Among teenage girls, receiving an unsolicited photograph is normal; expected.
53% of young women will receive an unsolicited picture from a man. The unsought attention doesn’t simply pertain to pictures, but comments, or crude messages about the most personal parts of your body.
The expectation that these unrequested actions will be met with active sexual enthusiasm only reinforces the assumption that any woman appreciates these “compliments” from men – that any woman should be ready to succumb to any sexual request given to her by an unknown profile.
When asked if they have ever sent an unsolicited picture, 50% of men said “never”, 20% said “prefer not to say”, and 3% said they “don’t know”.
Catcalling seems to have become old fashioned in the age of the internet – now teenage boys prefer to send images of themselves out of the blue to unsuspecting teenage girls; and then say they “prefer not to say” or “don’t know” if they have later. These teenage girls and young women are more than photos on a screen - they are human beings who do not want nor need non-consensual phallic pictures in their direct messages. Consent isn’t only important in the “real world” – it concerns online activities also. Put simply - keep it in your pants.
Written by Isa Edwards Buesa
Artwork by Zara Masood
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