A Sexist Gas Station Experience
As I’ve grown up, I have found that puberty hasn’t been all that nice to me up until my early twenties. Basically, all I got was a period, some baby fat, a flat ass, and no boobs (well, I still haven’t gotten that perk yet.). No, seriously.
HOWEVER, after graduating high school, I started to REALLY care about taking care of myself and my body so I changed my diet (not by a lot, but enough to see improvement in my body feeling), and started going to the gym 6 days a week. Needless to say, I’m in decent shape for my 5’3” body frame.
The whole point of this explanation is to talk about what happened to me at a local gas station, and to clarify that this hasn’t been the only time (there have been plenty more in NYC, as well). Here’s what I was wearing: lululemon biker shorts (They are longer shorts, about two inches above my knee, just to picture it), tennis shoes, and an Adidas knit crop top (built to act as a sports bra and top for working out). I had stopped at this gas station on my way to a fitness class to get a bottle of water.
As I walked in the station, I was on the phone, and thank god for that because what happened next would’ve made me explode in pure anger. As I walked towards the coolers, I felt eyes on me. I turned and, as I was walking to the counter, a man, dressed in flip flops, camo cargo shorts, a t-shirt and a tap-out hat, felt the need to stare me down and make comments under his breath. I let it go because 1. I was on the phone, and 2. I didn’t hear exactly what he said. He stopped at the door and WAITED for me to get to the register and then he walked out. When I finally finished, I walked out and he was waiting to watch me walk to my car. He shouted, and excuse my language, “Hey pretty lady, goddamn!” I was embarrassed and disgusted.
If you are someone who cat calls women, OR MEN for that matter, let me explain something to you: it is NOT a compliment, and we DO NOT enjoy it. I’m a single woman, by choice. I’m happily single at the moment. I absolutely HATE feeling bad about myself because some creepy guy felt the need to comment on what my body looks like, positive or negative. These are the types of comments that misogynists use to degrade women, crushing their spirits because they think they are ENTITLED to it. The type of people who make these comments are the same people who think they are right to make decisions for the body and anatomy of other human beings. News flash: you do not own me, therefore you do not have the right to comment on my body.
I wanted to share this story because I am outraged at the amount of times that I have been catcalled like this, and they are all very similar stories. I wanted to make this for the WOMEN who don’t speak up because they have been silenced their whole lives. Remember, you are important. Your body IS YOUR BODY, and no one has the right to tell you how to feel about it. I yelled at that man from my car that day because I had had enough. I’m tired of being treated like a sexual object because I’m not one. Period.