Yeah I'm talking about street harassment again. I don't know if it's happening more or if I'm just noticing it more, but it's been on my mind a lot.
Today I had interactions with two different men and was struck by the contrast between them. The first made me feel dirty. The second left me with a spring in my step. The difference? Well, see for yourself.
Situation 1:
The man approached me on a crowded street corner while I was waiting for the light to change. He got close enough that I could feel his breath on my cheek while he whispered in my ear "Damn, nice legs. You're looking real good, baby girl." He disappeared as quickly as he had come, leaving me shaken.
Situation 2:
While I was walking down the street, a man called out, "Excuse me, ma'am."
Assuming that he needed directions somewhere, I stopped and turned to him. "Yes?"
He looked me in the eye and said, "I wanted to let you know that you look very nice today."
"Thanks," I responded with a big grin.
It is clearly not that difficult to give a stranger a compliment in a way that makes her day better rather than worse. It all comes down to respect. Why is this such a difficult concept for so many people?
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