As a ginger person, long ago I got used to the fact that I’d be shouted at in the street by groups of boys just for existing – so much so that now, on approaching teens hanging about on street corners I revise my arsenal of potential cutting, nonchalant come backs to what they might be about to shout. So I was particularly interested in the article, “Running while Female” in the latest Runner’s World magazine, which revealed the shocking prevalence of abuse shouted at women on the run – without even having ginger hair!
While not minimising this at all (boys/men shouting at me for being ginger/running/both has happened to me many times, it was the reason I stopped running aged 15) some of the incidents in the article were off the scale insane – guys masturbating at lone females, men in cars slowing down to leer and follow them, like who are these guys??? Would they do that to their sister or their mum? This is obviously not on and needs to stop immediately.
However, I also just wanted to big up the real men for a moment here. My partner Steve, my dad, my male relatives, all my male friends, obviously all my male run club friends, and two workmen while I was doing hill reps the other day. Rather than wolf whistling as I feared they might, they looked at me like I was crazy, then carried on with their jobs. With 3 reps out of 8 to go, I caught one of them’s eye and said, “Only 2 more after this!” Still no response. Until my penultimate rep.
“Gooooooo on!!!!!! You can do it!!!!!!” from both the guys, cheering me on, making me run my fastest rep yet. THIS kind of shouting on runs should be encouraged. If men want to shout something out to us ladies to impress other men – it should be genuine encouragement and admiration for our determination rather than sexual innuendoes which can’t help but be perceived by us ladies as threatening.
If guys want to shout, there are so many better options. Next time someone shouts something I don’t like at me, if it’s safe to do so, I’m going to stop and calmly, and friendlily give them a list of better options: “Nice one, good effort, go on, you can do it etc.”
Maybe gradually they’ll all catch on. What do you think?
Good post Claire. So I should tell you about today’s experience running along the canal. I was heading west, with the sun in my eyes, so I couldn’t see very well, but I could see too blokes coming towards me, and I was pretty sure one was giving me a thumbs up. So I smiled, and as I went past they cheered me on! Made my day – I wondered if they’d been reading your blog?
Yes! They totally do cheer as well as heckle, I think we should make sure those blokes are admired rather than giving all the attention to the minority kn*b heads that spoil everything
Two blokes that is. How embarrassing!