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Original poster

Have you ever been harassed on public transport in London because of your gender identity?

65 replies

MsTiggywinkletoyou · 05/03/2019 21:22

I came across this survey, by a "male to female transgender design student", "conducting research into gender non conformity on public transport in London". No date, but the Survey Monkey link is still live. "My research group and I would really appreciate it if you could share your experiences with us." Nowhere does it define "gender identity" or ask what your [i.e. whoever will be filling it in] gender identity is. Pretty piss-poor research design if you ask me, which clearly they didn't. It struck me, however, that I have indeed been harassed on buses and the Tube because I am a woman, and other people correctly identify this. I have also had the temerity to flaunt my gender non-conformity, by getting onto public transport with short hair and no make-up. Four quick questions here: www.surveymonkey.com/r/5VWH5H2

OP posts:
AncientLights · 05/03/2019 22:03

I did the survey to piss them off with my 'female sex' more than for anything else. So badly designed, what use will it be?

Moralitym1n1 · 05/03/2019 22:03

Have been harassed elsewhere (US) in train station though due to being a young woman.

Moralitym1n1 · 05/03/2019 22:02
  • high visibility work-wear
Moralitym1n1 · 05/03/2019 22:01

Haven't been harassed but witnessed harassment - by drunk/high Rastafarian (or should I say dreadlocked cause presumably a true Rastafarian would be too peace and love to harass someone) of a nice looking girl, he was backing her into a corner (we were all standing) and making kissy lips towards her, can't remember what he said.

Another passenger (maybe train line technician, wearing high visibility work intervened.

FermatsTheorem · 05/03/2019 22:00

I can absolutely believe that some people suffer genuine transphobic attacks due to being non-passing trans, and this is terrible. (There's a transwoman I see on the bus who clearly does not pass, and is disabled as well, and I dread to think the amount of harrassment they get). Any sort of harrassment for being "visibly different", be it disablist, racist, transphobic, homophobic, is absolutely fucking appalling.

But yes to PP's experiences - I have spent my life from puberty onwards facing harrassment and the ever-present threat of sexual assault because of my sex. Starting from the day a guy groped me on the escalator while I was on a school trip.

Melanippe · 05/03/2019 21:55

I used to commute using public transport every day (not in London). On a crowded train I can pretty much say that there was a 'wandering' hand almost every day. 1 hand up my skirt. Several 'brushes past my boobs. None because of the way I identified, because I mostly identified as fucked off with having to be on the same train as these assholes.

BoreOfWhabylon · 05/03/2019 21:52

No, but I've been harassed on public transport all over the world because of my sex

Katvonfelttipeyebrows · 05/03/2019 21:51

On the tube
Harassed to the point of being uncomfortable / concerned for my safety: lost count, probably around 10/15 times
Groped: 1 time
Followed off the tube: 3 times (1 ending in the grope)
Incidents when pregnant: 2 times (nice that eh?)

Given I don't commute much by public transport anymore, it's pretty shit.

I'm not very stereotypically feminine at all, if that's what gender identity means.

I was harassed because of my biological sex.

I laughed at their last question... about whether it makes you alter your plans / travel times etc. Oh no! Biological women never have to concern themselves with that. We just waltz around whenever and wherever we like. Angry

stillathing · 05/03/2019 21:47

I would have made a sarky comment about the students most likely being male and clueless about how much harassment and worse is experienced by women on a dai
y basis. But these days the students are just as likely to be female and suffering extreme cognitive dissonance.

GahWhatever · 05/03/2019 21:45

I've been harasses on public transport because of my gender. The fact it aligns with my sex is neither here nor there.
I was harassed because I presented as female.

I got into a discussion with a TW on a friend's FB page recently about harassment: she said that the first time it happened to her she thought it was transphobia and that she was going to 'get her head kicked in' but a woman friend and explained that those who 'present as women' whether trans or not deal with this shit every damn day. It was an eye opener I think.

stillathing · 05/03/2019 21:43

Yes. Lots. My experience of harassment and crime at the hands of men has been that my clothing & hairstyle choices have had very little effect. Most humans are able to accurately sex other humans most of the time.

greenelephantscarf · 05/03/2019 21:37

no, but I have been harrassed on the tube because of my sex.
have reported it to transport police, as should anyone who is a victimof crime on tube or other public transport.

OVAgroundWOMBlingfree · 05/03/2019 21:36

I’ve been harassed on public transport a number of times purely because the men were able to observe I am a woman.

VickyEadie · 05/03/2019 21:33

I was harassed quite a number of times because of my sex on London transport when I lived in London. Blokes think they can say anything they like to women and could get rather unpleasant if I didn't respond as they wanted me to.

Singlenotsingle · 05/03/2019 21:26

It doesn't really make any sense does it? Done purely to waste your time.

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