With one tweet, Nathalie Gordon, an advertising executive, sparked debate among men and women everywhere.
Let me tell you a story about why men will never understand what it’s like to be female.
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 4, 2017
This tweet hints at a story that is unfortunately all too familiar for many women.
I was just on the bus on my way to a meeting. A man taps on my knee. I’m listening to music so take my ear phones out.
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 4, 2017
He asks me where the bus is going. I tell him what the next station is. He asks me where I’m going.
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 4, 2017
What started off as a casual conversation quickly became a scary and threatening situation.
I’m polite and tell him I’m going to a meeting. He then asks if I want to go for a drink.
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 4, 2017
In that moment I instantly became worried. Again I am polite and say ‘no thank you’. I go to put my earphones back in.
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 4, 2017
He pulls them from my hand and says ‘don’t be rude’. I say ‘Sorry’. I don’t know what to do, I don’t want to provoke him.
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 4, 2017
I look out the window but out the corner of my eye I see he is staring at me and has started to rub his crotch.
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 4, 2017
Horrified, Nathalie tries to get help from the bus driver to no avail.
I’m horrified and turn to ask him to stop doing it. He laughs at me. I get up and go to the bus driver.
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 4, 2017
The bus driver simply ignores that there may be a dangerous passenger sitting aboard the bus, and doesn’t help Nathalie at all.
I tell him that a man is rubbing himself on the bus. The driver, a man, says ‘he probably isn’t- sit somewhere else’.
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 4, 2017
The bus driver even said, “you’re a pretty girl, what do you expect?” As if her physical appearance justified the behavior of a sexual predator…
I say ‘the man just asked me for a drink and when I said no started to rub himself’. The driver says, ‘what do you expect me to do?’
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 4, 2017
I say ‘remove him from the bus, call the police- I don’t care’. The driver then says to me, ‘you’re a pretty girl, what do you expect?’
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 4, 2017
Nathalie responded with a series of tweets revealing the daily challenges that women face.
You know what I expect, fucking respect for women no matter who they are or what they look like or what they’re wearing.
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 4, 2017
What I expect is fucking respect for women who don’t want go for a drink, who ask for help, who are afraid.
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 4, 2017
Nathalie’s tweets are a sad reminder of how women often have to live in fear…
What I expect is for men to stop thinking every woman on the planet owes them something.
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 4, 2017
What I expect is to feel safe on the bus, the street, my house or anywhere I choose to go.
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 4, 2017
…in a world where to some men, “no” means “maybe.”
What I expect is to live in a world where it doesn’t matter what I look like- when I fucking say no, I fucking mean no.
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 4, 2017
What I expect is for good men to be on our side, to support us, to listen, to care, to stand up for us when we can’t and to educate others.
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 4, 2017
Countless other women shared similar stories, where men treated them with disrespect when they said no.
So many women sharing their stories. For all those who’ve been in similar positions and never reported it text 61016 or call 0800 40 50 40
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 4, 2017
Then men started responding to her story, and they just didn’t get it. Some were even aggressive…
To the men saying they get women fine and I’m spouting feminist bullshit – read this again. This isn’t about simply ‘understanding’ women.
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 7, 2017
Men, your input isn’t necessary here. Just listen – don’t find fault or shout your opinion over people talking about actual experiences.
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 7, 2017
Gordon simply wanted to men to listen, so that they are more informed and know what their friends go through.
Just listen, read these stories and be a better, kinder, more informed, supportive and understanding man for the women in your lives.
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 7, 2017
To all the men sending messages of support, encouragement & questions on how to raise their daughters – you’re doing good just by listening.
— Nathalie Gordon (@awlilnatty) May 17, 2017
According to Upworthy, Gordon said that “for every guy saying something cruel there’s 10 rushing to my defense.” It’s a good sign that there are men out there who want to stand beside women to prevent these things from happening.
This story is a sad, but realistic, view into the lives that many women live. It brings awareness to a serious issue facing society. We’re sorry that Ms. Gordon had to go through this, and hope her story prevents more like it from happening in the future.
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