I was on my commute home last summer. I was wearing a dress with thin straps, as it was a really hot day (and even hotter underground!). I got onto the packed carriage at Holborn, squishing myself in and quickly grabbing onto a rail.
As soon as we started to move, a man reached across this CROWDED carriage and grabbed at the strap of my dress. No words from him, just laughter as I turned to him flustered, saying “Excuse me?!” I wish I could’ve thought of something witty or insulting to say back to him (why is it that I can only think of those things AFTER the incident occurs?).
But part of the reason why I didn’t push it was the lack of reaction of those around me. This man’s arm obviously bumped into 3-4 other people as he reached across to pull at my dress, but nobody cared to do anything. They just stared at the floor, the ceiling, their phones. In my head, part of me thought that I shouldn’t start anything because I would just annoy the commuters who just want to get home after their long work day. It makes me angry that I think such a way, that I would rather accommodate everyone by staying quiet and uncomfortable, but there you go.
I like to think that the next time something like this happens, I’ll be braver to speak out. But we’ll see.