Why are there so many creeps about?

[HerRoyalRisesAgain]

Had an old man grab my boob this morning.

On my way to and from the school with the kids I walk through a lovely old victorian cemetery. It's a nice, peaceful walk.

Walking back from taking the kids to school, an old man says hello, so I was polite and said hello back. He then he stuck his hand out and grabbed my boob!

I don't know what he expected but I punched him in the jaw. I panicked and didn't know what else to do! I have various disabilities, one being ehlers danlos syndrome so I knocked my knuckles out of place, and I've got a lovely bruise forming, but so does he.

But what the fuck?! Why go around grabbing womens boobs?! I think as its clear I'm disabled (I use a rollator to walk with) he thought I was easy prey.

This isn't the first time I've encountered a creep this year. There was also a flasher in my local area who flashed at me and my 12 year old son. (He was caught after being caught on cctv)

Not to mention the stories you hear of women being followed and the rapes which occur.

Why are so many men creeps?

Oh OP I'm so sorry that happened to you, thats awful. What a horrible man! As for why are there so many creeps, I don't know but its definitely been worse over lockdown. I've stopped going for walks on my own as I just cannot be bothered to deal with the constant harassment. In the last few months I've had a man follow through the streets whilst I asked him to leave me alone and then tried to drag me into a garden. Then another man who followed me asking me for my number and when I refused spat at me.

Its absolutely constant at the moment. My friends and I have discussed how uncomfortable it is being out and about as a woman at the moment. Men stare and harass you constantly. I'm not sure whether its because they can't go to clubs to attempt to pick up women but at the moment the outside feels like a shark tank, its horrible!

Sorry I know thats no help, but I agree they are some vile creeps around atm.

It does seem to have gotten worse over lockdown, you're right. It's terrifying to be a woman in this world sometimes.

Its so infuriating particularly in this lovely weather. I just want to wear the shorts I want to and sunbathe in a park with my book, but I've given up trying as a female alone is apparently a bat signal for every loser in the nearby vicinity.

I don't know what the answer is. I used to always call men out, but a.) Its exhausting and boring and b.) Too many have then behaved with violence towards me so I'm saving my energy. Its depressing though.

Well done for punching him though OP!!!!!! Hopefully he'll think twice before assaulting a woman again. I bet you were shaken though, I'm sorry you had to go through that.

Well done for punching him - not a fan of violence whatsoever but I’m also not a fan of molesters.

I had a similar thing happen to me at a bus station a few years ago and I tried to push him off and he punched me and continued as I fought him off; I was terrified.

Then when I was getting on the bus a couple of mins later and he’d lurched away (drunk) suddenly several male bystanders came over and apologised for not helping as it unfolded

Sorry you went through this op it’s really shocking thing to randomly happen. Can you report him?

Well done for punching the creepy cunt.

I honestly don't know what came over me. It was fight or flight and my initial reaction was fight! I guess I'm just lucky he didn't hit me back.
I'm very shaken and also angry. Why do men think this behaviour is ok?

Will done on punching him, hope you've got an ice pack for your knuckles, that sounds sore!

Oh, that's a horrible thing to have happened. I'm very impressed by your presence of mind to have whacked him back. He definitely got what he deserved.

Do you think you would report it to the police?

I've had ice on my knuckles. They're nicely purple now, and I had to take my tings off as my fingers were swelling.
I just hope he's had enough of a shock not to do it to anyone else.

Good on you for punching him, you're my absolute hero. I truly wish I had the bravery to do this.

I feel like in the last few years or so it has gotten SO much worse. I have no idea why, but I'm even worried about going for a stroll in the middle of the day by myself.
I get yelled at by men of all ages and it's terrifying. If you don't smile or respond you get screamed at for being a snob or thinking you're too good etc

Going out for drinks is almost out of the question now. I've literally had men shove their hands up my dress to try and get into my underwear.

Don't think it's just lockdown. Someone grabbed my crotch at Notting hill carnival a few years ago on front of my partner. I was also about 10 weeks pregnant. Maybe lockdown is forcing it out of guys more but some guys have always been creeps. Hope you're ok OP and well done for punching him!

Ugh. Men are such sleaze bags. Why on earth am I attracted to them? 😂

This happened to my mum on a bus, good luck reporting him though, even though buses have cctv and my mum reported it the police never bothered and she was asked if she done anything to make him want to do it

Dirty barsted. I hope he is in agony right now. Your my hero too. If I punched someone he would loose a great deal of skin as I have a massive diamond on my right hand.

Not this myself but my plan would be to scream the place down. I have a very loud scream

Well done! I bet he got the shock of his life, especially as you're disabled - which is no doubt why he saw you as easy prey.
You should be proud!

CandyFIosss that's awful.

Being a woman is so shit.

I'm very sorry that you had to go through this and also sorry about your hand injury. What a bastard! Good on you for defending yourself like that!

I must admit that I would have been terrified and it wouldn't have occured to me to punch him. However, if it happens to me (again), I will remember you and remind myself that I can fight back! You are inspiring me!

I generally don't leave my home without my DH very much at the moment because I'm a bit of a nervous wreck right now (something that I am working on). I am oblivious to men's leers for the most part, but I do get catcalled a lot - and this is with my DH by my side! Thankfully, I haven't been inappropriately touched in many years.

Hope your injury goes away soon and that you are not mentally scarred by the experience. I also hope that nasty piece of work will think twice before touching anyone else inappropriately!

I'm so sorry that happened. But I'm glad you punched him. Hopefully that will be some sort of lesson.

You have a good panic response there - mine would be to freeze up, and then wish I had punched him later. I (and the other women who he will now think twice about before assaulting) salute you!

I’m sorry this happened to you💐

An old man grabbed my long French plait and said “ your husband must love this”

I was shocked and could only say “ Please leave me alone”

He then got pissy with me and said “ what? It’s a compliment”

@Wrotten

Well done for punching the creepy cunt.

Nailed it!

@HerRoyalRisesAgain

Ugh. Men are such sleaze bags. Why on earth am I attracted to them? 😂

I think some big evidence to prove that sexuality isn't a choice is that I am unfortunately still attracted to men...

You have a good 'fight' reflex, I have freeze and flight so I am rubbish in similar situations. Would you consider going to the police? He assaulted someone who is clearly disabled, next time it might be someone who can't fight back like you did.

Hope your knuckles feel better soon!

Well done for punching him, hopefully that’ll make him think twice before doing that again.

When that happened to me I froze, and I’m so glad that I did. I’d walked my older son to school and was walking back home with my toddler who was in his buggy. We stopped at a crossing on a very busy road and a man came up behind me, reached over my shoulder and grabbed my boob before running off.

I dread to think what would’ve happened had my instinct been to run rather than stand there in shock, I’d have run out into the traffic.

I used to get a bus home from work and there was a man who often got on the same one and he’d sit behind women and slide his fingers in the horizontal gap between the seat part you sit on and the back rest (this is around 30 years ago so I’m not sure if bus seats are designed the same now) so that he could touch the backside of whoever was in front of him. I remember reading in the paper that he’d been reported and caught.

You're my hero too OP! Same thing happened to me when I was 20. My boss called the police. He had done it to many girls just because he fancied them. Yuk! I didn't have to go to court as there were so many incidents. I hope your hand gets better quickly. My DD has EDS.