by Women can encounter catcalls and other forms of “street” harassment anywhere, but one place that it’s very pervasive is the subway. What you’ve seen on TV and movie screens about NYC subways has some merit.
To be clear, everyone doesn’t do it, but it can make a lady feel more than uncomfortable and awkward. Reddit, a place where all of us can laugh, vent, or share anonymously, is the source for the story we’re sharing today.
A user who goes by the handle strawberry_luv made a post about her recent experience on the 1 train in New York. It is making us feel all sorts of cringey – until the end where we are relieved right along with her.
This post is appropriately titled with the heading, ‘Thank you to the guy on the subway who could read my body language’. Below is an excerpt.
“I got on the 1 train here, and a man got on after me. (this happens everywhere) I had my keys between my hands but barely noticable because this guy has been standing behind me the whole 6 minutes i waited for the train. (calling me baby etc,) I sat down and he sat over me holding the bar and I felt so anxious like throwing up so I stood up near a bunch of other people holding the rail.
Then this guy says to me ‘hey Lauren. you going to Jeff’s dinner party too?’ i was confused for a sec because he was staring at me and my name isn’t Lauren. it took me like 10 seconds to even realize what he was doing. i said yeah. and he said ‘perfect timing we can walk together. what stop were you going to get off on” and I told him. then he says look what Jeff texted me and handed me the notes app which had ‘are you ok?’ and he kind of moved to side so i could write in it. I told him this guy was following me.”
She went on to say that the nice stranger got off at her stop and walked her all the way to her friend’s house. Eventually, they harasser guy broke away, and the poster attributed it to the kind man being much bigger.
She also added that she tried to prepare herself for these unsafe/uncomfortable encounters but wound up frozen with panic. Grateful to the good guy who noticed her situation and stepped in, she also included this in her post:
“I am so thankful men like him are out there and aware of situations like that. In New York most people really keep to themselves so thank you very much Michael wherever you are. I am sorry I made you late but you were like my guardian angel.”
Making your way through the streets alone as a woman can be a scary experience, even if you are armed with a set of keys between your fingers or a can of mace. Like many of the commenters said about this post, it is good to know that others in the city had this lady’s back.
Have you had similar bad experiences like this woman on the train or anywhere else? How did you handle it? Did a guardian angel come to your aid?
