Facing sexual harassment: “my body, my choice”

[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he other night, like many Wednesdays, I went to Pop! Despite the perpetual smell of beer and vomit in the Copper Rooms, Pop! in my opinion, is one of the more enjoyable club nights on campus.It was a pretty standard evening, that is, until I got home. I was just getting ready for bed when I got a call from one of my friends who I had gone out with. She was walking home, alone, at about 1.50am, not an unusual picture especially on a Wednesday. I answer the phone to her distressed voice telling me she was being followed home.

Some guy was walking closely behind her, and shouting after her. She was too far away for me to get to her quickly and other than reassuring her that it would be okay, and advising her that a good hard kick in the balls is really debilitating, there was nothing I could do. The call only lasted four minutes, but it felt like forever. The most overwhelming feeling I had during the duration of that call, was complete and utter helplessness. This was soon followed by anger at said helplessness. I simultaneously wanted to cry, hug her, and punch this guy. I already stated, I was completely powerless to change her situation, but I can try to prevent the same thing happening to me, and other girls in the future.Especially after an evening where multiple guys randomly and unnecessarily touched me and friends’ bodies, and we spent considerable time complaining about this, my friend getting followed only disturbed me more.

The call only lasted four minutes, but it felt like forever.

This is my friend, these are our bodies, and we are on our university campus. Yes, that is right, it is our
campus too. It makes me sick, but mostly sad that we are not respected, that a guy walking by me in a club thinks its okay to graze my ass, or run his hands down my waist. You may say ‘oh, but that is what it is like in a club, you chose to go there so you cannot complain’. Well that’s simply a variation of the slut shame, and I’m calling you out on your bullshit. The fact of the matter is, it is my body and unless I give you an okay, you can’t touch this. Literally, they play that song every week, when are you going to catch on? My body is not an object, I know society tells you that it is, but it isn’t. I’m a human being and I deserve the same respect that you do.

I think this is particularly relevant in the context of all that is happening with the Sun and Page 3 right now. If you are not aware, there has been a long campaign to remove this feature of topless women, and when it seemed the Sun was going to concede, the images continue to appear. While I am not against porn – I think that it has its place in society – I am of the opinion that that place is not alongside our news. By placing a topless woman in a newspaper, the objectification and sexualisation of the female body is perpetuated and normalized. I think that is clear from my, and my friends’ experience at Pop!

The fact of the matter is, it is my body and unless I give you an okay, you can’t touch this. Literally, they play that song every week, when are you going to catch on?

While those women choose to be there, and have the right to take naked photos (right on girls; your body, your choice), the fact that they are in a newspaper (and that is the issue) makes their bodies public property. They choose to take those photos, but the attitude that they encourage is an issue, and one that
we as women must face in clubs, on the street, in everyday life. I reiterate, my body is not an object, and it is not there to be looked at and touched by anyone who wants to. My choice to say no and dislike the actions ofpeople I encounter is just as relevant and valid as the women who choose to be in the Sun.

The key word here is consent. My body, my choice; it’s a slogan you hear for groups advocating abortion rights, or campaigning against date rape. It comes up again and again because women are continually denied the right to choose. Not all women want to say yes, and equally want to say no. But I have the right to say “don’t touch me”, my friend has the right to walk home safely. I cannot express enough the importance of the concept of choice.
I hope that in writing this both the female and male students of this university can be more aware of their actions and attitudes, and I implore you to have more respect for the wishes and rights of those around you.