I had a whirlwind afternoon of rotten circumstances piling themselves on top of each other, to the point that I had to cease all activity and sit on the steps of some corporate HQ in Midtown to argue with ignorant bureaucrats on my cell phone.
What made it worse? Men. Men I know I’ve never met waving me down or otherwise getting in my face to get my attention. And, I’m just going to say it, men who would never, ever have a shot even if this form of attention-seeking were culturally acceptable.
Also, this was Park Avenue in broad daylight! I was not dressed like a hooker (though I reserve the right to do so and under those circumstances I might understand the fevered attention). I was wearing cargo pants, a sweater, and sunglasses…nothing remarkable here, move along!
When was it ever okay to harass women just for leaving the house on a sunny day? Do not answer that! It’s a rhetorical question. And no one is going to be able to answer it in a manner that convinces me a reasonable explanation for this behavior exists. But I know some will try. Which is why I usually don’t bother complaining. The sense of entitlement that precipitates the crime is almost worse than the act itself.
Just tell me this, please. Because I really want to know. When has harassing (catcalling, yo-baby-ing, one-lining, waving down, maliciously bumping into, aiming at on your bike so as to whisper something dirty to, boxing in, asking out, crowding unnecessarily in the subway car, following into the public bathroom/phone booth, etc.) a woman you do not know ever gotten you anywhere?
