WHY ARE MEN ON THE SUBWAY SO SLEAZY?

I thought it was just luck or some weird grace from God. 

In the 4 years I had lived in NYC I had never had a weird/ uncomfortable situation happen to me on the subway. As friends told me stories about being splashed in the face with fruit punch by a homeless man and being followed home by a creepy fellow passenger, I felt fortunate that the strange man I have seen riding the 6 train (who I have eyed suspiciously) never choose to spit on me like he has on other young female riders. Of course, I have been inspected at by an unwanted gaze or two, and have had my fair share of cat calls, but nothing that up front effected me. 

Alas, it is NYC, and how long could I truly expect for my luck to run? 

Last Wednesday morning, I woke up to preform my daily routine march to the subway. I was wearing a blue classy cheetah business dress, with heel boots, and no tights -- since the weather was especially nice that day after the long dreadful winter. 

The trains are always crowded in the morning, with people bustling in a hurry to work, and I was crammed in between two men who were pressed up against me. Believe it or not, this is normal behavior, so it was nothing out of the ordinary, and I clutched my purse trying to be aware of any pickpocketers. 

In a tired daze, and in much need of coffee, I found myself zoning out on a subway map, until I felt something against my backside. This wasn't the normal body or bag pressed up against me on my morning subway rides, and it felt almost intentional. I took a deep breath and moved in closer to the seat in front of me, hoping the pressure against my bottom would disappear  For a second it seemed to hover, and then firmly it pressed against me again. To my horror, someone was cupping my ass cheek ! I contemplated turning around to witness the perverted perpetrator, but the train suddenly came to a screeching stop as it approached 42nd street. Too scared to face the truth and create a scene at 9 am, I hoped off and waited for the next train. 

I know, such a chicken move of me! I should have spun around slapped that guy in the face and been on my way, but instead I let him win and walked away ashamed and humiliated. 

What I want to know is: WHAT ON EARTH IS WRONG WITH MEN TODAY? What made that man think he could grab my ass just because I was wearing a tight dress? Guys, regardless if they are ugly, rich, poor, white, black, short or fat  slobber over woman, catcalling at us and making us feel uncomfortable like they have a right to. And we as woman have been letting them get away with it.

These guys who have let all chivalry fly out the door have not only stopped being gentlemen, but have taken two steps back. I can not tell you how many times I have rode the train where all the men were seated and all the woman were standing holding on to rails. 

And I get it, we are in a new day in age where things like giving up a seat to a lady on the subway is silly for men, but is it possible that by abandoning these classic gender gestures it has only heightened the distasteful ones commonly used today? 

Just something to think about, ladies. 

And in the odd chance that you've managed to come across a respectable young man -- hold on to him tight!