Mimicking

[wodalingpengwin]

Is it just me, or does anyone else have the extremely irritating experience of saying something in public and then having some idiot of a man imitate them?

For example, yesterday I was simply walking along the pavement with a friend, and saying "yes, yes," in response to what she was saying, and some idiot man called down , "Yes, yes" from some scaffolding we were passing. I've suddenly realised that this happens rarely but regularly to me, I can think of several instances over a period of years now and this rudeness makes me furious.

Either I have an intensely irritating voice that begs to be mocked, or is this another subtle way in which men intimidate women, now that it's becoming increasingly unacceptable to harass them in more obviously sexual ways. Or perhaps now I'm a bit older, this is the way men put older women down, because sexual comments are no longer the appropriate weapon of choice.

[Trills]

I've never had an adult or a stranger do this to me, only my little brother.

[TunipTheVegemal]

I've never had that happen to me but you are spot on, it is another subtle way men can intimidate women.

PLEASE don't think it's you - it is not about your voice, it's about them being arseholes.

You could have a look on the Hollaback website here where women post reports of street harassment incidents, and see if anyone describes anything similar.

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

I've never experienced what you describe or even seen it happen to someone. If it happens regularly, maybe you have a voice that carries?

[HandDivedScallopsrgreat]

I agree Artex. It has happened to me too OP. So there you go Cogito, now you know someone else it has happened to .

It is designed to humiliate and embarrass. It is also about switching your attention on to them. Because obviously you can't walk past them without noticing them. God forbid.

[sonicrainboom]

I've witnessed men imitating the voice of the women their talking to/having an argument with in an belittling way. Like using an over the top whiny high voice to make them see how ridiculous they sound (to the man's ears.)
Fuckers.

[chibi]

this happened to be once

i used my jedi power to defenestrate him

[wodalingpengwin]

Thanks for the replies, folks. Yes, it draws your attention to the man and makes you feel attacked, so it must be to put me down and make him feel more important. Found myself thinking "Should I talk more quietly?", but then the mocking would have the desired effect, wouldn't it? Of shutting me up. So stuff that. Going to try and forget about now. Until the next time...

[MyNameIsNotSusan]

I've had it happen to me, but mainly in response to my accent - which is a strong London one. But yes, it has always been men that have mocked.

[ShirleyO]

I have had this happen to me as well - not by strangers but by men I know - Women don't do it to me though.

[BasilRathbone]

Yes I've had this happen very occasionally.

Always by a man.

Never by a woman.

[BasilRathbone]

And it is because the other forms of street harassment are now not legal and there might be consequences, isn't it? So this is a way they can get the same effect (remind us that we've got no right to go about our lawful business in peace) without risking that we might be cantankerous old bats who will actually call them to account for their deliberate intimidation.

I hadn't even thought about it before.

[Anniegetyourgun]

XH used to do it to me

[NellaLarsen]

Anniegetyourgun An X of mine used to do it too. Hadn't thought about that for years, but he was an abusive, entitled fuckwit, who, on reflection, hated women and had no respect for them.

[wodalingpengwin]

It's good to know I'm not alone, and I'm glad I came here and asked because it's made me feel a bit better about it, but I'm sorry others have experienced this subtle harassment too.