20/09/2021
“There are still a few worthy causes for women's rights in the west”-I recently have been told- “the rest is hysterical, irrational, unhinged and fanatical”.
I give my childbirth education classes in the centre of Amsterdam, in the evening. Last week I got out my workplace at 23:00 and in my way back to Centraal Station to take the ferry and go home I was alone, that street is dark and restaurants were closing. I have been cat called. I froze. My usual reaction when in fear. I tried to walk faster and the ferry just left. 20 minutes alone there waiting for the next one.
I felt vulnerable, fragile, naked and insecure. It has been already an intense day for many other reasons. This has just been the cherry on the top.
I didn’t told this to anybody, except my very close people.
I passed the whole week asking myself what would have been a safer way to reach my workplace next time, today. Maybe the opposite direction and taking the metro? Going with the scooter? Parking my car in front of the door?
Tonight I dressed myself not the way I liked it, not the way would reflect myself, otherwise, in my mind, it would have been risky doing the same street tonight.
And even writing this now I hear a small voice inside my head saying that I am exaggerating and it is just me feeling unsafe that brought me walking with my keys between my fingers as an only way to possibly defend myself.
This is just one of the too many experiences in my life when I need to think every single step of my way to be safe. And all the women I know have experienced this at least once in their life.
Get your conclusions about.
But yeah, we are just “hysterical, fanatical, and not worthy of attention in the calls we do. Women’s rights are now equal to men’s once”.
Yeah yeah.
