I was getting on the escalator to the fare-gates from the yellow/green line platform. A young woman and man got on the elevator slightly behind me. At first I thought they were traveling together; they were having a conversation.

I heard the young man said something about, “They just go together, like chocolate and peanut butter.” The young woman muttered a reply. The man continued, “You know, like Reese’s? The peanut butter cups? You like those?”

The young woman replied, in a voice that seemed to me to be shaking with nerves, “I don’t like MEN.” At this point, I decided they didn’t know each other, and he’d been hitting on her for some time, at least long enough for her to be nervous. I began to consider if I should say something. I know if I were her, I would want someone to say something.

The man was undeterred, “You don’t like men? You been hurt?” At this point the woman was trying to walk past him, but he was following her. She repeated, “I don’t like men.”
As he tried to walk past me, I turned to him and said, “Leave her alone if she doesn’t want to talk to you.”

At this point we were at the top of the escalator, and the woman walked quickly away towards the red line platform. The man followed me to the fare gates, and as I passed through, he said, “Ma’am, you really ought to mind your own business. You really should.”

This little piss-ant was threatening me for stepping on his game. Fuck that. “You really should mind your own business too,” I said, then walked quickly away.

My only regret is that I didn’t drive the point home by saying, “Women on the metro don’t exist for your convenience or gratification. If a woman doesn’t want to talk to you, mind your own damn business.” Never can think of the perfect thing to say at the time. Oh well, at least I said something.I was getting on the elevator to the fare-gates from the yellow/green line platform. A young woman and man got on the elevator slightly behind me. At first I thought they were traveling together; they were having a conversation.

Submitted by K

Location: Chinatown Metro

Time of harassment: Morning Rush Hour (5A-9:30A)

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