
Woman Takes To Twitter After Driver Says She Should 'Expect' Sexual Harassment
By Mark PygasUpdated
Every day, countless women and men are sexually harassed. Many incidents take place in public, on buses and trains, or at work. It's particularly alarming in crowded cities how uncomfortable it can be for women as they have very little personal space due to the close proximity they are to others. It's also much harder to enforce for transportation officers for the same reason. We're not saying there's an easy solution -- but when women report incidents on public transportation they should be taken seriously and people involved should be arrested.
Twitter user Nathalie Gordon recently decided to share the details of one such incident that took place on a bus in London. It's another string in people just not giving enough respect to the women who report things. But Twitter was more shocked by the reaction of the bus driver. See her story below:
Let me tell you a story about why men will never understand what it's like to be female.
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 4, 2017
He asks me where the bus is going. I tell him what the next station is. He asks me where I'm going.
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 4, 2017
In that moment I instantly became worried. Again I am polite and say 'no thank you'. I go to put my earphones back in.
— 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
Gordon decided to report the man to the bus driver, expecting the man to be thrown off. Expect that's not quite what happened.
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 Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 4, 2017
I say 'remove him from the bus, call the police- I don't care'. The driver then says to me, 'you're a pretty girl, what do you expect?'
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 4, 2017
So instead of the culprit getting removed from the bus, the woman was instead chastised herself over the incident. Good going bus driver.
Gordon went on to explain what she actually does expect when she reports sexual harassment. Her response probably rings true for a lot of women who have found themselves in her shoes:
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 for men to stop thinking every woman on the planet owes them something.
— 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 not to be more afraid of offending men than being safe.
— 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
Gordon has since reported the incident to the British Transport Police and Transport for London, who have launched an investigation. She also offered advice to anyone who may find themselves the victim of harassment in public.
So many women sharing their stories. For all those who've been in similar positions and never reported it text 61016 or call 0800 40 50 40
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 4, 2017
Wearing a #safetypin today in defiance of fear, in solidarity with those silenced and as a symbol of safety to anyone feeling vulnerable. pic.twitter.com/iUuBzI2TXF
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 5, 2017
And scolded critics...
Men, your input isn't necessary here. Just listen - don't find fault or shout your opinion over people talking about actual experiences.
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 7, 2017
To all the women sharing their stories with me. I'm reading every one even if I don't reply. I'm listening. I hear you. I'm with you.
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 12, 2017
But the vast majority of responses were positive, with many people sharing their own stories of sexual harassment.
@awlilnatty Everyone needs to learn to have some respect for others rather than just hear what they want. The world would be a better place cos of it.
— Nirave 尼拉夫 (@nirave) May 12, 2017
@awlilnatty So sorry this happened to you.
— Kara Šegedin (@KSegedin) May 4, 2017
I don't know who I'm more angry with the creep or the coward bus driver.
@awlilnatty I'm sorry to read this; how awful. I hope you'll start by reporting the bus driver as his is never the correct response.
— Dan Chisholm (@radiothechis) May 4, 2017
@awlilnatty Similar has happened to me on a coach, on a train, in a park and on a town bench. Thank you for speaking out ❤️
— Elie (@eliestories) May 5, 2017
@awlilnatty Not a single person defended me, so I embarrassed him by loudly shouting "what did you just say to me?"... I've never felt more vulnerable
— Jade (@mummyanxious) May 4, 2017
Always stand up to sexual harassment.