I hate my area. I don’t feel safe or comfortable walking down the road I live on, or down the high street to meet a friend for lunch. Today, on a warm summer’s day, I left the house wearing trousers and a vest top. Within a couple of minutes of leaving my house and getting to the main road, I was being stared at by men on the street, beeped at by passing cars, and called sexy by passers by. I immediately regretted wearing a vest top, and wished I’d worn something that didn’t expose as much skin, but why?? I felt that I’d be judged for being a slut for wearing something which would lead to men staring at my breasts, as if it was my fault if this happened. I’d love to just think you know what, I can wear what I want, screw this sexist bullshit!! But those thoughts still linger in the back of my mind and it bothers me that we live in a society where I’m even thinking that, and where I feel uncomfortable and self conscious for wearing what I want as a woman. I hate that women’s bodies are always sexualised, that if you’re not covered from head to toe in clothing, any skin exposed or boobs on show slightly is seen as sexual. Boobs are not objects, women’s bodies are not objects – things like this that happen on a regular basis, whenever I want to go and buy milk or bread or a magazine, remind me of the sexism that exists in society today, and remind me of the power that men still have in society.
