Street Harassment

[Gallstoned]

AIBU to think the vast majority of teenage girls have encountered some form of minor (or major) street harassment whilst they are still at school.

I talking about on a train or walking down the street, unwanted staring, comments, unwanted attention from adult men.

I definitely did, as have my DD's.

Is this unusual or very common.

YABU - Neither me or any of my friends encountered unwanted attention from men when we were still at school (under 18)

YANBU- I have or my friends encountered unwanted attention from men whilst we were under the age of 18.

It so dreadful that we are conditioned to believe that street harassment is complimentary.

It is simply dependent upon being female, looking vulnerable and being unfortunate enough to be in the vicinity of misogynistic men.

I don't remember it happening to me but it has certainly happened to my DD in school uniform and in non school clothes.

I don't know anyone who hasn't experienced it. Why do they do it? Well back in the day when it happened to me (80s) it was socially acceptable to sexualise school girls. The 'sexy school girl' - St Trinians, The Sun showing topless 16 year olds wearing school ties, adult women dressing as school girls for fancy dress, school uniform as another costume for the bedroom like air hostess/bunny girl/police woman. I can only conclude from this that men either have an inate desire for adolescent girls that was being catered to, or that the desire was encouraged by feeding them a diet of it. I suppose the why can only really be answered by the men who did it, and I can't imagine any of them doing an "I perv at school girls. AMA" thread anytime soon.

How utterly depressing that nearly all young girls experience harassment from men.
Thank you for voting

Unfortunately it's completely commonplace. I remember being 13 with a couple of mates just hanging around by the shops. We got flashed by a bloke who was easily in his 30's🤮

I did, and it started for my daughter when she was 14. When she was 15 a grown man around my age was being revolting while I was with her, so I (very loudly, drawing attention) informed him of her age. He got some filthy looks from others, but I'm not naive enough to think he changed his behaviour. She's 18 now and regularly gets comments shouted from passing cars (usually while dressed in comfortable oversized jumpers).
It's disgusting.

Awful. Sorry to hear this @Devilsmommy

I read that rapist often start as flashers and escalate to serious crimes as their confidence increases.

Well done for calling him out @occultelements. A grown man, someone's son, possibly someone's husband and dad

Used to happen all the time to me cycling ir walking to school. Normally by men in vans or much older guys on the street.

Wouldn't surprise me tbh. There are way too many men who are comfortable doing this kind of thing. As women I don't think we'll ever understand it. Decent men don't understand it either

They get a kick out of humiliation and intimidation for sure.
I do think they know that the younger the victim the less likely you'll call them out. Horrid. So many men do this.

I did. I even had it while my dc were with me to the point they would ask what that man was doing or who shouted from that car when they were little. I don’t have daughters and funnily enough now I have almost adult sons and am older myself, men manage to control themselves far better. My son still remembers it and would never, ever catcall a woman himself. I think it’s becoming more socially unacceptable. Hopefully..

@YouAgainDamnIt

unbelievable. My mum also had similar experiences whilst she was pregnant.

Thank you for bringing a great man into the world. Your son sounds fab 👍