Ferris Rawson

Not his real name.

[Ferris Rawson @OgdanTucci]

@clairewad Allez les Bleus!!

[Ferris Rawson @OgdanTucci]

@clairewad Happy Birthday Claire!!

[Ferris Rawson @OgdanTucci]

@elonmuskTN R

[Claire Waddington @clairewad]

Today is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and I would like to share my story again. I have lived happily in Paris for 30 years. However, in the background, and yet very much affecting who I am today, for the first 20 of those years as a younger woman I endured constant relentless street harassment and violence on a DAILY basis. I seriously mean I frequently had 50 or more comments A DAY and all day long ranging from staring leering and Bonjour Mademoiselle to sale pute /connasse /salope /t’es grosse /pour qui tu te prends /t’es bonne /je vais te baiser /ici on répond au gens /tu te prends pour une princesse- all the way to being followed, men slipping into buildings behind me and having to use all my force to protect myself, spitting on my face, shoving me against walls, a pocket knife on my throat in the metro in the middle of the afternoon, whacked, hit, constant groping (once a guy cupped my breast and squeezed hard while arm in arm with his girlfriend and she didn’t notice and thought I was mad when I yelled), rubbed against, and one time flipped on my head to briefly losing consciousness, another time extremely narrowly escaping rape. This from men from all walks of life, all over the city of Paris, in every arrondissement, during work or commutes, during outings or just grocery shopping at any hour in any outfit including a business suit (you know because people actually asked that even close friends and family - “but where were you/what were you wearing”). The male psychologist suggested I was manifesting it somehow - what was I doing or saying or how was I walking for it to happen?. People denied it like I was lying or exaggerating or even showing off - seriously. The police were a mixed bunch of helpfulness, one was very concerned and gave me his direct office number if anything should happen in central Paris but then another looked me up and down like I was a piece of meat and leered and I yelled and screamed at him that he was there to protect me not hit on me and his colleague wanted to take me into the station like it was my fault. There were many times I cancelled work or social events over this. I ended up mixing everything - just someone simply saying hello you’re beautiful on the street made me terrified or deeply disgusted - how could they know what I had to endure every day. But they should know. It took two decades for France to have a reckoning and it very much did. Suddenly street harassment was an actual thing and there were campaigns on the metro, suddenly it was all over social media and now men are so much more aware. No more constant “are you sure?!” “I’ve never heard of this, where do you hang out?!” Or worse being accused of lying to draw attention to myself. I kid you not. I defended myself, I walked fast, I crossed the road, I yelled my head off, I sought help on street, I had methods and tricks for avoidance, but I was deeply hurt, disgusted, violated, anguished, to my core. So today I’m posting all this. It’s a pain I carry with me daily. I have PTSD. Someone just has to ask me for directions or tap me on the shoulder, still today, and I scream and shake and then have to explain myself, very embarrassed, even though I’m now in my early 50s and this is long gone. My heart goes out to all my fellow women who have all been affected by gender-based violence in so many far reaching ways and to the women living in countries where even the law is oppressing them and where conditions are just getting worse rather than evolving. I stand with you all today with so much understanding love and support. I hear you always, I listen, I research, I see and I know.
#ViolenceAgainstWomen #NoExcuse


[Ferris Rawson @OgdanTucci]

Cats are worried, but fighting back.

[Ferris Rawson @OgdanTucci]

@clairewad Yikes! You could probably emigrate to Canada in less than 6 months!

[Juanita Mercer @juanitamercer_]

Good night, and good luck. ❤️

[Ted Blades @TedBlades]

Listening to @OnTheGoCBC , hearing the last print edition of the Telegram rolls off the press Saturday, August 24, 2024. The Evening Telegram started in 1879, 145 years ago. It's the end of an era, and perhaps a profession or six. #nlpoli

[Ferris Rawson @OgdanTucci]

Actor Donald Sutherland dead at 88 | CBC News https://t.co/x61c0O8pUq

[Ferris Rawson @OgdanTucci]

@clairewad Happy Birthday Claire!!!

[Peter Cowan @PeterCBC]

An NL cabinet minister had a meeting with VRBO leadership over their choice of song in their ad that played during the Super Bowl

[Ferris Rawson @OgdanTucci]

@clairewad Hope you are feeling better soon!

[Ferris Rawson @OgdanTucci]

Tim Wakefield, former Boston Red Sox pitcher and 2-time World Series champ, dies at age 57 | CNN https://t.co/T6735CIMxo

[Ferris Rawson @OgdanTucci]

You lost your shoe!?!

[BBC News (World) @BBCWorld]

Europe's oldest shoe found in Spanish bat cave https://t.co/NfzetrFUJD

[Ferris Rawson @OgdanTucci]

@thelaceylondon No, arms wider!

[Ferris Rawson @OgdanTucci]

Students and Staff at St. Thomas Aquinas Bid Farewell to Beloved Autism Service Dog | VOCM https://t.co/deEspIyY7e

[VOCM News @VOCMNEWS]

Anderson Cooper Thanks Province for Hospitality and Help Covering Titan Story

https://t.co/aDEHgqlQ0C

[Virtual Marine @virtual_marine]

#ICYMI Yesterday Virtual Marine announced the Digital Twin Development Centre in Newfoundland and Labrador in collaboration with the National Research Council Canada (NRC). Read more here: https://t.co/LyCCr2sA7T
#CANSEC2023 #BeReady #Canadiantech

[Ferris Rawson @OgdanTucci]

@clairewad Mmm…chicken.

[Ferris Rawson @OgdanTucci]

@thelaceylondon Here’s Johnny!