Sexism at Sixteen (2015)

Last night was nonetheless amazing, but I have to get something off my chest. I don’t care if you don’t like it or disagree, but there’s just something I really disagree with myself. As someone who identifies as female, I last night realised that there is only so much a girl can take. 

See I’m a fairly friendly person - especially after a few drinks - and it’s almost internalised to know not to make the wrong move with any man when you’re out at night; because i’m not saying it’s EVERY man, but it could be ANY man, that could turn around and be dangerously aggressive. The point is I talk to anyone willing to have a nice conversation, or even if it’s a simple high five or selfie. What I don’t expect is to be made ridiculously uncomfortable and borderline sexually assaulted. 

So here it is: Dear men, when I stand closely next to you for a selfie, I don’t expect you to grab my face and stick your tongue down my throat whilst forcefully holding me so that I can’t escape. When we start having a friendly conversation, I don’t expect you to take that as an excuse for you to pull me away from my cousin with your arm around my neck so tight that I can’t move or see her, to be quickly dragged down the street and be told “I’m taking you to a park and I’m going to show you a good time babygirl” with the only escape being to luckily run away as soon as you turn around. When you ask for a simple hug because we were talking and you seemed ‘nice’, I don’t expect you to grope me and grab me in inappropriate places, whilst whispering that you want to take me back to your apartment because alcohol makes you horny. 

Now I’m going to be honest with you, that is only a minuscule number of sexist experiences I’ve encountered. This has always been an issue from when I was just 11 years old and being catcalled down the street, and shouted gross words at by grown men when in my school uniform, to now - and I’m definitely not the only girl that has to endure this. When are men going to realise that it’s not sexy, it’s not in the least bit going to make me like you nor is it going to give you any chance of taking me home; when you have just proved how much of a sex hungry misogynist you are.

It’s so upsetting and frustrating to me that I have to take precautions when going out, and I have to be made uncomfortable and more or less fear any man I come into contact with for the pure fact that I am a GIRL. A sixteen year old girl. And it’s disgusting. Something has to change.