On harassment
You can travel away from troubles, but some problems follow you wherever you go.
My friend and I just got harassed outside the beautiful basilica, Sacré-Cœur. Two men spotted us as being tourists who had let down their guard, and pounced. They grabbed our hands, starting to talk as if we wanted to have any sort of conversation with them (we did not) and put some string round our fingers to create a makeshift bracelet. We told them, in no uncertain terms, that we weren’t interested. We said ‘no’. My friend even tried walking away from the guy who’d caught her, only to have him run after her again.
We ended up paying these guys 15 Euros.
It’s not about the money, of course, although they did practically snatch it from us. It’s the complete disregard for the fact that we are human beings, the utter disrespect toward us and anything we said. It’s the loss of faith in humanity outside a building celebrating that very thing. It’s the fact that I stood there, letting it happen, because I didn’t know how ugly it could potentially get if I tried harder to get away. It’s the fact that because he was a man, and took an unconsented hold of me, I felt threatened. It’s the fact that we walked away feeling humiliated, and stupid for letting our guards down. It’s the fact that nothing about this situation is anything less than tragic and terrible. It’s the fact that it happens everyday, in that place and so many others. It’s the fact that our morning got ruined, and they carry on doing it again and again. It’s the fact that they ignored us and expected money for it. It’s the fact that they feel the need to do such things in the first place. It’s the fact that we haven’t gotten further.
My friend and I just got harassed outside the beautiful basilica, Sacré-Cœur. Two men spotted us as being tourists who had let down their guard, and pounced. They grabbed our hands, starting to talk as if we wanted to have any sort of conversation with them (we did not) and put some string round our fingers to create a makeshift bracelet. We told them, in no uncertain terms, that we weren’t interested. We said ‘no’. My friend even tried walking away from the guy who’d caught her, only to have him run after her again.
We ended up paying these guys 15 Euros.
It’s not about the money, of course, although they did practically snatch it from us. It’s the complete disregard for the fact that we are human beings, the utter disrespect toward us and anything we said. It’s the loss of faith in humanity outside a building celebrating that very thing. It’s the fact that I stood there, letting it happen, because I didn’t know how ugly it could potentially get if I tried harder to get away. It’s the fact that because he was a man, and took an unconsented hold of me, I felt threatened. It’s the fact that we walked away feeling humiliated, and stupid for letting our guards down. It’s the fact that nothing about this situation is anything less than tragic and terrible. It’s the fact that it happens everyday, in that place and so many others. It’s the fact that our morning got ruined, and they carry on doing it again and again. It’s the fact that they ignored us and expected money for it. It’s the fact that they feel the need to do such things in the first place. It’s the fact that we haven’t gotten further.
 |
| Tainted memories |
Kommentarer
Skicka en kommentar