Escalation | Vanessa’s Story
While waiting at Government Center for the subway, a man came up next to me and mumbled something incoherent at me. Since I was uncomfortable, I casually walked a few feet away. When I look back in his direction, he gave me a very nasty smile and flipped me off. I quickly walked FAR away and took the next train even though it wasn’t mine. There were plenty of other people there, but I don’t think anyone said anything to him or noticed. This is the kind of thing people (usually men) who have never been harassed don’t understand: you can do something innocent like ignore someone and remove yourself from an uncomfortable situation, but sometimes that just escalates the situation. It isn’t cool. It isn’t fair. It’s bullshit.
4 Responses
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the advice i can give ya , ignore it .
2. if he persist just ask him polightly to leave you alone.
3. if he do/try anything verbal/physical call or find the nearest safe spot
(police , mbta worker, soldier, by stander to dial 911, a large open area to yell out rape(the reason you scream rape is becus ppl will be more incline to assist
4. take a martial art
5. practice and perform these rules.
no bull shit . i have to admit that i get angry and call the girl a bitch or whore, but i feel bad that girls dont look at it like i do ( coming from work and just wanting relaxation, but i seen it as a bad rejection..we should protect a woman, especially her feelings. we should invest in the big picture.
ichi, thank you for sharing these suggestions! Hollaback!’s concern is in trying to keep situations from getting to a point of needing to rely on martial arts, police or yelling rape. An interaction should not go beyond being ignored or politely rebuffed, and it shouldn’t be the responsibility of women to be trained in self-defense, but rather the responsibility of society to understand the importance of respecting boundaries and taking no for an answer.
–Kate
i am more aware of the women and your commitment to fight a cause for woman..on the contrary ,learning self defense is attractive, and it over coming a challenge, the misconception (social media, or science) women are the “inferiors” , but in world history they have been right there at the heart of the fight..wether physical or mental..it becomes a conflict when women and men have fights..and it is more wrong for people to bully female..