‘What do you expect?’ Woman told to ignore sexual harassment
For many women, navigating leers and catcalls is part and parcel of daily life, and while the vast majority are regrettably left to deal with harassment by themselves, we'd like to assume that if they do reach out for assistance, they will be properly supported.
However, one woman's recent encounter on public transport reminded Twitter users that unfortunately this isn't the case.
After enduring a particularly distressing encounter with a man who began 'rubbing his crotch' after she deflected his advances on a bus, Nathalie Gordon left her seat and approached the bus driver for assistance.
He pulls them from my hand and says 'don't be rude'. I say 'Sorry'. I don't know what to do, I don't want to provoke him.
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 4, 2017
I look out the window but out the corner of my eye I see he is staring at me and has started to rub his crotch.
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 4, 2017
Frightened she explained what had happened to the driver, telling Twitter users: "I tell him that a man is rubbing himself on the bus. The driver, a man, says 'he probably isn't – sit somewhere else'."
Nathalie, understandably stunned by the driver's disregard, replied: "Remove him from the bus, call the police – I don't care'."
And in a move which has caused uproar on Twitter since Nathalie shared an insight into her experience, the driver replied: "What do you expect me to do? You're a pretty girl, what do you expect?"
In a series of tweets which have gone viral since their upload, Nathalie laid out, in no uncertain terms, exactly what she wanted from the driver in that situation.
You know what I expect, fucking respect for women no matter who they are or what they look like or what they're wearing.
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 4, 2017
What I expect is fucking respect for women who don't want go for a drink, who ask for help, who are afraid.
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 4, 2017
What I expect is fucking respect for anyone who feels vulnerable, for people who say no, for anyone who asks for help.
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 4, 2017
What I expect is for men to stop thinking every woman on the planet owes them something.
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 4, 2017
What I expect is to feel safe on the bus, the street, my house or anywhere I choose to go.
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 4, 2017
What I expect is to live in a world where it doesn't matter what I look like- when I fucking say no, I fucking mean no.
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 4, 2017
What I expect is to stop feeling so alone and scared. No man will know what this feels like which is why so many will choose not to care.
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 4, 2017
What I expect is not to be more afraid of offending men than being safe.
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 4, 2017
What I expect is to not be on guard EVERYWHERE I GO. And I know other women are – we're all scared, all the time.
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 4, 2017
What I expect is for good men to be on our side, to support us, to listen, to care, to stand up for us when we can't and to educate others.
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 4, 2017
Unsurprisingly, Twitter users have responded in their droves since Nathalie took to the website to voice her concerns, with hundreds of women sharing similar experiences online.
"If you ever see me on public transport or anywhere in London and you feel vulnerable, find a way to tell me & I promise I'll stand with you," Nathalie wrote in response to her supporters.
