Comments on: Friday Discussion: Walking While Female and Foolishly Asking For Violence To Be Done Upon You http://www.feministsdontbakebread.com/2007/09/07/friday-discussion-walking-while-female-and-foolishly-asking-for-violence-to-be-done-upon-you/ Neither do they knit. Apparently. Thu, 04 Dec 2008 04:02:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Edie http://www.feministsdontbakebread.com/2007/09/07/friday-discussion-walking-while-female-and-foolishly-asking-for-violence-to-be-done-upon-you/#comment-1383 Edie Sat, 17 Nov 2007 00:26:07 +0000 http://www.feministsdontbakebread.com/2007/09/07/friday-discussion-walking-while-female-and-foolishly-asking-for-violence-to-be-done-upon-you/#comment-1383 Hiya Anna, You wandered onto my blog and now I'm perusing yours - and I like it. And now I'm going to do a bit of shameless self promotion as I wrote something similar: <a href="http://saidtrash.wordpress.com/2007/08/20/feel-like-a-bit-of-assault-tonight/" rel="nofollow">http://saidtrash.wordpress.com/2007/08/20/feel-like-a-bit-of-assault-tonight/</a> Well, you did ask for my thoughts . . . Hiya Anna,

You wandered onto my blog and now I’m perusing yours - and I like it. And now I’m going to do a bit of shameless self promotion as I wrote something similar: http://saidtrash.wordpress.com/2007/08/20/feel-like-a-bit-of-assault-tonight/

Well, you did ask for my thoughts . . .

]]> By: Jo http://www.feministsdontbakebread.com/2007/09/07/friday-discussion-walking-while-female-and-foolishly-asking-for-violence-to-be-done-upon-you/#comment-1379 Jo Mon, 17 Sep 2007 18:48:46 +0000 http://www.feministsdontbakebread.com/2007/09/07/friday-discussion-walking-while-female-and-foolishly-asking-for-violence-to-be-done-upon-you/#comment-1379 I'm working on not being afraid after dark. I mean, I live in a mid-size Midwestern U.S. town, and stranger-rapes are the least-often to occur. Being raped is my fear, but I have to say -- I'm a 6-foot 200 lb. 30-year-old woman in a college town -- I'm not likely to be ogled much, either. I also have a pretty physical job now, which means I'm no weakling. I also have *never* had any propensity for dressing in anything but jeans and regular ol' t-shirts, no low cut, no skin tight. And boots. Big boots. Or Birkenstocks. And yet. I have all these thoughts and rationalizations as to why I should or should not be afraid, which only goes to show that I am afraid, and am trying to think my way out of it. I have to act my way out of it. I have to walk down the streets of my town without looking over my shoulder, without taking stock of all the males I meet. I won't project an image of tough, or imagine my personal space to be six feet or more in diameter. I won't send out vibes of strong angry energy to repel potential problems. I'll think these things, but not act on them. I hope. I hope, with practice, years of walking down the street and not being accosted will help me realize I don't have to be afraid. I’m working on not being afraid after dark. I mean, I live in a mid-size Midwestern U.S. town, and stranger-rapes are the least-often to occur. Being raped is my fear, but I have to say — I’m a 6-foot 200 lb. 30-year-old woman in a college town — I’m not likely to be ogled much, either. I also have a pretty physical job now, which means I’m no weakling. I also have *never* had any propensity for dressing in anything but jeans and regular ol’ t-shirts, no low cut, no skin tight. And boots. Big boots. Or Birkenstocks.

And yet.

I have all these thoughts and rationalizations as to why I should or should not be afraid, which only goes to show that I am afraid, and am trying to think my way out of it.

I have to act my way out of it. I have to walk down the streets of my town without looking over my shoulder, without taking stock of all the males I meet. I won’t project an image of tough, or imagine my personal space to be six feet or more in diameter. I won’t send out vibes of strong angry energy to repel potential problems.

I’ll think these things, but not act on them.

I hope.

I hope, with practice, years of walking down the street and not being accosted will help me realize I don’t have to be afraid.

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