Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Women Baring their beasts at a fire engine......

295 replies

Hannah4banana · 03/01/2018 15:51

I was nightshift on New Years Eve into new year's day in the city centre tre. I couldn't believe it when a group of drunk ladies decided to flash at the guys in the fire engine I was in. I actually had to lock the cab door as they were trying to climb in when we were stopped at traffic lights.
Why the hell would anyone think that's acceptable in an emergency vehicle.
I was mortified for them!

OP posts:
SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 03/01/2018 17:10

It was a thing in the 80's also. I was amazed by the number of women who when arrested and in the police station would start to strip off, and wave their breasts at policemen. I used to try and stop them, but it made them remarkably angry. I have various theories of why they used to do it, some of them feminist.

justforthisthread101 · 03/01/2018 17:11

I am astounded at the number of people brushing this off. It's harrassment, plain and simple. If men were doing this to say, an all female paramedic crew, MN would be in uproar.

OP, I'm sorry this happened to you and your colleagues, and thank you for what you do. Flowers

Haffiana · 03/01/2018 17:12

This reply has been deleted

Message deleted by MNHQ. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

runwalkrun · 03/01/2018 17:12

These silly women would soon stop with the flashing of their tits if they were prosecuted for indecent exposure.
After all, they will be on the fire engine's webcam, so don't see why not.

I'm sure indecent exposure comes under

Exposing yourself in order to Shock

which is what these women were doing. They were using their bodies to shock and cause embarrassment to people trying to go about their work.

SpongeBobJudgeyPants · 03/01/2018 17:14

Who is the stupid pig @Haffiana Hmm

Thisnamechanger · 03/01/2018 17:15

That's grim!

I am questioning my own behaviour now though as I have been known to smile and wave at a fire engine as it goes past. Not because I fancy them just because I think fire fighters are so brilliant and brave. It something I think my Mum taught me to do when I was a kid.

Now wondering if maybe I shouldn't Blush

Bluntness100 · 03/01/2018 17:15

Clearly it's sexual harassment and unacceptable, there were more than just straight firefighters in that fire engine and the sort of straight fire fighters who liked this kind of thing, if such a person exists, there was the op for one who didn't appreciate it and she says the others didn't either.

fighters are no longer just all "lads" . And as women, really, they should grow the fuck up and get some class.

Fekko · 03/01/2018 17:17

I really would be surprised if the crew were shocked - the things they see as part of their job (and I only hear part of it) would leave you pretty hardened to most things. Maybe they were embarrassed more than anything?

When I've been flashed at I have been angry (and shouty/kicky).

GladAllOver · 03/01/2018 17:17

So much anguish here!
The women showed their breasts. It was wrong, stupid, and clearly upset someone.

But equating breasts with genitalia?
And all the 'what if's'. None of the what if's happened, so why introduce them.

peppapigwouldmakelovelyrashers · 03/01/2018 17:18

These silly women would soon stop with the flashing of their tits if they were prosecuted for indecent exposure

AS long as you realise then that all breastfeeding women could also be charged with indecent exposure?

Are people really so afraid of breasts? Men seeing breasts is now sexual harrassment, is it when women see breasts? Because breasts have been on page 3 of papers, all over tv and films, on topless beaches and a hundered other places for ever. Have we ALL been sexually harrassed?

grasspigeons · 03/01/2018 17:18

runwalkrun - I think exposure only relates to genitals, but I'm not sure

Original poster
Hannah4banana · 03/01/2018 17:19

It's interesting to read the comments as I didn't really consider it sexual harassment at the time... More annoying and embarrassing for the women involved. That this still happens when women are in packs and drunk. The driver has a daughter around the probable same age and he commented on it first. If people get Into the cab they are not covered by Insurance and we also have CCTV so we would be in real trouble and it's not worth my job. I have a sense of humour but I'm also professional in my place of work. If we all laughed and jeered and someone filmed it I can just imagine! Folk have been sacked for less.
It's not the first time Ive had comments made to me but it's generally from men. I just found it uncomfortable watching women degrade themselves, they were absolutely drunk but I suppose that's another issue. It's obviously someone's mother, daughter, sister and I thought that was sad they had no self respect for themselves to do that.

OP posts:
grannytomine · 03/01/2018 17:19

I was amazed by the number of women who when arrested and in the police station would start to strip off, and wave their breasts at policemen. Yes I remember that as well, some dirty, smelly drunk stripping off and offering herself to the Sergeant if he'd let her go. Tough I was already doing the charge sheet. As he said he wouldn't touch it with someone else's. Heaven only knows why they think men are all just dying to see them naked.

NoughtTimesNought · 03/01/2018 17:19

This reply has been deleted

This post references a deleted post. Talk Guidelines.

Fekko · 03/01/2018 17:20

Some people do go a bit silly around firefighters though. I'm amazed it's it covered in training.

DivisionBelle · 03/01/2018 17:21

It is not good behaviour.

But NYE, partying. drinking...I daresay a lot of flashing and mooning goes on.

I hope that not one of those flashing laydeeez dares complain in the workplace if someone puts up a dodgy calendar or makes letchy comments.

And that's the thing: you can't have it both ways.

This sort of shenanigans undermines the fight against the Harvey Weinsteins of the world.

grannytomine · 03/01/2018 17:22

Yes DivisionBelle, I agree it really does undermine the whole issue with the Harvey Weinsteins if we pretend this is OK because men are obviously lying if they object to it.

Jaygee61 · 03/01/2018 17:23

*These silly women would soon stop with the flashing of their tits if they were prosecuted for indecent exposure

AS long as you realise then that all breastfeeding women could also be charged with indecent exposure? *

Can you really not see the difference between flashing and breastfeeding?

Willow2017 · 03/01/2018 17:24

The women were not
So by your definition its ok for you to march into tescos and shove your boobs at the male checkout assistant because its not 'your workplace'.

Why is it ok because the drunken idiots were not at 'thier workplace'? Would it be wrong if they did it to men in thier own workplace?
Whats the difference?

Bluntness100 · 03/01/2018 17:24

AS long as you realise then that all breastfeeding women could also be charged with indecent exposure

Peppa

You need to maybe go and sit down and have a little think if you cannot see the difference. 😔

formerbabe · 03/01/2018 17:24

The argument that men can be victims of sexual harassment is similar to me as the argument that white people can be victims of racism. It may hold true on an individual level but in terms of society and the balance of power, it is actually incomparable.

grannytomine · 03/01/2018 17:26

formerbabe well as we are all individuals can we accept that these fire fighters had a right to be left in peace to get on with their jobs without this harassment?

OnionKnight · 03/01/2018 17:27

peppa I'm still waiting for you to tell m e what constitutes sexual harassment towards a man.

Willow2017 · 03/01/2018 17:28

Feko if the didn't notice a bunch of half naked wonen trying to get into the fire engines cab then they were pretty blind. Especially when waiting for the lights to change at any moment and they had idiots trying to climb into the vehicle.

formerbabe · 03/01/2018 17:28

formerbabe well as we are all individuals can we accept that these fire fighters had a right to be left in peace to get on with their jobs without this harassment?

Of course, everyone has that right. I'm not condoning that behaviour. I'm just saying that the comparisons are not working because of patriarchy and the balance of power in society.