Clutch Magazine: Overcoming Street Harassment and the Negative Images Come With It
The Snob tackled street harassment, how it affected my body image, and how I got over it for Clutch Magazine Online Wednesday. I touched on how vulgarities shouted at me as a teen caused me to have poor body image as an adult. It eventually lead me to trying to change my behavior (and body) in hopes it could control how other people responded.
Here's a snippet:
As a woman you’re told to just ignore or “deal” with street harassment (and all sexual harassment, honestly), so it is pretty easy to internalize it and think it’s all your fault. For years I rued the day I hit puberty, seeing it as some horrible thing that made people suddenly go crazy on me. I wanted to stop whatever was causing this unwanted attention, meaning I often wore clothes two sizes too big for me.
This meant for years I didn’t wear or even own a pair of shorts out of fear of showing my “big legs,” which were obviously too provocative, even in Bermuda shorts or pedal pushers. My dream for the longest was to be thin, really, really thin, size 0, smaller than small, thin. If I was just skinny enough that I had the body of a 10-year-old boy, I’d look more child-like and I wouldn’t get so much unwanted sexual attention from men. The only problem was even if I got down to a size 4 or smaller in a shirt, I still wore pants that were a size 9/10 or larger.
So wearing my coat all day in the winter and blue jeans in the summer with long, loose fitting shirts was pretty much my look as I hated the body I was stuck with for a very long time.
Danielle Belton | 2 Comments | Share Article | Email Article | Print Article | tagged Clutch Magazine, body image, the snob 
Reader Comments (2)
It is tough out there for girls having to deal with unwanted harrassment/attention. As a young guy we are taught that if you want something, be assertive. Now it has gotten carried away. Some refer to as "thirstiness". As a male we guys eventually learn how to differentiate between what is and is not appropriate behavior.
I am grateful to have a father who not only gave realistic advice but uncles, aunts and older cousins who would steer me in the right direction. As a young man finding your way, you could be that type of guy who can make it tough for gals. Overall, its still important to have standards and ideas of your own. If it happens to lead to "thirstiness" than that will continue the adventure of life between young men & women dynamics.
Another great post on Clutch. I relate so much to this. I was always a curvy, early developer so from basically 9 on I was getting comments while walking to the library, at church, where have you. From age 9 to age 17 (through high school) I wore a zip up rainbreaker/hoodie, fully zipped and hood up at all times, including summer in Mississippi. Wouldn't go out without it. My mom actually stole one while I was sleeping and I took my savings and went and bought another one cause i was not being seen in public without it. I just wanted to disappear. So cringe inducing. I am getting better and rehabbing self image, but it's a long road (39 now). I have made a lot of progress in the last 10 years though.