A man I don’t know scared me.
That’s what this post is about. That’s it in a nutshell.
And when I say “scared me” what I mean is that I thought I was possibly about to get raped.
Three weeks ago, I was home alone on a Saturday afternoon. My husband was out, my five-year-old was playing at a neighbour’s house and my two little boys were asleep having their daytime naps. I was standing in the lounge room sorting washing when I heard the click of our front garden gate. Then I heard someone knocking on the laundry door downstairs. Our dog started barking madly so I locked him in the bedroom.
I wasn’t worried at this point. I thought perhaps it was Anne who lived next door.
“Hellooooo?” I called out, walking outside onto the veranda.
I could hear footsteps beneath the floorboards. Delivery drivers and couriers had a habit for dropping any packages or parcels underneath the veranda. At this point I wasn’t worried.
“Hello?” I called again, a little louder.
That’s when he appeared. All scruffy beard and laconic grin.
He was 20-something. Holding a clipboard.
I winced. He had one of those random electricity company logo shirts on.
“Oh there you are,” he smiled up at me, as I stood above him.
Internally, I rolled me eyes. I’d seen ACA enough times to know I was about to be asked to sign up to some energy plan from a company I’d never heard of with a shitty discount rate.
Top Comments
We are having landscaping done and bunch of different trades have been working outside. The tilers insisted that I leave the back door unlocked so they could use the toilet. If I left the door locked they would come to the front door and request that I let them in. Having 5 strange men walking through your house at random intervals when you are home alone with two little kids was frightening to me. Why did I agree to this and not just say no? I'm not sure but think it was because I felt intimidated. I'm sure there was no threat and from their view it was their right but I did wonder if they would feel comfortable with their partners/children being put in that situation.
Men have always ruled women through fear. If we give them that fear we give them that power. I am always alert, but never fearful. I refuse to let the "vulnerable weak woman" stereotype rule my life. It is my right as a citizen and a human to walk around my neighbourhood and feel safe. I did 2 years of martial arts and self defence, and because of that I feel confidant and responsible for my safety. I did it because I was sexually harassed and I decided I would never feel threatened, vulnerable, and scared because of a man ever again. I WILL NOT be ruled by fear.