Finally!

Link: HOLLABACK!

I just read about a movement spreading from country to country. Its called Hollaback! Women are asking for consequences and asking one another to speak up to end street harassment. A movement to end all leering and catcalls.

I am so thankful for even the idea of this as a woman who has had some pretty traumatic experiences that just get laughed off or chalked up to "a bad day." For instance, over Winter Break, I went to the city where my mom works to visit her office and the doctor's she works with. While waiting for her to wrap up her day, I decided to check out the public library across the street. I noticed a man, presumably homeless, who kept wandering over to the section I was at. The fourth time I saw him out of the corner of my eye, I knew he wasn't lost. As soon as he was out of sight, I gather my things (and myself) and darted off into the bookshelves in search of a less-secluded place.

He found and followed me. I sat in the women's restroom for an hour asking myself, if I tell someone, will I have to fill out a police report? Is that vain? Maybe he wasn't following me? Would I have to go to court? Does he have daughters?

Finally I call my mom, begging her to hurry up. Only "15 more minutes! Go check out the art in the gift shop!" As soon as I left the restroom, my shoulder brushed past someone. It was that man again, and he was close enough to whisper in my ear. I hardly remember what he said because I was terrified and caught off guard.

So I rounded the corner into the gift shop and tried to carry on a conversation with the very unfriendly librarian who knew I wasn't going to buy anything.

I knew I was upset about the incident then, but writing it out in response to this movement made me realize not only was it "shitty" as I told my mother, it should not be ok. I shouldn't have to shrug that off and accept it because I'm a woman.

Definitely time to Hollaback!