#verbalassault

I work as a lifeguard and the other day I was minding my own zone in the kitty pool area when three boys come up to me; now they were probably only 11 or 12 and they say to me, “did anyone ever tell you that you have nice melons” and swam away laughing hysterically. (Mind you I am quite small in the chest area and a fairly petite girl) I didn’t know quite how to respond other than “oh..” I called for my supervisor’s attention since he was not around atm another guard came out. A few minutes later a fellow male guard spoke to me on the issue and then pulls the three boys out and made them all apologize to me individually. He asked them why they did it and how it must’ve made me feel; then preceded to make them leave. I know they are just words but, The guard who told those boys off really made me feel better. Not just for getting the boys in trouble and sticking up for me, but he helped me remember that even in the midst of all the male-rape culture and misogyny and anti-feminism there are boys/men who aren't all sexually stimulated and say/do crude things. Plus having been physically hurt in ways similar to that (sexually) It made my skin crawl and I felt reminded about how much I hate the way my body is built. I was so uncomfortable and embarrassed by having to tell my supervisor, etc. After, since I had just been wearing my guard swimsuit, I put on my t-shirt the rest of my shift bc I felt so exposed. I just wanted to point out how considerate people (and especially those who don’t think before they speak) need to be. It’s like that quote that says “everyone you know is fighting a hard battle, be kind” I know those boys didn’t think anything of what they said bc they were just messing around, but again you never know what sometimes going through or what they have gone through and how it affects them. Please be kind, always. Not just with inappropriate words like that but with other things like religion, politics, etc. Everyone’s body is different and it can be hard for people to be comfortable with it, and being sexualized is not a good feeling at all. Be considerate of people’s skin, and parts for that is the home they live in. p.s. Sorry for the long post!