When will someone make a gender-swapping plug-in for real life? Where’s my magic button, the switch I can flip to show men like you what it feels like on the other side of your “jokes” and “compliments”? Maybe the first time someone comments on your ass in public you’ll take it as a compliment, but what about the next 12 times? How will you like having a private conversation interrupted so that some dude can get in a lame sexual pun or a rude gesture to impress his friends? What about your personal space? How do you like sharing that with aggressive strangers?
You don’t get it because in your world, this is just you being clever and hilarious, just a little light-hearted late-night banter! Where’s my sense of humor? Dude, you are the third, or fifth, or ninth man this week to be rude to me, to think that what you want—to get a rise from your friends, to make your desire known, to make me uncomfortable, to project some twisted “proof” of your virility into the air—is more important than my comfort or safety. This is not an anomaly. This is constant.
Basically, this is just some sexist bullshit. We don’t expect men to run around grinning like a bunch of fools. When they look mad, we call it “brooding” or “masculine”. Why the hell should women be expected to look happy and open to your sleazy advances all the time? What drives me even crazier is when a guy says something like, “why don’t you put a smile on that beautiful face?” Because I don’t give two shits about looking beautiful right now and I certainly am not concerned with looking attractive for your dumb ass.
Post has 439 notes.
feminism rape culture street harassment patriarchy queue
Via: Splendor in the Grass
TW: Street harassment, rape culture.
This is my hair, these are the shoes you liked. About fifteen minutes ago, you commented on them.
“Hey! I like your hair! I like your shoes! They get me hard!” Your two friends joined in, commenting on them.
Maybe you didn’t notice my “THIS IS WHAT A FEMINIST LOOKS LIKE TOTE BAG”. Maybe you didn’t know that I’m an impulsive person.
So when I turn around and ask you that what would you do if someone told your sister that, talked to your mother like that it’s because I want you to think about that. I want you to realize how when I walk by a group of men I tense up, waiting for the verbal blows that you honestly think are compliments.
I want you to think about how I feel, how small and worthless I feel. How shitty it is to realize that you think I exist to get you hard.
I don’t.
So when I, foolishly, start calling you a dickbag, and you react with shock I have to ask why. Why are you so surprised I’m not going to take this crap from you? It’s not because I’m a really brave person, or even a great feminist. It’s just that I’m so angry at the systems in place that make my anger unacceptable, that make your sexual harassment acceptable.
Post has 69 notes.
the riot, street harassment public space research feminism feminist new york city the riot mag the riot magazine
Via: K. Im. Berlynn.
I am currently seeking participants to take a survey I’ve created as part of my thesis research on the experiences of queer women of color in public and semi-public spaces in NYC. My hope is to help make the current and ever growing conversation around gender-based violence and street harassment a…
This sounds like a fucking AWESOME project, and I’m urging you guys to help her out! Respond to the survey and/or reblog this post, please!
Post has 509 notes.
The Riot’s Great Big Patriarchy-Smashing Activity Book the riot the riot mag the riot magazine smiling feminism street harassment High Quality
Yet another page from “The Riot’s Great Big Patriarchy-Smashing Activity Book!”
Post has 6667 notes.
the riot the riot mag the riot magazine The Riot's Great Big Patriarchy-Smashing Activity Book! catcallers street harassment High Quality
Another page from “The Riot’s Great Big Patriarchy-Smashing Activity Book!” NOW WITH MORE CORRECT SPELLING!
Free to take.
