15/05/2023
Danger! Woman being female in public! *steps on soapbox*
This past weekend, I was in the park, minding my own yoga business, living my best life, and embodying my practise...when an older gentleman took note and decided to make this a spectator sport.
He sat on a bench relatively close to where I was, but as it faced the pond he had to fully rotate to be a creep.
No, he wasn't admiring my dedication to my practise because everytime my focal point was anywhere near him, he rapidly looked away, as if he wasn't staring... Now people who are just glancing and admiring don't need to act like they shouldn't be caught... and usually they move along, this man stayed for the entire *hour* I practised.
And here is where I get really fu***ng pi**ed, because what am I suppose to do? Is it my responsibility to disrupt my life and move because this man can't control himself? I need to adapt my behaviour? F**k no. However, by not doing so, he seemed to accept this as permission to continue objectifying me. At some point I got distracted by my practise and stopped noticing him, but when I came out of my final meditation and saw he was still watching me... all the yoga yumminess I had cultivated was joined by this incredible frustration. A frustration every woman knows. A frustration that is exhausting!
Maybe I should have stopped, walked over to him, and told him to stop... but sometimes I'm too tired of having to stick up for myself and fellow women *all* the *time*. I just want to exist in this world without having to fight for respect.
I don't hate men. Let me be clear. I have SO many good men in my life that increase the quality of my existence. Unfortunately, these good guys end up apologising for the behaviour of the creeps, which also isn't fair to them.
I don't know what the solution is... but I wish it was rounding up men like this and putting them in an aquarium to be gawked at and humiliated for all eternity...
⚡️Be Proud
⚡️Be Resilient
⚡️Be Yourself