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July 28, 2007
Straphanger Serenade
Ah, the Metro. How I miss our special times together.
(Manhattan Borough President) Scott Stringer's office asked commuters how often someone sexually attacked or harassed them in the subway, and found frightening results. More than 60 percent of those who responded to the online study said they were sexually harassed and 10 percent said they'd been sexually assaulted. - [Newsday]
Sexual harassment, sure. Seen my share, but probably less than the average chick given my (patent pending denied) "Don't fuck with me you motherfucker; I am stronger than you, I am faster than you and I will eat you fucking alive" subway-riding death glare. And people wonder why I'm single.
Sexual assault? A bit trickier to say. Is it assault that I spent a small part of a weekday morning on a fairly deserted 2 train watching a totally vile man directly across the aisle beat off while he stared at me? I don't know if that is. I remember being only a little scared, but mainly just disgusted that he was using me; that somehow I was a part of his experience. Especially since I was *wearing a skirt suit* at the time. Oh dear GOD, where does it END?!
Granted, I was young at the time. I think that was my first summer in NY (hence the suit, I was on my way to an INTERWHOOOO!), which is the only reason I didn't move or get off the train or stand up and get someone to help me. I just sat there nervously until we got to Penn Station, the doors opened and I bolted. Honestly though, if that was the most offensive thing to happen to me on the trains, I'm one of the lucky ones. The fact there isn't cell phone service down there is a FUCKING NIGHTMARE that needs to be rectified. If I was still living in New York, that would be one issue I might ACTUALLY lobby the legislators about.
It is absolutely terrifying to be without a lifeline, floating in the nothing, anxiously waiting to make it back to the light. And that's coming from someone with the resources and strength to look after herself. I can't imagine what it must be like for the truly vulnerable: the sick, the tired, the old, the alone.
Posted by Bree at July 28, 2007 12:30 AM