You can not be blamed for other’s actions and that is just common sense. Many people seem to have trouble comprehending this. If I’m walking alone and I get catcalled, it’s my fault for wearing shorts. It seems women have to face the consequences for men a lot and I’m tired of it. I’m tired of being shamed for having fingers pointed at me and recovering dirty looks for simply embracing my body and receiving negative attention.
Women are told that since their stomachs or thighs are showing, they are asking for the attention they say is unwanted, which couldn’t be farther from the truth, yet people still believe this myth. No woman enjoys walking down the street and having to be afraid of what it could result in. No woman enjoys being yelled at while they’re trying to take a walk.
Feeling like an animal displayed in a zoo is not a pleasant feeling, so why would we intentionally put ourselves through this?
If a man was walking around wearing an expensive watch and he was mugged, no one would say, “well you were asking it, walking around with that nice watch.” It is obvious that is wasn’t the victim’s fault, why is it so hard to see it that way with a woman’s body? I’m not alowed to wear short shorts out with friends because boys could look at me in a certain way my parents wouldn’t approve of. Boys are giving me dress codes, men shouldn’t have this type of control over me, especially when the way boys look at me isn’t my fault. Objectification is not something I’m looking for by wearing shorts, I’m simply wearing an outfit I feel comfortable in. Its time boys are held accountable for their actions rather than women having to take the blame.
Being told that being objectified is the your own fault is called victim blaming. This happens much too often and is something that needs to be put to an end. Every time there’s a case of sexual assault, sexual harassment or catcalling, it’s always twisted to be the victim’s fault. This is not okay, we need to resist against the idea that you’re in the wrong for other people’s choices.
Women’s bodies are just bodies, not a secret we have to hide from people.
