Doormats

We found ourselves in holes in the pavement covered by fine grilles (entrances to underground utilities, usually unnoticeable along the route), lying there curled up and silent. We initiated a situation that was potentially oppressive for us as women, confined below street level, and a situation that was surprising, sometimes shocking, for passers-by, whose everyday, ordinary route was disrupted by an unusual sight. We exposed our own bodies to physical threats – spitting, having cigarette butts thrown at us, being doused with beer; we were insulted, humiliated and criticised. Some people were frightened by us and were so shocked that they began to speak of the possibility of a heart attack. The reactions were lively and very strong – for the most part, they boiled down to a desire to help. It was only when confronted with the fact that this was our voluntary initiative that concern would turn into disappointment, aggression and a sense of being deceived.