This week in The Bitchin’ Table KCorbs444 and Parklena analyze (and bitch) about the extreme and ceaseless measures women partake in to protect themselves from assault… as well as everyday life practices calling for women to deal with the issues men inflict. Inspired by a chain letter and their own experiences as college students, these women are FED UP with the never ending defense of their bodies and their dignity.
KCorbs444: Hey Helen! So, I’m going on a road trip this weekend and my mom sent me this Warnings for Women on the Road about new ways rapists are out to get unsuspecting women. The funny thing is that while this all seems to be very helpful to potential victims, it made me realize just how obnoxious it is to have to be conscientious of our safety as women every single day.
Parklena: You know, you’re right! It sure does seem a hassle to have to take care of everything. No matter what I do, it never seems to be enough! Just the other day, I wore a parka while walking to my apartment (you know those rapists, always targeting scantily clad women) and I got harassed anyway because I took up too much room on the sidewalk. Next thing you know, they’ll be blaming me for the weather.
Kcorbs444: Wow, that’s pretty ridiculous. I know what you mean though. I feel overexposed in a freaking t-shirt these days. It’s just sad that as the majority sex on campus, we still feel threatened and insecure about being able to do the simplest of things, like say for example, walk from the library at night to the parking deck…do guys worry about that? Hell to the no.
Parklena: Sure must be nice, being a privileged male. I wonder what else I’d be able to get away with. That whole phrase “boys will be boys” would take on a whole new meaning for me. Can you imagine?
Kcorbs444: you’re telling me!
Parklena: Had sex and had a bit of an accident? Whoops, let’s just let the girl take care of it! I mean, I was totally caught up in the moment. She should have been taking birth control. Not my fault she missed a day.
Kcorbs444: Yeah, and help her pay for an abortion? That’s laughable… It’s really annoying to see that the opposite sex is literally invincible, while we’re stuck worrying & dealing with all the negative things that could or have happened to us. Just the other night I went to visit my roommate from freshman year at her apartment in Copper Beech. She lives very far away from the club house where the visitor spots are located. It was late at night and I didn’t want to walk by myself, especially since there have been reported incidents JUST THIS WEEK about weird older men creeping on girls and getting into their town homes So what did I do? I parked my car (very briefly) in front of her house. It was a Tuesday night and there were plenty of open parking spaces available. BUT…we heard a tow truck all of a sudden and they had my car hooked in. I ran out screaming “STOP! Please, I’ll move my car! Please!” but the men said it was either $60 cash upfront or $120 and follow them to the storage lot. My friend and I pleaded telling them the HONEST TRUTH that it was too threatening to walk by myself across the grounds, and I was fearful of being attacked. Did they care? Not a bit, barely blinked an eye…men just don’t get it.
Parklena: Seriously. They tell us we need to take precautions to protect ourselves and then turn around and take advantage of us in other ways.
Kcorbs444: Yes! And freaking profit from it!
Parklena: I think men need to experience it for a bit. Maybe take responsibility every once in a while. Or we could play jokes on them. We need to take care of them and feed them as wives? Okay, husband says make a sandwich. Take two pieces of bread and put some chocolate in between! Sandwich! Yay! Doesn’t mean it should be good.
Kcorbs444: Seriously, how about a knuckle sandwich? Does that taste good boys? You serve it quite frequently to women…
Parklena: They complain we’re incompetent at jobs? Alright. Try doing your jobs without us, boys. Let’s see how well you do at all the little menial tasks we need to do EVERY. SINGLE. DAY.
Kcorbs444: I’d give them 24 hours…It’s been super frustrating lately because the more I hear about women having to “be prepared” and “not putting yourself in dangerous situations” the more I’m starting to realize is the most hypocritical statement on Earth. Since when did driving in your car, or going for a run, or even just going to work everyday becomes life threatening, risky behavior? And what’s worse, who is it threatening?!! ONLY WOMEN!
Parklena: Always women, women, women. There are also men in the world who need protection too. We’re just the faces of the needy.
Kcorbs444: Very true…crimes against the LGBT are just as prevalent, and many times done in the same torturous fashion and yet it’s somehow “dealt with” but still never ending. I feel like we’re still living in a primitive patriarchal society that refuses to acknowledge equality in every gender, sexuality and race… it’s time for America to get with it.
Parklena: Very true. It’s time for people to see that women are not just victims. There are different types of women just as there are different kinds of people. We all need each other’s support. Not just beeping red warning signs.
Kcorbs444: Exactly.
ShoutOut! James Madison University 
I think you both are bringing up an interesting point about how more than ever women can feel overexposed even when they are wearing t-shirts or garments typically considered appropriate. I have felt like that as well and I could never point to the reason. I think it’s important to question why we feel that way and what that means for our selves and our culture. Are we heading to a more conservative culture? It is also interesting that this is happening when many women in places like the Middle East are becoming more liberal in their dress. I think it shows the fluidity of our feelings on appropriate dress and also makes us question what influences our culture’s definition of appropriate dress. Thanks for posting!
LikeLike
Thanks for the comment! I agree about your idea of the fluidity of our feelings on appropriate dress. I would like to add that a lot of girls still dress in what’s termed “attractive” clothing merely to fit in with society’s standards of beauty. So those of us who dress… I don’t want to say conservatively, but more in terms of comfort, perhaps? Those who don’t dress in “inappropriate” clothing are considered against the norm. I know I got many comments from my mother on dressing “more like a girl” when I went around in big T-shirts and jeans. Again, thanks for the comment!
LikeLike