I was walking home from work yesterday - in fact, on the very block on which I live in Astoria, Queens - when I felt a hard slap on my ass. Stunned, I watched a man whizz by me on his bike. I managed to sputter "fuck you," but I was so shocked that it didn't come out nearly as loudly or aggressively as I would have liked. He was on a bike, so I barely got a glimpse at him - although he did look back briefly and I flipped him off. I've been subject to catcalls before, but never had I been inappropriately touched by a stranger, not even on a crowded subway.
Later, I wished I'd cursed him out louder and with more anger, but I was too shocked at the time to form a coherent response. My first instinct was to just go home and lock the door against the outside world, but I realized that letting this man's behavior affect my own wasn't the answer. So I changed into my workout clothes and went to the gym like I'd planned, trying not to worry that another stranger would see my loose yoga pants and spandex top as an invitation to assault or harass me. I'm still furious that someone would touch me without my consent, but I'm not going to stop wearing what I like or worry about walking home by myself. I'm not the one who should have to change my behavior.
Submitted by Sara
Editor's Note: Last summer, a man was convicted of a rash of "butt-slapping" (AKA assault) in the Crown Heights area. For more information, check out this and this. We're hoping what happened with Sara is an isolated incident and the guy is not out and about again, but if you experience something similar please let us know.
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