When I was about 10 years old, I would go to an after-school club everyday and wait for my mum to finish work. One day I was sitting down in the crowded play room, and two boys came up behind me. They were around my age. The younger of the two held my arms behind the chair, and the other felt my small breasts over my top. It only lasted a few seconds, but it was forceful and I was speechless. They immediately ran off, and I felt violated. I knew what they had done was wrong, so I told one of the adults who was watching the room. She confronted the boys, and I was asked some questions. I don’t know if they ever told my parents, and I can’t remember if I told them either. I am now 28, and remember it vividly. It strikes me as so unnerving that boys so young picked up that behaviour, and worked together to “feel me up”. I’m glad I reported it then, but when you’re an adult, it’s not so easy to tell on people. I’ve been wolf-whistled at in the streets, had my arse slapped, had the back of my belt tugged when I bent over…but I brushed them all off and called them all perverts in my head. Short of wearing a body camera, I don’t know if I’ll ever feel that reporting this behaviour will result in anything, but I’ll certainly teach my kids, when I have them, that it isn’t ok. Maybe, after reading some of these stories, I’ll find the words to say to the next creep who thinks it’s normal to treat me like that.
