Member-only story
THE AUTHENTIC ECLECTIC
A Stranger Pinched My Cheek and I Did Nothing
Why women freeze when men assault them
The other day a man pinched my cheek. It was the sort of cheek pinch you might give your intimate partner or your young child. But I was neither. I was a random woman, walking about and enjoying my day. And a man I’ve never met before took it upon himself to pinch my cheek.
I’d taken a mini-break to visit another city. It doesn’t matter where I was because I could have been anywhere and I’m not casting aspersions on that city or the men who live there. Just this one, particular man.
He approached me and asked me questions about where I was from and what I was doing. I was in the centre of a city that’s quite a tourist destination, so this didn’t really bother me. Even though there were plenty of other tourists walking around, so no idea why he approached me. But at the time, I thought he was just a friendly local. We’d exchange a few words, then we’d both be on our way.
But no.
First, he grabbed me in a bear-hug. Again, the sort of hug you’d give someone you’re close with, like a good friend or relative. Not a stranger you spotted in the street.
