Question for all ladies over 40.

[hc4361]

Were you ever, when 18 or younger, inappropriately groped, goosed, touched, rubbed against, harangued, verbally abused or humiliated, propositioned by an older man?

A quick survey of my wife, family and friends shows the majority were, including in the workplace, and nothing was ever done about it.

[Jeza]

The stared out word was Bollcocks

[mrs.chappie]

Yes, and throughout life until I reached fifty. I worked in a predominantly male environment for many years and just saw it as human nature.

[sherrardk]

Not that I recall but it was well know that my grandfather (not my nice one, my paternal one - the dad of my biological father that I am 'estranged' from) was a dirty old man. He got away with it because he was on the town council and was a local butcher (and because his wife was one nasty piece of work - Hyacinth Bouquet on the rampage).

[puzzled54]

Agree with SunnyDave - different world, different rules.
Was 'normal' to be whistled at or have remarks shouted going past a building site. Kerb crawlers, girlie calendars in the workplace - I would be horrified if my daughters got treated the same now.

[shaneystar2]

Not as a child but often in the workplace when I was older by creepy guys .Yuk .
"it was a different world with different rules back then?" Was it ?
I had my own rules which were ....don't touch what you can't afford .
So it was Ok "then "was it for some guy to think he could touch you up and you would laugh it off .The last creepy invidual who groped me in the workplace was laughing on the other side of his face when I slapped it .

[sunny-dave]

I wasn't saying it was right - just making the point that when something (however unacceptable) is endemic it is harder to 'kick against the pricks' and that no-one should be beating themselves up about not making a fuss at the time.

[lady-janine]

one place i worked most of the men had girlie calendars of some sort so i put up the 11.30 coke ad as a screen saver and was told to remove it as it was distasteful and inappropriate. queried about the calendars and was told that not offensive and totally different.

i never told anyone about my part time job in the evenings. would have been so misunderstood. dirty minded buggers.

[humbersloop]

It was a different world.

At the same time, when I was about nine, my fiercely protective father taught me how to make a proper fist, showed me the point on the jaw to aim for and how to administer a knee to the nuts properly. And gave me encouragement to do it if things weren't "right"

Which came in handy from the age of twelve onwards

[Maydup]

As a child of the 1960's I seem to grow up surrounded by "dirty old men". Luckily noting serious happened to me but there were plenty of people to be wary of - school caretaker, a particular bus conductor, a school friend's relative, a neighbour and a local celebrity. They were all prone to a grope and a rub against and inappropriate asides. Some girls were tough enough to deal with it, others became shy and sensitive. We were all on our guard.

[Brinjal]

Not 18 or younger but definitely as a young working woman. I would just ignore it and keep out of the way of that person. My own daughters are not so quiet about things and put inappropriate men in their place.

[woofgang]

"Never was but if I had been I'd have decked them! Irrespective of who they were. I wasn't the nice sweet girly that I am now way back then!"
^^
What nungate said. I was a teenager through the sixties, wore the minis and so on and would not have tolerated so much as a leery look or comment.

[friedgreentomato]

yes I was 17, working in a pub - one of the customers who had always been friendly decided to try and kiss me and touch me after closing one night - I reported it to my boss who said no one would believe me as I had flirted with him!!

The bloke was about 50 had a beard and was a tutor at the local private college!

[ummmm]

I'm under 40 but the answer is Yes, on many occasions.

[emmie]

yes, and sexually assaulted by one man who happened to be my boss..

[flump1]

Yes I was , by an uncle. Children rarely mention abuse for fear of not being believed.

[ummmm]

I don't think it's a fear of not being believed. It embarrassment.

[emmie]

it is fear of not being believed, and having to go to court, police...

[friedgreentomato]

By the way can I point out I am only a month over 40!!!

[ummmm]

Kids don't understand the process. When they are touched in an inappropriate way they don't think 'court' 'police'

[LyndaB]

Yes, on several occasions. Like many posters have said, it was different back then.