SJW on Yik Yak: All women have had scary experiences with men.

I kinda get what she is saying. I understand everyone lives in very different areas, but I live in a high crime, poor, to be honest quite shit area. I get harnessed by men a lot. All of my female friends, since moving here (we attend the college here) have had experiences like this.

Yes, I have been harassed by women too, but that was once and all they did was shout. Me and my friends have been threatened with violence, shouted at, and been threatened with knives/ blunt objects. We have had men following us in their cars or on foot, not stopping until we found other people, called the police or dived into shops/ pubs. Some of us, including me, have been sexually assaulted.

I get it is not all men. I understand that. I have a dad, brothers, and close male friends. I feel safe with them, and assume 99% of men are good like them. When I am with my male friends and get harassed by other men, my male friends have stood up for me. I understand it is not all men.

However, when you have been assaulted because of your gender by a different gender, it changes how you think.

When I was sexually assaulted, it changed how I saw the world. I understand that is my problem, not every mans problem.

All of a sudden you notice that a lot of men are bigger than you. If you are alone with them and they want to hold you down, there is little you can do to stop it. Although you know not all men would do that, you also know you didn't think your attacker was like that either. It takes away your sense of security. It makes you feel weak and afraid.

I am not saying this is mens fault. I understand it is my own issue I need to get over, because being scared of men is wrong. It is a mental issue, that is pretty irrational considering that I have met hundreds of men and only a few have hurt me so it is irrational to have a fear of all new men. But it does happen.

It is a really difficult thing to just 'get over'. I am sorry if it offends you, but trust me, I would much rather have never been assaulted and be able to go around feeling safe no matter who I am with.

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