Hey girlie! You are so real. I'm so sorry that you've had these of street harassment experiences in Peru, but I commend you on your clear articulation of your thoughts on the matter. Your honesty is greatly appreciated, and I'm glad that as women on this trip we've been able to have some solidarity between us. To add another dimension to your very important post on gender, I think race also plays a role. During outings with you and/or Caroline I felt that there was more objectifying sexual attention. Meanwhile, when I was with friends from other ethnicities, attention seemed to be focusing on determining country of origin. Both types of attention are unsettling, uncomfortable, and unwanted. There is definitely a type of attention that is merited in the exotic that we've experienced as foreigners visiting Peru, but it's interesting how whiteness in particular appears to be mediated as sexual attention. Thank you for opening up discussion on this prevalent topic. Much love to you always :)
Hey Orla, the value of what you’ve chosen to share in this blog cannot be understated. You articulated the feeling of being observed and subsequently objectified without consent so well. I am sorry you’ve had to experience this and your ability to see the positives of the trip as well is as well. I feel the same way when I wear a shirt without a bra or even when some men find out I speak Spanish and I guess this means it’s time to get married?? While my body is different than yours, and my relationship to the expression of femininity is different than yours, I LOVE being a women, I LOVE looking “feminine” (for what it means to me) and having to think twice about your personal expression can be so frustrating. The danger you’ve encountered brought upon by these interactions is a real problem and youre right, it wont change their mindset to “just wear a longer skirt”. Men who harass women, harass women. It is incredible you embrace who you are and I can’t wait to hear more from you!
Hey Orla, first I would like to reiterate how much I loved your blog and appreciated your honesty, it's beautifully written and raw and I felt so seen as I read it. Travelling as a predominately female group, there is a gendered divide in our experiences of this beautiful, very machismo country. I don't say that with anything against the men of our group, but the experience is simply different and there can be no hiding from that. I really liked what you said about our laundry trip in Lima, how in that moment of feeling so unsafe you questioned the length of your skirt, because I remember us talking about that in that laundromat, and about how it is so infuriating that questioning the way you are dressed is so often the immediate first thought in that situation. In that moment, I remember thinking the same: "I shouldn't have worn shorts today." Again, thank you for your post, it's hard to put this kind of experience into words, and you did so bravely and beautifully.
Hey girlie! You are so real. I'm so sorry that you've had these of street harassment experiences in Peru, but I commend you on your clear articulation of your thoughts on the matter. Your honesty is greatly appreciated, and I'm glad that as women on this trip we've been able to have some solidarity between us. To add another dimension to your very important post on gender, I think race also plays a role. During outings with you and/or Caroline I felt that there was more objectifying sexual attention. Meanwhile, when I was with friends from other ethnicities, attention seemed to be focusing on determining country of origin. Both types of attention are unsettling, uncomfortable, and unwanted. There is definitely a type of attention that is merited in the exotic that we've experienced as foreigners visiting Peru, but it's interesting how whiteness in particular appears to be mediated as sexual attention. Thank you for opening up discussion on this prevalent topic. Much love to you always :)
Hey Orla, the value of what you’ve chosen to share in this blog cannot be understated. You articulated the feeling of being observed and subsequently objectified without consent so well. I am sorry you’ve had to experience this and your ability to see the positives of the trip as well is as well. I feel the same way when I wear a shirt without a bra or even when some men find out I speak Spanish and I guess this means it’s time to get married?? While my body is different than yours, and my relationship to the expression of femininity is different than yours, I LOVE being a women, I LOVE looking “feminine” (for what it means to me) and having to think twice about your personal expression can be so frustrating. The danger you’ve encountered brought upon by these interactions is a real problem and youre right, it wont change their mindset to “just wear a longer skirt”. Men who harass women, harass women. It is incredible you embrace who you are and I can’t wait to hear more from you!
Hey Orla, first I would like to reiterate how much I loved your blog and appreciated your honesty, it's beautifully written and raw and I felt so seen as I read it. Travelling as a predominately female group, there is a gendered divide in our experiences of this beautiful, very machismo country. I don't say that with anything against the men of our group, but the experience is simply different and there can be no hiding from that. I really liked what you said about our laundry trip in Lima, how in that moment of feeling so unsafe you questioned the length of your skirt, because I remember us talking about that in that laundromat, and about how it is so infuriating that questioning the way you are dressed is so often the immediate first thought in that situation. In that moment, I remember thinking the same: "I shouldn't have worn shorts today." Again, thank you for your post, it's hard to put this kind of experience into words, and you did so bravely and beautifully.