push him off me. I lost many friends because of this, they all thought I was a crazy feminist bitch. Even though he had a terrible history with being a creep when drunk (he assaulted 3 other people that night alone) almost no one apart from my very close girlfriends understood how his behaviour was wrong. I am now in my 20s and can finally understand and admit to myself that what he did was assault, and it’s ok to feel angry and grossed out by it. For years I felt guilty for getting angry at him and feeling like I was making a mountain out of a molehill. Fuck you Ben. We need more Es in the world.

Anon

When I was 17 at a school party a boy blatantly sexually assaulted me by coming up behind me when I was sitting down and grabbing me and kissing me after I had already made it clear to him, I wasn’t interested. There were over 100 people there that night, and only one girl asked if I was ok (thank you E!). I called him out about it when in class the next week because he was claiming I was a ‘slag’ who was all over him – which was completely untrue, I was scared and embarrassed and went along with it in the moment because I had no idea what to do – 17-year-old me was too embarrassed to push him off me. I lost many friends because of this, they all thought I was a crazy feminist bitch. Even though he had a terrible history with being a creep when drunk (he assaulted 3 other people that night alone) almost no one apart from my very close girlfriends understood how his behaviour was wrong. I am now in my 20s and can finally understand and admit to myself that what he did was assault, and it’s ok to feel angry and grossed out by it. For years I felt guilty for getting angry at him and feeling like I was making a mountain out of a molehill. Fuck you Ben. We need more Es in the world.

Eloise

When I was 16 or 17 I was walking late at night between North Finchley and Whetstone in north London. I shouldn’t have been out that late but my parents let me do what I want and never knew where I was. A car started tailing me. It would get really close then drive off, then come back. I couldn’t see inside and didn’t want to turn around too much as I didn’t want it to look as though I was scared, but I really was. I still think about it now, and how vulnerable I was. It went away and came back three or four times. I started running till I reached a petrol station in Whetstone. I went in and told them what was happening. They said I should wait in there with them. I waited till the night bus came then went and got on that. The whole thing was petrifying.

Hannah

I was 17 and found myself dancing with a strange older man that I didn’t really want to be dancing with but I didn’t want to be rude and walk away. I was very young… He grabbed my hand and forced it onto his crotch. He said something along the lines of “stop pretending to be shy, I know you want to”. I threw my hands up into the air, gave him a disgusted, horrified look and ran off to find my friend. This was 15 years ago and I have still never told anybody.

sahra

I was sitting in the tram home from University when I heard a couple behind me Fighting. He said “what do you say slut” and she cried, I immediately turned around and they were about 15 years old. Again he said slut and touched her legs and she tried to push him away. I walked to them and I asked if she needs help, when he respond to me:” you can leave, shes my girlfriend” I said “and you call her a slut?!?!. he respond: “yea I can call her that way because she screwed another guy” I was so Angry and said with loud and direct voice “no you are never alowwed to call her or anybody else that!” then he said “fuck off bitch” but I stayed and the Girl stood up nd went next to me to leave together, he tried to grabb her but I was Standing between them and I took her to the frnt of the tram. We sat down and she was crying so much and said that is my boyfriend. I was shocked nd began Talking to her that i can call the Police but she said to me no. She was also a Little bit drunk and said that her “boyfriend” punched her outside at the tram Station in the face. I wanted to cry with her.. I said you can report him and we can do it together but she said to me that she loves him and that ist her fault that everything of this happened because she slept with another guy. She said if she wouldnt have been so stupid he wouldnt have punched her. After a Long monologue of mine why it isnt her fault and People making mistakes is normal, and that ist never okay to get beaten, punched, insulted or anything! I wanted to bring her home, but her mom wanted to kick her out if she ever gets drunk at home again. then in a conversation with her I knew her mom was beating her too. I asked her if the youth welfare Office know About it (Institution in germany for Children and Teens with “problematic” parents). and they did know About it, but the women who is soppsed to help her wasnt available. She had no Money and I brought her into a safe hostel and gave her some Food. I tried to convince her to see how her boyfriend is going to drag her down. I gave her my number in case she wants to report him. And one women in the tram tried t help us, the rest was Looking away. My heart was broken to see a Young teenage Girl who thought it was all her fault.

Miranda

Walking with group of female friends to lunch in Bristol last Sunday. Sunny day, pleasant walk. Waiting to cross a road, suddenly several of us were drenched in cold liquid – which had been aimed squarely at us from a passing car, we assume by teenage boys. The car accelerated away as we exclaimed in surprise and anger. Luckily (?) it was nothing worse than Coke. They just wanted to hear us shriek. We spent a good few minutes cleaning off the sticky stuff from our coats, bags and faces. What a horrible experience, and what idiots to think that’s a good way to deal with a group of beautiful, strong women.

Kath

WHY can’t I relax on a night out with friends and dance without having to worry about the attention that I may be attracting from men? I don’t want your attention. I am not ‘trying’ to make you look at my bum. I do not want you to look at or touch my body. I am trying to have a good time with my friends.