I'm gonna throw a wrench into this one, not to be a PIA, but because it's a reality for WOMEN and girls that We. Aren't. Safe. Anywhere.
I don't get harassed as often as I used to when I was younger, but it definitely left a bad taste in my mouth.
Both of my girls are harassed regularly. Not just in Los Angeles, but here in South OC, too. In Los Angeles, they have both had men expose their penis to them as they simply walk down the street; they have been followed; they have been approached in parking garages; they have had men literally hold their to go container hostage until the man feels satisfied that my daughter has answered all his questions properly before he gives her the bag. Here in OC? Men have harassed them as they walk at Strands; my youngest will be on a walk on Marguerite and have men pull over in their car and offer her a ride; they have been followed; they have been approached on trails... I could go on, Y'all. (From a search): "Globally, approximately 1 in 3 women (about 840 million women and girls age 15 and older) experience physical or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime."
I bought my girls walking sticks to take with them when they are out. They have taken self defense classes, but I'm constantly urging them to take a refresher. Women. Are. Not. Safe. Ever.
OMG, I have little idea. Call it white male privilege. I'm aware of it, but only slightly as I don't deal with that reality. My heart goes out, I don't know how I could live with that.
That said, this conservative woman is going out of her way to call out a blue city as if it's any different from anywhere else in this world. This issue goes beyond politics and strikes at the heart of who we are. This is not a political issue and I'm sorry to hear what you have to say and wish there was something I could do to make it better.
I get the hullabaloo about why the story was written. I get why she did what she did and what it was meant to foment. I agree there is most likely little sincerity in her intent. But it still stands: women are part of a marginalized community and most of us, if not all, have experienced some level of harassment at the hands of random men while out and about in whatever place we may be. Yeah, it sucks. Sadly, many have become desensitized such is one of the reasons there are so few assaults reported.
My youngest was walking in downtown Culver City right next to the police department. She called me telling me about the man who exposed himself to her. I asked where she was, she told me, I directed her to go inside the station immediately and report him. The guy at the counter told her she needed to call 911 to report it. Like, WHAT the actual FUCK!? She's INSIDE the station and he told her there was no way for him to help. THAT'S where we are at when a woman reports a man who did that. Just for example.
This is sickening. As a 64 yo white male living largely in a bubble I'm so insulated from all of this. I'm almost embarrassed to say that. Never would I dream of doing anything approaching this kind of behavior, it is so strange to me, it's almost impossible to imagine. I had such a difficult time when I was single finding the nerve to even ask a woman out. My wife of 24 years works from home and rarely goes out on her own, she has never related anything of this nature (she's an immigrant and did not grow up here)..
This thread has gone off on a tangent. Thanks for sharing, I'm more aware now.
I have to agree. As a young to middle-age woman I experienced the same behaviors from men as Elel describes. It is sad that nothing has changed, and that men prey on women now as much as they did in the 20th century. They would prey on adolescent boys as well as girls, and probably still do. It happens everywhere, not just in big cities.
Frankly, I had forgotten. But one of the benefits of being a grey-haired old lady is that I don't need to carry pepper spray - which we didn't have when I was a kid.
Pink is a good color for pepper spray - it might prevent her from having to use it!
I know and have experienced shit from men- like many girls and women.
But, how the hell would she be able to use the pepper spray? One hand has the ever-present disposable coffee cup and the other has the ever-present phone?
Come to think of it, I'll tell you what's really crazy about all of this.
These cowards have no compunction about sending our brave men and women in the armed forces overseas far away from their families and loved ones and putting their lives at risk to fight some imaginary dragon., while this weak bitch feels a need to carry pepper spray around downtown Philadelphia while sipping a latte and goes out of her way to tell us about it.
And you thought it was tough covering sports for SI! I have always enjoyed your work, and thought it was an interesting switch to local politics. Even though I live in San Diego, I enjoy reading about the total s...storm in OC. Keep up the good work.
The juror parking garage is not staffed and uses automated parking ticket issuance and collection. Jurors must park up on the higher floors which are not well lit, then use the elevator or stairs. There is a roving security car that drives around. Directions to the courthouse are not great, but it is true that in the morning there is a trail of other jurors. The courthouse is on lockdown with no security outside until precisely opening time, as employees walk by the confused jurors asking them if they are in the right place. At opening time, they unlock the doors and again, no security is present outside.
I reluctantly have to agree with Elel that Women. Are. Not. Safe. Ever. My daughter has been stalked just about everywhere. She can't even walk down the street, let alone hike or run without being followed. Once she was warned by an older Hispanic woman that she had to quickly get in her car and leave because some guys were going to grab her in front of Ralph's supermarket.
That having to be said, I agree that parents with children living in affluent communities don't expose their kids to other local areas. I complained that my daughter's Girl Scout trip to the Bronx was cancelled because the parents didn't want their kids exposed to poverty! And this was 15 years ago when I lived in Briarcliff Manor, NY which is as exclusive as parts of O.C.
Huge fan of of your articles. I will also throw a wrench into things by saying I am one of the few born and raised in Orange County. I hate going to LA (one word- traffic!). Also, what is LA? Downtown? Hollywood? Santa Monica? Just as one automatically thinks of Manhattan when one thinks of NYC, there are other parts of NYC. But LA is weird- I immediately think of downtown and…office buildings? Staples Center? 🤷🏻♀️
I’ve been to Santa Ana numerous times but it’s not super close and eh, not the first city that pops into my head when I think of places to go. But I should probably change that mindset.
Anyhoo, as always, thanks for doing the lord’s work. Much appreciated.
Welcome to what women have been carrying for years even in OC. We have encountered HOA board bullies as volunteers, guys stalking us, cat calls from cars, stopped guys from ass grabbing etc. And we have been watching kidnapping from our streets via apps while our local PD stands down. We will not be the next victims! So her pink one is a fashion statement but there are many reasons to carry now!
I remember being a med student and letting a patient know, at UCI Med Center’s ER in Orange about the resources for uninsured patients like her at UCI’s Family Health Center on Main in Santa Ana, and her asking me, “But Santa Ana— is it…safe?” I told her that I was there every day for some of my rotations and while I couldn’t comment on how it was at night since I worked during the day with the busy downtown full of people— and also because I’m a woman and never feel safe at night—in the daytime I had always felt as safe as you ever get to feel, being female. The thing that stuck out to me was that she was Latina. No question, though, that this conservative influencer is calling out a blue city to get clicks or whatever. And I completely agree that no amount of pepper spray is going to help her when she has her hands full of a phone and a coffee cup and won’t even be able to activate it — the pepper spray is performative, which is why it’s bright pink.
Maybe she watched your Press Box Chronicles this week on the 1993 Philadelphia Phillies and became scared, thinking the streets of Philly are filled with hooligans.
The reality here is that they're a bunch of cowards, Jeff, and it's the fear that motivates them. It is the strongest impulse in human survival coming as a result of having an enlarged amygdala. Say "boo" and they all hide beneath their desks.
If they weren't such terrible people, I would feel bad for them. Imagine living a life where you think drinking a latte in Philly is risking your life.
I'm gonna throw a wrench into this one, not to be a PIA, but because it's a reality for WOMEN and girls that We. Aren't. Safe. Anywhere.
I don't get harassed as often as I used to when I was younger, but it definitely left a bad taste in my mouth.
Both of my girls are harassed regularly. Not just in Los Angeles, but here in South OC, too. In Los Angeles, they have both had men expose their penis to them as they simply walk down the street; they have been followed; they have been approached in parking garages; they have had men literally hold their to go container hostage until the man feels satisfied that my daughter has answered all his questions properly before he gives her the bag. Here in OC? Men have harassed them as they walk at Strands; my youngest will be on a walk on Marguerite and have men pull over in their car and offer her a ride; they have been followed; they have been approached on trails... I could go on, Y'all. (From a search): "Globally, approximately 1 in 3 women (about 840 million women and girls age 15 and older) experience physical or sexual intimate partner violence or non-partner sexual violence in their lifetime."
I bought my girls walking sticks to take with them when they are out. They have taken self defense classes, but I'm constantly urging them to take a refresher. Women. Are. Not. Safe. Ever.
OMG, I have little idea. Call it white male privilege. I'm aware of it, but only slightly as I don't deal with that reality. My heart goes out, I don't know how I could live with that.
That said, this conservative woman is going out of her way to call out a blue city as if it's any different from anywhere else in this world. This issue goes beyond politics and strikes at the heart of who we are. This is not a political issue and I'm sorry to hear what you have to say and wish there was something I could do to make it better.
I get the hullabaloo about why the story was written. I get why she did what she did and what it was meant to foment. I agree there is most likely little sincerity in her intent. But it still stands: women are part of a marginalized community and most of us, if not all, have experienced some level of harassment at the hands of random men while out and about in whatever place we may be. Yeah, it sucks. Sadly, many have become desensitized such is one of the reasons there are so few assaults reported.
My youngest was walking in downtown Culver City right next to the police department. She called me telling me about the man who exposed himself to her. I asked where she was, she told me, I directed her to go inside the station immediately and report him. The guy at the counter told her she needed to call 911 to report it. Like, WHAT the actual FUCK!? She's INSIDE the station and he told her there was no way for him to help. THAT'S where we are at when a woman reports a man who did that. Just for example.
This is sickening. As a 64 yo white male living largely in a bubble I'm so insulated from all of this. I'm almost embarrassed to say that. Never would I dream of doing anything approaching this kind of behavior, it is so strange to me, it's almost impossible to imagine. I had such a difficult time when I was single finding the nerve to even ask a woman out. My wife of 24 years works from home and rarely goes out on her own, she has never related anything of this nature (she's an immigrant and did not grow up here)..
This thread has gone off on a tangent. Thanks for sharing, I'm more aware now.
I have to agree. As a young to middle-age woman I experienced the same behaviors from men as Elel describes. It is sad that nothing has changed, and that men prey on women now as much as they did in the 20th century. They would prey on adolescent boys as well as girls, and probably still do. It happens everywhere, not just in big cities.
Frankly, I had forgotten. But one of the benefits of being a grey-haired old lady is that I don't need to carry pepper spray - which we didn't have when I was a kid.
Pink is a good color for pepper spray - it might prevent her from having to use it!
I know and have experienced shit from men- like many girls and women.
But, how the hell would she be able to use the pepper spray? One hand has the ever-present disposable coffee cup and the other has the ever-present phone?
Come to think of it, I'll tell you what's really crazy about all of this.
These cowards have no compunction about sending our brave men and women in the armed forces overseas far away from their families and loved ones and putting their lives at risk to fight some imaginary dragon., while this weak bitch feels a need to carry pepper spray around downtown Philadelphia while sipping a latte and goes out of her way to tell us about it.
I truly despise this type of conduct.
And you thought it was tough covering sports for SI! I have always enjoyed your work, and thought it was an interesting switch to local politics. Even though I live in San Diego, I enjoy reading about the total s...storm in OC. Keep up the good work.
Is someone forcing her to be in Philadelphia? People love to bash cities while enjoying their amenities.
Ohhhhhh she's a Vanguard girlie. She makes more sense, now.
My girlfriend tried to get out of jury duty because it was in (gasp!) Santa Ana.
What??? Seriously???
The juror parking garage is not staffed and uses automated parking ticket issuance and collection. Jurors must park up on the higher floors which are not well lit, then use the elevator or stairs. There is a roving security car that drives around. Directions to the courthouse are not great, but it is true that in the morning there is a trail of other jurors. The courthouse is on lockdown with no security outside until precisely opening time, as employees walk by the confused jurors asking them if they are in the right place. At opening time, they unlock the doors and again, no security is present outside.
I reluctantly have to agree with Elel that Women. Are. Not. Safe. Ever. My daughter has been stalked just about everywhere. She can't even walk down the street, let alone hike or run without being followed. Once she was warned by an older Hispanic woman that she had to quickly get in her car and leave because some guys were going to grab her in front of Ralph's supermarket.
That having to be said, I agree that parents with children living in affluent communities don't expose their kids to other local areas. I complained that my daughter's Girl Scout trip to the Bronx was cancelled because the parents didn't want their kids exposed to poverty! And this was 15 years ago when I lived in Briarcliff Manor, NY which is as exclusive as parts of O.C.
Huge fan of of your articles. I will also throw a wrench into things by saying I am one of the few born and raised in Orange County. I hate going to LA (one word- traffic!). Also, what is LA? Downtown? Hollywood? Santa Monica? Just as one automatically thinks of Manhattan when one thinks of NYC, there are other parts of NYC. But LA is weird- I immediately think of downtown and…office buildings? Staples Center? 🤷🏻♀️
I’ve been to Santa Ana numerous times but it’s not super close and eh, not the first city that pops into my head when I think of places to go. But I should probably change that mindset.
Anyhoo, as always, thanks for doing the lord’s work. Much appreciated.
She is just too precious for the mean streets of DTLA or even Santa Ana. Such a poor over privileged woman.
Jeff
Welcome to what women have been carrying for years even in OC. We have encountered HOA board bullies as volunteers, guys stalking us, cat calls from cars, stopped guys from ass grabbing etc. And we have been watching kidnapping from our streets via apps while our local PD stands down. We will not be the next victims! So her pink one is a fashion statement but there are many reasons to carry now!
Why you gotta bring pink into it? Some of us like pink — and we live in Santa Ana.
I remember being a med student and letting a patient know, at UCI Med Center’s ER in Orange about the resources for uninsured patients like her at UCI’s Family Health Center on Main in Santa Ana, and her asking me, “But Santa Ana— is it…safe?” I told her that I was there every day for some of my rotations and while I couldn’t comment on how it was at night since I worked during the day with the busy downtown full of people— and also because I’m a woman and never feel safe at night—in the daytime I had always felt as safe as you ever get to feel, being female. The thing that stuck out to me was that she was Latina. No question, though, that this conservative influencer is calling out a blue city to get clicks or whatever. And I completely agree that no amount of pepper spray is going to help her when she has her hands full of a phone and a coffee cup and won’t even be able to activate it — the pepper spray is performative, which is why it’s bright pink.
Maybe she watched your Press Box Chronicles this week on the 1993 Philadelphia Phillies and became scared, thinking the streets of Philly are filled with hooligans.
God only speaks to them.
The reality here is that they're a bunch of cowards, Jeff, and it's the fear that motivates them. It is the strongest impulse in human survival coming as a result of having an enlarged amygdala. Say "boo" and they all hide beneath their desks.
If they weren't such terrible people, I would feel bad for them. Imagine living a life where you think drinking a latte in Philly is risking your life.
Sad. Pathetic. And the rest of us have to live with their shit.
It almost feels as if we're in an abusive relationship.