Yesterday, a man I don’t know asked me if he could grab my tits.
I said “you’re foul” and he laughed.
Yesterday, a man covered his son’s eyes when I strolled past them on a public street.
Yesterday, a young, gay man told me I was serving.
Yesterday, a woman told her daughter to “help the lady pick up her flowers” and I thanked her child, “thank you sweetheart” - it was fine until she realized I was shirtless.
Yesterday, I saw a man walking past me. Yesterday, I saw a man jog past me. Sometimes, these men were not wearing shirts.
No one asked if they could touch them, no one covered their child’s eyes, no one stared, no one grimaced, no one objectified them.
When I took my shirt off, men slowed down, pretended to tie their shoes, asked me my name, invaded my personal space, asked if they could touch me. Cars honked. Some people walked faster, some people walked slower. But everyone noticed me.
It’s a strange and disturbing feeling knowing that parents feel the need to protect children from my bare chest, but there’s men walking around thinking about violating strange women and openly expressing it.
The little girl who handed me a flower was not bothered by me and we smiled at each other. She was sweet, and so am I.
I walked yesterday’s streets with the tenderness and strength and wisdom of a mother.
You do not need to hide me from yourself, your children, or the world.
You, your children, and the world need women like me.
& thank you
@damn.gramn 🎥
