Starting a new school is a scary thing. In the move up to secondary school I was apprehensive about work, friends and the general flurry of teenagehood. What I wasn’t scared of was catcalls, abuse and being sexualised by strangers. At 11 I was unaware of why older men would whistle , admire my ‘nice tits’, threaten me and sometimes follow me home. I didn’t understand why my school uniform didn’t immediately stop the harassment. I didn’t understand why I felt scared walking home alone, even in mid day, I just knew that I was. I didn’t understand why my male teachers may be ‘distracted’ by my bra straps or skirt. Theattitudes towards it were always ‘maybe he thought you were older’ or ‘dont you kindof like the compliment’. No. It made me feel threatened and weak and objectified and this seems to be a standard almost accepted part of growing up. So many Girls take it on the chin as another sign of puberty and so many Women accept it as inevitable.
