I have my share of stories about men being rude, condescending, and/or misogynistic, but no genuinely scary stories that happened to me personally, and it's certainly not because I've never taken any risks.

I know I've been very, very lucky.

Or in an isolated place with no one else around?

No fear of what may happen?

Or walked into a restaurant with mostly loud men drinking, that didn't feel safe?

The point I am making is that men don't have to go through this.

Always been leery walking alone after dark, for sure.

I was thinking of something more specific, like being directly threatened by a man or having a narrow escape from some dude trying to harm me. I've not experienced anything like that.

But being in situations where I felt like I had to be on my guard or felt unsafe in general because of male behavior, sure, and I'm sure just about all women have.

It's very true that men don't have to look over their shoulders or be on guard about their personal safety as much as women do.

Men don’t have to worry about stuff like that.

Another one is getting into an elevator when it stops at your floor and there’s only one man inside.

2 different times, I had to fight off different men. I was able to fight off the one on my own, but had to call for help with the other, and tG, someone helped me.

I'm glad you don't have a story like that to tell

Don't walk or jog in certain areas or at night. Put your keys between your fingers as a weapon when walking to your car. Don't go bar hopping without a friend. Use a code word or make the driver say your name when ordering a lyft or uber. Cross the street when walking past an alley. The list goes on and on ad nauseum.

We're more than breasts, ass and vaginas. Men, if you're not a part of the solution, you're part of the problem. Don't let your buddies get away with misogynist jokes, innuendos, cat-calls or devaluing women. Treat ALL women with the respect you (hopefully) give your mother, sister or wife.

For every woman who doesn't have a scary story there are probably fifty women who have more than one.

Getting mugged in Detroit when I was 21. The death threats from my work for women's rights, including the kkk death threats to the National Women's Conference attendees in 1977.

And, although this was not a direct threat, it really pissed me off. I was in CA, driving around on a day off, and came across a county park that looked interesting. There was a trail about a mile long into the woods, a pretty stream. I figured I could get some good photos. And then I stopped myself. Mine was the only car. The Hillside strangler had not yet been caught. None of my friends knew where I was., and this was long before cell phones. Common sense told me it was not a good idea., so I left. We should not HAVE to worry about such things.

To inflict severe damage at an early age because I needed to. I didn't think I'd survive life in my home before I would get a chance to be old enough to be out alone so I could get mugged, but I was almost the victim of a pedophile when I was five, I managed to escape.

I really can't count all the times, though I suppose if I actually tried for an hour or so I might remember them all. It's the life of a female person in America, our own dirty little secret.

I am so very sorry for what you went through. Children should be safe in their homes, but we know that is often not true.

I am so glad that you are a fighter, a survivor.

It is something that has to change. It will take all of us but it needs to happen and soon.

great apes are our closest genetic cousin. Their society has basically no sexual violence, no male dominance. If a female is bothered by a male, she cries out, and all the females in the area coming rushing to her aid.

I am looking forward to more reading.

Inter-group behavior is very interesting. Humans have always observed animals and mimicked their social patterns. It's a fascinating topic. I find those where the females hold power, they usually opt for more egalitarian social arrangements at all levels.

They are, also, very successful until they are overwhelmed by male dominated brute force and ignorance groups.