As women, we’re socialized into being as small and unobtrusive as possible. But recently, one brave lady got really, really close to breaking that norm: last week, 28-year-old Patricia Curbing seriously contemplated honking her car’s horn at another driver!
“It’s not something that I’d ever do unless I had a really good reason to,” explained Patricia. “But the driver in front of me obviously didn’t see the cyclist to his right, so it seemed like a way to help both of them out.”
Patricia, who has also strongly considered standing up for herself when her male colleagues interrupt her and taking up as much space as she needs on public transportation, went on to explain her almost-slip into the realm of obnoxious, rowdy women.
“Thankfully, the guy riding his bike saw the dangerous situation and pulled over to take himself out of it before I had to make a scene,” she said. “But I came so, so close to just barely tapping on my horn to alert the driver to check his rear-view.”
“I don’t think I’d have been out of line, it was a safety issue,” the absolute beast of a woman added.
Um, calm down Patricia!
Witnesses to the near-situation were shocked.
“I think she would’ve been justified in beeping, I’d just never even think about it,” said Lyssa Kinnay-Rosemont, who was driving close by. “She’s really got kinda guts!”
“I guess maybe she’s one of those new age, feminist types that always has to almost be heard,” said Mike Piazza, another driver. “I’m glad my wife knows not to vaguely consider the idea of causing a commotion.”
But the cyclist was surprised in a bit of a different way.
“I almost died,” said Devin O’Connor. “I wish more women would feel empowered to make any kind of noise or scene when they need to.”
We do too, Patrick! But until then, we’ll keep to ourselves!
