NO MATTER how strong and tough a woman can be, I still believe there is always that little girl inside of us whose greatest fear is to be disrespected and harassed.
Several drastic incidents I have heard from friends and personally experienced made me want to put on this superwoman cape and be Little Miss Vigilant; patrolling the streets and brutally castrating these shameless retards who crowd public spaces. But who am I kidding? What could my defenses be against the supposed more superior sex, at least in reference to physical capabilities.
Street harassment, either verbal of physical, is shockingly commonplace. Middle Eastern countries specifically have been battling and campaigning against sexual harassment as such cases are reaching epidemic proportions. So rampant are the incidents that for a lot of women, they haplessly accept it as a daily fact of life.
Several drastic incidents I have heard from friends and personally experienced made me want to put on this superwoman cape and be Little Miss Vigilant; patrolling the streets and brutally castrating these shameless retards who crowd public spaces. But who am I kidding? What could my defenses be against the supposed more superior sex, at least in reference to physical capabilities.
Street harassment, either verbal of physical, is shockingly commonplace. Middle Eastern countries specifically have been battling and campaigning against sexual harassment as such cases are reaching epidemic proportions. So rampant are the incidents that for a lot of women, they haplessly accept it as a daily fact of life.
For someone who has come from a relatively sheltered environment where cat calls and whistles are considered the worst kind of disgracing a female in a public place, you get yourself caught off guard when far more daring attempts are done to you. It is really tragic that those stories are not exaggerated after all.
What’s more upsetting is even though a woman is the victim, she still gets to be blamed. They impute the way a woman dresses or carries herself as the reason for such untoward behavior from these lascivious males. But dressing conservatively is no longer a protection; acting in ways as not to attract attention does not guarantee inconspicuousness. Invisibility seems to be the only way to be safe from perverts who would take every opportunity to cuss, physically harass, or sexually assault you.
Can these lewd actions root from the nature of society that most Islamic countries have? Sociologists claim that male patriarchal culture finds it demeaning to see women at par or even higher than men. So as a defense mechanism to revert back to the olden ways where a woman’s status is not as elevated as that of a man’s, they ‘shock’ and force women back to the homes. Harass them, make them scared and not consider the option of being working professionals. Primitive.
Consider these male uncouth behaviors as offshoots of increasing Islamic conservatism, or religious fundamentalism. But then again, these men could just be plain horny asses who instantaneously respond to even the slightest sight of bare skin. Carnal.
Concerned groups and individuals are non-stop in their advocacies to combat the stigma, using all possible media and strategy to campaign against this pressing disgrace that continue to plague women, to put an end to this. Every woman would want that. Even a lot of men who care about their wives, daughters and sisters would love that as well. Being more vigilant is not enough. Being more heedful to sinister-looking males who might have the intentions to do something untoward does not mean one would be safe from obscenities hurled at you. Wrapping yourself in the most conservative clothes does not barricade you from that ultrafast hand that would suddenly grab your ass.
I never thought that to walk around and feel safe could be such a privilege and luxury.
I really wish I had that superwoman cape.
What’s more upsetting is even though a woman is the victim, she still gets to be blamed. They impute the way a woman dresses or carries herself as the reason for such untoward behavior from these lascivious males. But dressing conservatively is no longer a protection; acting in ways as not to attract attention does not guarantee inconspicuousness. Invisibility seems to be the only way to be safe from perverts who would take every opportunity to cuss, physically harass, or sexually assault you.
Can these lewd actions root from the nature of society that most Islamic countries have? Sociologists claim that male patriarchal culture finds it demeaning to see women at par or even higher than men. So as a defense mechanism to revert back to the olden ways where a woman’s status is not as elevated as that of a man’s, they ‘shock’ and force women back to the homes. Harass them, make them scared and not consider the option of being working professionals. Primitive.
Consider these male uncouth behaviors as offshoots of increasing Islamic conservatism, or religious fundamentalism. But then again, these men could just be plain horny asses who instantaneously respond to even the slightest sight of bare skin. Carnal.
Concerned groups and individuals are non-stop in their advocacies to combat the stigma, using all possible media and strategy to campaign against this pressing disgrace that continue to plague women, to put an end to this. Every woman would want that. Even a lot of men who care about their wives, daughters and sisters would love that as well. Being more vigilant is not enough. Being more heedful to sinister-looking males who might have the intentions to do something untoward does not mean one would be safe from obscenities hurled at you. Wrapping yourself in the most conservative clothes does not barricade you from that ultrafast hand that would suddenly grab your ass.
I never thought that to walk around and feel safe could be such a privilege and luxury.
I really wish I had that superwoman cape.