Hey. So if youre a male and you hear a female speak up about why she feels unsafe/uncomfortable/threatened in certain situations like cat-calling or street harassment..do you know what doesnt help you? Arguing with or challenging her about why she does not feel safe. In fact, it only reinforces the idea that men cant just shut up and LISTEN. Complaining isnt fun...its actually very terrifying. When we complain about feeling uncomfortable in male spaces we risk alienation, more work, more retaliation, and to have our experiences labeled as complaints. As a very outspoken person, for every time I voice my grievances with something, whether its in a joke, or an article I share online, a time I stop and tell a catcaller hes not right for saying that to me, or a post like this...for every ONE of those times, there are at least 20 times when I bite my tongue out of fear of some sort of absurd retaliation. My experience is not unique. If youre a man and you feel the urge to respond to this...how about dont. Challenge yourself to listen to an experience youll never have, and not make it about you.
Posted on: Tue, 01 Jul 2014 02:11:26 +0000
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