(no subject)
Aug. 7th, 2011 01:20 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
tattooofhernameI think I've figured out my next tattoo, once I've finished with my wrists.
I am not afraid
Because you know what? I'm not. In fact, I refuse to be afraid. Fear is a method of control, and all this 'don't wear that dress/have that drink/walk down that street' bs is media fiction to keep people like me at home and afraid. Notice how it's always women who aren't supposed to go out alone, after dark? Notice how it's always women who are supposed to give up our freedom and sacrifice our lifestyles for our 'safety'? And yet somehow, the only time someone else came close to killing me, it was broad daylight, and I was 'safe' at my school. The biggest danger I ever faced was part of my family had keys to my home.
Despite the fact that the crime rate has been steadily declining for a damn long time now, fear of crime has been rising in direct correlation with the level of media coverage.
Oddly enough, none of the people who warn me to stay at home where it's safe have ever been victims of the kind of crime they're warning me about. They've just heard it's dangerous out there - for people like me.
You know what? I refuse to buy into that fear. I will go out after dark, alone. I will wear whatever the hell I want, I will dance with who I want, I will have that drink if I damn well feel like it, and I will stand by anyone who wishes to do the same and has to face the same barrage of shit. I will not be bullied into not taking part in normal social activity because the big bad bogeyman might hit. All that does is act as a free pass for the asshole who wants to excuse their behavior with 'well it's not my fault - if she'd stayed at home...'
I will not be a part of that, because I am not afraid. Never know, maybe someone will decide to fuck with me, and get their ass kicked for their trouble. Maybe then they'll think twice about trying again, because they know that not everyone is a victim.
I am not afraid
Because you know what? I'm not. In fact, I refuse to be afraid. Fear is a method of control, and all this 'don't wear that dress/have that drink/walk down that street' bs is media fiction to keep people like me at home and afraid. Notice how it's always women who aren't supposed to go out alone, after dark? Notice how it's always women who are supposed to give up our freedom and sacrifice our lifestyles for our 'safety'? And yet somehow, the only time someone else came close to killing me, it was broad daylight, and I was 'safe' at my school. The biggest danger I ever faced was part of my family had keys to my home.
Despite the fact that the crime rate has been steadily declining for a damn long time now, fear of crime has been rising in direct correlation with the level of media coverage.
Oddly enough, none of the people who warn me to stay at home where it's safe have ever been victims of the kind of crime they're warning me about. They've just heard it's dangerous out there - for people like me.
You know what? I refuse to buy into that fear. I will go out after dark, alone. I will wear whatever the hell I want, I will dance with who I want, I will have that drink if I damn well feel like it, and I will stand by anyone who wishes to do the same and has to face the same barrage of shit. I will not be bullied into not taking part in normal social activity because the big bad bogeyman might hit. All that does is act as a free pass for the asshole who wants to excuse their behavior with 'well it's not my fault - if she'd stayed at home...'
I will not be a part of that, because I am not afraid. Never know, maybe someone will decide to fuck with me, and get their ass kicked for their trouble. Maybe then they'll think twice about trying again, because they know that not everyone is a victim.
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no subject
Date: 2011-08-07 12:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-07 03:02 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-07 07:19 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2011-08-23 01:23 am (UTC)I have done all these dangerous things. I have come to realize that the most dangerous place is not ANY of those, but alone in private with someone I haven't decided if I want to have sex with or not.
I don't want to be afraid to LIVE.