As a Singaporean, I appreciate our country for many things, such as the security it provides and a well-developed public transport system. However, speaking of the latter, commuting via public transport can be an ordeal from time to time, especially for us girls who have to fend ourselves from perverts aka tikopeks.
Instead of suffering in silence, Lemon8 user @_dear.diary felt that she has had enough, and encouraged others to stand up for themselves when encountering perverts in public via her account. Below, she shares useful tips based on her personal experiences.
As a window seat lover kind of girl, I’ve always preferred to sit next to the window to enjoy the scenery when I travel by bus. However, according to @_dear.diary, she recommends sitting on the outside of a two-seater for good reasons.
She believes that it is easier for anyone to “escape” from a pervert if they try to commit any lecherous act. Plus, if you notice a person asking to sit beside you despite an empty bus, you’d know that something is off.
If they attempt to touch you, @_dear.diary advises to not hold back and to “get the attention of other passengers”. Scream, approach the bus captain, or even seek help from fellow passengers ‒ do anything as long as the offender doesn’t get away.
Looking back, @_dear.diary regrets being scared and not confronting the offender when it happened to her because she is sure that “he’ll still be out there targeting more girls.”
Also, trust your instincts if you feel someone sitting across or opposite you is filming you. The best course of action is to get up from your seat and move to another side of the bus.
It’s worth mentioning that there are ads at bus interchanges with the slogan “If You Molest, We Will Arrest”, which should be your point of reference if you’re stuck in such a situation to know that help is available.
For those who primarily commute through MRT, @_dear.diary also shared various tips to deal with persisting perverts. According to her, if you notice someone intentionally changing seats just to sit next to you, she advises pretending to get off the train and waiting for the next one.
However, if they follow you as you exit the train, head towards the control station and inform the staff about your situation. Alternatively, try to blend in with the crowd to lose them.
Most perverts tend to target those who appear to be “easy targets”, and @_dear.diary recommends having a RBF, aka a resting b*tch face, to deter them. While you can’t change the way you look, you can always try to control your emotions and stare back at those who seem sus.
Besides these tips, the Association of Women for Action and Research (AWARE) has also emphasised that in the event of sexual harassment on the MRT, you can always press the Emergency Communication Button (ECB) located at the side of a train door to speak to the train officer.
By providing the carriage number, the train officer will not open the train doors until the station staff arrives. From then on, you will need to identify the culprit and assist in the investigation.
While we can all agree that Singapore is a relatively safe country, there will always be people who try to take advantage of the peace. Rather than keeping mum and allowing sexual predators to get away scot-free, fend for yourselves with these practical and useful tips from @_dear.diary.
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