walking

Emma

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I was walking through the park and noticed a figure behind a tree. At first I thought it was a couple making out but soon realised it was a man who was probably urinating or touching himself in public. He saw me and shouted at me. He said, ‘Hey beautiful. Hey sexy. Hey Sharon’. That’s not my name but he just picked a random woman’s name. I ignored him and started to walk a bit faster to get way from him. He then laughed wildly, like a Disney villain laugh, and shouted ‘Are you going to run?’. I was so concerned by him and made to feel vulnerable, but also hugely angry that he knows exactly what he is doing. He knew what he was doing was making me feel unsafe, and yet he finds this funny. It’s not funny. It took away my enjoyment from walking around the park and makes me question every time I want to go for a walk again.

L

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I was walking with my boyfriend and his parents through the city center where we were meeting his extended family for drinks. As we walked past 3 men in the street, one of them reached over and grabbed my bum. My partner or his parents didn’t see as they were just in front of me. I was so shocked I didn’t know what to say or do. I just stared at the man in utter shock. I tried to tell my partner who was just walking ahead but couldn’t get my words out and I didn’t want to make a scene in front his family. It’s amazing that you can’t even feel safe walking down the street in a group with people who care about you. I was utterly shocked and felt totally violated.

Charlotte

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I was about 16, walking home from school. On an extremely busy street, a guy runs over to me, clapping looking at my boobs. Repeating wow well done, he tries to reach out to touch me but I managed to run away. The worst thing about it wasn’t even the fact that he was acting that way, but the passersby, who did nothing to try and stop a large middle aged man harassing a young girl.

Had About Enough

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Dark, wet winter evening. A dash to a nearby food shop between hospital visits (spouse having undergone major surgery, an elderly relative then also admitted to hospital, me with a parent very unwell too!). Walking home, heavy shopping bag in each hand, so tired. A man and woman alongside each other coming towards me on the path, which is only wide enough for one (very muddy on either side). No, they didn’t part to make way and the man found himself face to face with me, (and I was made extra-wide by shopping bags). He stopped dead in his tracks and stared at me! Though he was large and intimidating I didn’t move – to walk round them I’d have to walk in mud! He growled loudly, waited for his companion to make space for him to step to one side, staying on the path, so that he could pass me, sounding an exasperated heavy sigh. A woman, in his path, how appalling! Men are so used to us stepping aside that we are invisible. Until, that is, we don’t step aside. Suddenly they have to accommodate the other half of the population they were blind to. Take time to watch how men negotiate a route on a busy path. Most will move around other men while continuing on a line that would slam directly into a woman – they are so used to US avoiding THEM. Women, please don’t dodge around men, please don’t apologise to them just because you want to occupy as much of the same path as them. Don’t condition your daughters and sons that the space we’re allocated differs by gender. Men, open your eyes to your actions, most of you are behaving appallingly and in many cases you don’t even know it.

The Nameless Newton

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I’m a 13 y/o trans boy. Twice in my life that on my walks, someone in a car yells at me in a masculine and conscending way (probably think i’m an adult woman, I look old for my age) I don’t know what this means, I get that feeling that these people want to rape me. Speaking of my name, I’m fickle and therefore very confused. I’ve had the names Tyler, Fredrik and Niall before, none of which i like. I like the names Evan and William but it’s hard getting accustomed to a name, I’ve chanhed my name a billion times anyway.

Kate

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The condo building next to mine has been under construction for about a year. I have to walk past it with my dog to get to the park right near our home. Every time I walk towards the building I feel myself getting tense and hyper-aware of what I’m wearing or how I look, because almost without fail I get comments, whistles, or long direct stares from the construction workers as I pass with my dog. This happens at least once every day, for the past twelve months. It’s exhausting and it makes me angry. I want to say something, but instead the urge to get out of there as fast as possible without any further interaction prevails. I just want to take my fucking dog for a walk without feeling sexually objectified and vulnerable.

K

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The worst experience of sexism I have ever experienced was last May when 2 friends and I were walking back to our college campus after having gone out to dinner. This car came down a perpendicular alley and had 2 or 3 young men screaming profanity at us, calling us awful names for simply walking down the sidewalk wearing shorts. I was so terrified, I was shaking.

c.b

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A car beeped it’s horn at my friend and I while we were walking home. We’re 14.

Robin

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I recently am reading the book Everyday Sexism. 5 years on, I thought that some things might have changed, but only yesterday I was catcalled walking alone in the afternoon in modest clothing, and my childhood was still influenced by gender roles. I’m a 17 year old girl, but I definitely realise the importance and impact of change.

L

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Coming back from a short walk at lunch, on a residential street, car pulls over, driver says excuse me, so I assume he wants directions and he asks “is there any chance you’d be interested in a toy boy?” I was slightly stunned, muttered “what the f#!&” and walked quickly away. Ducked through back alley and checked I wasn’t followed. I don’t think he was alone in the car.