How Revealing!

As I walked up to the gates of my school this morning, my face was set into my usual I-woke-up-before-the-birds-did frown but today it was a little more stern because I had been reading Laura Bates' book "Everyday Sexism" on the bus and was feeling even more acutely aware of the crushing force of the patriarchy and how much still needs to be done. The book itself was held tightly to my chest as I trudged along the pavement.

"Give us a smile, love!" came the chipper call of a man in van that had paused chivalrously next to me. Having caught me quite unawares, I turned my head to look at him (usually I would have flicked my finger at him and stormed off) and he laughs, winks and then the van drives off. I look at the book in my arms and, no thanks to Mr Spontaneous 8am Life Coach, I smile. I smile because in my head I am warning my new charming best friend that his days of flippant, casual, uncensored cat calling are numbered. I think about all the things are happening to start to eliminate behaviour like his and I begin to feel hopeful that the patriarchy's power is waning, that people everywhere are opening their eyes and standing up and fighting back.