Mary Harrington's Thread: how old at your first sexual approach by a man?

Just reading other posts, I should have added that my experiences were with a man in his early 20s and a man in his early 40s.

l was literally only six or seven, my Mum was useless and allowed me to go out to the nearby park on my own, walking back along a busy road, a car pulled up, the man asked me where the train station was , but whilst he was asking me he kept trying to make me look down towards his lap, he was playing with himself, l remember feeling so utterly shocked and ashamed, he then asked me to get into his car to show him the way to the station, which luckily l didnt. Because l was so young l felt l should do as he said, and l often think about the consequences had l got into that car.
When l got home l felt so upset l curled up under the sideboard, l never told my Mum.
l am in my 50s now but still remember his dark shoulder length hair, beard and sunglasses.

This is so interesting. I'm also not on twitter, don't know if anyone can compile our answers and post them there. I was about 7 years old. And it was not a single event. It was playful and I remember the mix of excitement and fear being very confusing.

Not on twitter but I was 9 and in my Brownie uniform. Started with "look at the legs on that" and went downhill fast. Although as a tall girl growing up on a series of military bases, I'd hope I was an outlier. My dad's squadron took to calling me jailbait and lolita around the same time. Was showing my kids old photos when we helped my mum move in the summer and dc1 (6) stopped at one of me sat on Santa's knee to ask why I looked so miserable. I was 10 or 11 and Santa (one of the pilots) had insisted. He wouldn't let go and kept asking if I been a "good girl". That's when I learnt squirming isn't a good move when someone much bigger/stronger than you is holding you on their lap. It's over 30 years ago but I still remember the smell of his aftershave.

There were loads more incidents and yet the blame always seemed to lie with me. Apparently I'd managed to weaponise my body, hair and smile. Or at least that's what the squadron leader's wife said after her husband was found wrestling with me on my bedroom floor. I was 11 at the time. It happened more than once and no one seemed to care.

I have a daughter now who looks just like me...and I'm terrified for her.

I was 9 and that's the first one I can clearly remember

Probably 13 by an older teenager at a party (maybe 15/16) and I recall being enthusiastically snogged and groped by a far older man - probably well into his twenties at an estimate) in a pub when I was only just 15.

I was underage drinking in a pub (it was the 90s and pre photo ID) and came to no harm but still it really is pretty gross when you think about it. As a mum of little daughters it horrifies me and I am glad now that young girls can't go out drinking in bars and clubs like we used to (although there are other dangers around now that weren't around then!).

That's a disturbing thread.

Disturbing cos they can remember an incident. It does make you what happened before then that just didnt register if that makes sense.

Often I'm completely oblivious to a situation until its at a point where it becomes difficult to get out of it.

I remember my teacher telling me not to talk to a man I would speak to almost daily. I would just ask him about his dogs that were tied up close to my form room.

I dont remember anything dodgy about it. I thought my teacher was being a bit weird tbh

One incident I do remember is from when I was 14/15 . A guy tried to kiss me. He was only 19 but still am adult/child situation. Plus he was an instructor at a school residential I was on

10

12/13 when I was leered at from passing vans on my way to school in my uniform. 14 when I was actually subjected to a clear attempt at initiating sexual activity. I was a very young-looking kid as well. No chance I was "innocently" mistaken for a sixth former (not that I think "I thought she was older m'lud" is ever a believable or acceptable defence for an adult male who has sexually assaulted a child).

Saying that there was also a very creepy neighbour that was always trying some pretext or other to get us into his house. I was maybe 9 when I was tempted in with some books, nothing serious happened, but my hair was standing on end by the time I made my excuses and left.

I was first molested by an adult aged 11 . He was such a creep, I have no idea why my parents let him come around - red flags all over.

I was generally oblivious but I remember being made to feel uncomfortable (undressed with his eyes) when I was 13 and also being felt up by an adult man on a fairground ride when I was 14.
Had a boy grab my (not very ample) boobs when I was 13.

Not on twitter but I think I was 13. I definitely remember men in their 40s or 50s leering at me out of their car or van windows as I stood waiting for the school bus when I was 12 or 13. So grim. I'm early 30s and the idea of being attracted to a boy 20 years younger revolts and bewilders me at the same time.