parasitegirl | I am no Jezebel.

Two more people this week have suggested that I should remove all my make-up after gigs and “dress down”…for my safety.

Goddamnit.

Ya know what, my make-up and looks might make me a target. You know what else? Dressing down, removing all my make-up, making the attempt to deliberately cover my body more…that might also signal “passive, afraid, good target…won’t fight” and make me a target. I’m not saying “if I remove my make-up the terrorists and harassers have already won.” but I am saying “Removing my make-up doesn’t mean they don’t win or that I am safer, it just means I am more inconvenienced in what is already an unfair and frustrating situation “

I also feel that measures like washing all traces of make-up provide a sense of false security and may mean more effective ways of reducing risk are overlooked.

There is no magic look that makes women safe.

I try to adopt behaviors that reduce my risk: I don’t listen to my ipod as I walk home. I try to stay aware of my surroundings. I alter my route home sometimes. If I see suspicious behavior towards me I stop and get a GOOD look at it and am not afraid of offending with a negative reaction to potential untoward behavior or looking like a crazy bitch. I do what I can to stay safe and to keep things safe for other women. I am vocal. I tell. I talk. I share my experience. I endure annoying questions from police officers in order to reduce my future risk and to give other neighborhood women who may be targeted by this creep a better chance at justice.

I’m not going to scrub my face of make-up that is appropriate for outdoor wear just because it might make me look “too pretty”

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Yeah, I also would like to be back to "see my pretty costumes/ stories of crazy children/ good writing" on this here blog.