I don't really know where else to put this but here goes...
About 2 weeks ago I got an afternoon commuter tube, everyone was packed in tightly together. I was squeezed into a corner facing out of the door. A few stops into my journey I noticed that the man behind me was moving side to side a bit behind me, while wedged up against me. His breathing was quite heavy and he seemed to get bolder as the journey continued, I moved away as much as I could and he moved with me. I'm certain he was rubbing himself up on me. At one of the next stations I had enough room to turn round so I faced him with my bag in front of me so he couldn't put his body against me any more. I stayed quite calm and quiet and didn't say anything. I got off at my stop and went to my friend's like nothing had happened.
I blanked it from my mind that evening and enjoyed my friend's party, but over the last few days it's come back to the front of my mind and I can't stop replaying it. I feel upset and dirty. I'm normally quite bolshy assertive and confident (I'm starting barrister training this month) and am kicking myself for not saying anything. If anyone had asked me before this happened what I'd do in that kind of situation I would have thought I'd have said something loudly for the carriage to hear. My legal brain knows it's illegal to do that to me and if one of my friends told me the same had happened to her I would support her if she wanted to report it, but I just don't see that I will tell anyone. I don't even remember the man's face properly. And I feel like I shouldn't really be thinking about it this much, it's not the worst thing that could happen.
So as well as thinking about it continually, I'm also wondering why no-one else said anything. Although one woman at the other door did keep catching my eye I don't know if that was related or not.
I also feel guilty as I haven't told DP. I usually tell him everything and he is an incredibly kind and caring man who I trust absolutely so I don't know what's holding me back.
I dont really know what I'm asking here, sorry the post is so long and descriptive, just typing what I think. Has anyone had something similar happen? What did you do afterward? PM me if you don't want to broadcast it. I'm just not really sure where I go from here.
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noncuro · 15/09/2011 14:41
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