Shutting down street harassment with steely sarcasm: #NoWomanEver
Women are using the hashtag #NoWomanEver to highlight the street harassment they've experienced with strangers and it's one of my favourite things on the Internet right now. The wit and sarcasm serve to underline the sheer inanity of some of the catcalls, but the whole movement is tinged with something darker.
According to Buzzfeed News, the hashtag was started on June 18 by @ImJustCeej and built momentum quickly with women sharing their one-liners of unwanted interactions.
"He blocked me from walking to the register when I was ignoring him in CVS and we been together since that day!" -NO WOMAN EVER
— Miss Black Awareness (@ImJustCeej) June 18, 2016
CJ (who declined to give her second name for privacy reasons, went on to tell Buzzfeed News that she decided to start the hashtag as a way to draw attention the subject but also alleviate the tension.“I was honestly trying to lighten things up a little bit,” she said. “I thought the snark and sarcasm behind it would change the energy behind the timeline.”
He honked at me while I was walking & yelled out the window. I liked the way he wasnt afraid to tell the world about our love. #NoWomanEver
— Imani Boyette (@ImaniBoyette) June 18, 2016
"Being screamed at from cars while I walk home has always made me feel safe, it's nice to know there are men that care" said #NoWomanEver
— Rebecca Warnes (@Rebecca_Warnes) June 19, 2016
"Please, tell me what expression my face should make. Oh, a smile? Good choice sir." said #nowomanever
— Deirdre Sullivan (@propermiss) June 19, 2016
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"You're right. I do deserve to be paid less for equal work," said #NoWomanEver
— Adam Grant (@AdamMGrant) June 18, 2016
I love it when you explain my areas of expertise to me. It is informative and helpful! said #nowomanever
— Claire Hennessy (@clairehennessy) June 18, 2016
He shouted sexual comments at me from his car. I ignored him so he called me a lesbian. That's when I knew he was the one #NoWomanEver
— Caroline Bettridge (@CMBettridge) June 18, 2016
"How did I meet your dad? One time I tweeted about feminism and he @ replied that he wanted to choke me with his dick." #NoWomanEver
— Desi (@DesiJed) June 18, 2016
"For the first 20 unsolicited dick pics I was on the fence, but after he sent the 21st, I knew he was the one." - said #NoWomanEver
— Drew Gibson (@SuppressThis) June 18, 2016
I was a lesbian, but after he told me that I was too pretty and that he could change my mind, I couldn't help myself! #NoWomanEver
— ShinyBlackGirl (@ShinyBlackGirl1) June 18, 2016
"He got off at the same stop as me even though I wasn't interested and followed me home. Now we share a loving home together." #NoWomanEver
— Zee Ott (@ZiaJD) June 18, 2016
These tweets make me laugh and make me angry in the same 140 characters. I'd love to hear yours so I'll go first.
He actually fractured my wrist as he pulled me towards him. But it worked out great! Now I just use my other hand to hold his. #NoWomanEver
— Andrea Kissane (@AndreaKissane) June 21, 2016