Woman recounts 'intimidating' car park experience in local Woolworths

Shopping for essentials should be a normal experience for everyone.

However, a woman's routine trip to the supermarket turned into a harrowing ordeal.

Since then, her experience sparked conversations about women's safety and gender-based harassment in Australia.


Jeannine Baird's experience in a dimly lit Woolworths car park was a stark reminder of women's challenges, even in seemingly safe public spaces.

Baird's encounter with a group of young men, who subjected her to whistling and catcalling, was not just a personal violation but a symptom of a much larger societal problem.

Baird detailed the incident in an open letter she posted on social media.

'I am under no illusions that my dress or physical attributes caused you to behave that way,' Baird wrote.


compressed-jeannine baird.jpeg
Jeannine Baird came from a Brass Monkeys concert before she encountered the unidentified men in a Woolworths' car park. Image Credits: Facebook/Jeannine Baird


'I was completely covered, wearing a hat and scarf (over my outfit). I had on jeans and low-block heeled shoes. I have greying, frizzy hair. Nobody will blame me or attempt to imply I was somehow enticing you to behave that way.'

After reaching her car, she circled back to have a 'motherly conversation' with the men, only for them to disappear.

Undeterred, Baird reported the incident to Sutherland Police, hoping that CCTV footage might help identify the culprits.

Her actions were a powerful call to women to stand up and report similar experiences, reinforcing the right to feel safe.

She also ended her letter with, 'I pray your mums, sisters, and future girlfriends, wives and daughters never experience anything like this.'


Social justice campaigner and March4Justice founder Janine Hendry interpreted such behaviour as a quest for power over women.

'For some young men, it's learned behaviour, socialised behaviour from their peers or family,' she shared.

'Ultimately, as with sexual assault, it's about power. Young men egg each other on. It's social behaviour; someone in the group has decided it's funny. They are not thinking through the consequences.'

The statistics are alarming: in Australia alone, 35 women were allegedly killed by men this year.

'They do not see it as abuse or the precursor to sexual violence,' Hendry said.


Melissa Perry, CEO of White Ribbon Australia, echoed these sentiments, saying there is no place for such predatory behaviour in our society.

'White Ribbon Australia supports men and boys in developing healthy masculinity and positive, supportive relationships with their male peers,' Perry shared.

The incident in the Woolworths car park is a microcosm of the broader issue of misogyny and sexism that persists in our culture.

It's a reminder that derogatory comments and sexist language are not harmless—they reinforce damaging attitudes and behaviours.

Men must be part of the solution, standing up against such actions and language and making it clear that they are unacceptable.


The outpouring of support for Baird in the comments on her Facebook post reflected a collective desire for change.

Parents expressed hope that their sons will never perpetrate such behaviour, and many thank Baird for her courage in speaking out.

As members, we understand the importance of feeling secure in our communities.

We've seen societal shifts over the decades, and we must continue to advocate for a world where everyone, regardless of gender or age, can walk through a car park or any space without fear.
Key Takeaways

  • Sydney local Jeannine Baird reported a disturbing encounter with a group of young men who harassed her in a Woolworths car park, highlighting issues of intimidation and safety for women.
  • Social justice campaigner Janine Hendry discusses the behaviour as a manifestation of men seeking power over women, emphasising that it is a power and control issue.
  • White Ribbon Australia CEO Melissa Perry condemned the intimidating behaviour and called for men and boys to develop healthy masculinity and stand up against misogyny and sexism.
  • The incident sparked online discussions about male entitlement and the necessity for society to work towards ensuring women's safety.
If you or someone you know is affected by sexual assault or domestic violence, please reach out for support. You can call 1800RESPECT at 1800 737 732 or visit their website at 1800RESPECT.org.au.
 
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I don,t think catcalls and whistles necessarily lead to rape and and murder in fact back in the 70,s and 80,s the pretty girls would thrive on it with an encouraging smile,i do feel for this woman alone against a group of young men in a dark area,however she wasn,t so scared leaving the safety of her car not to approach them for a verbal reprimand.
 
In some cases these days, sadly, a wholf whistle is deemed to be sexual assault, along with staring for too long. What's the world coming to?
I do feel , however, for this woman. It seems now that everything males do, can be interpreted as a possible precurser to some kind of assault.
I could offer several likely explanations as to why our society has changed from yore, but in this PC climate, it would be suicidal.
Sad.
 
Meanwhile, a 60 year old woman murdered her husband in Epping, Sydney by bashing him to death with a hammer. Hardly a whimper from the media.

If the roles were reversed, we wouldn't hear the end of it.
The statistics are alarming: in Australia alone, 35 women were allegedly killed by men this year.

Try finding statistics for the number of men allegedly killed by women in 2024.

I'm still looking....
 
I don,t think catcalls and whistles necessarily lead to rape and and murder in fact back in the 70,s and 80,s the pretty girls would thrive on it with an encouraging smile,i do feel for this woman alone against a group of young men in a dark area,however she wasn,t so scared leaving the safety of her car not to approach them for a verbal reprimand.
I think she got into her car and went to speak to them.
 
Sorry Jeannine Baird, in your case, you should be appreciative of a wolf whistle.

Meanwhile, a 60 year old woman murdered her husband in Epping, Sydney by bashing him to death with a hammer. Hardly a whimper from the media.

If the roles were reversed, we wouldn't hear the end of it.
No she should not be appreciative of a bunch of hooligan kids intimidating her, and it is all over the news about this woman who ALLEGEDLY beat her husband to death. They are all alleged until proven other wise remember
 
The statistics are alarming: in Australia alone, 35 women were allegedly killed by men this year.

Try finding statistics for the number of men allegedly killed by women in 2024.

I'm still looking....
Found this 1 in 11 days women, 1 in 91 days men - 2022/23. That's about 33 women and 4 men in a year. see now why there is a lot more said about it? Because it happens more often. And these low bastards sometimes take their kids out too!
 
Found this 1 in 11 days women, 1 in 91 days men - 2022/23. That's about 33 women and 4 men in a year. see now why there is a lot more said about it? Because it happens more often. And these low bastards sometimes take their kids out too!
Just like the following....

Margaret Dale Hawke, 36, pleaded guilty to three counts of murder after killing her 10-year-old daughter and two sons, aged seven and four months, in the family’s Port Hedland home in Western Australia on 19 July 2022.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/austral...rned-their-bodies-sentenced-to-life-in-prison

Katica Perinovic, 42, killed her three children – Claire, 7, Anna, 5, and Matthew, 3 — before taking her own life during a psychotic episode at their Tullamarine home on January 14, 2021.

Source: https://7news.com.au/news/husband-o...octor-and-hospital-for-negligence--c-12943125

Mersane Warria was arrested by police yesterday over the deaths of seven of her children and a niece. Investigators believe the lives of four girls and four boys were taken sometime between Thursday and Friday morning.

Source: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-12...visit-memorial-attend-church-services/5981570

And the latest....

A West Australian mother charged over a car crash that killed her twin girls has had her case mentioned in court for the first time. Rachel Lisa Van Oyen is facing two counts of careless driving causing death, but did not appear in person, with her lawyer saying she is "struggling with the process".

Source: https://www.9news.com.au/national/c...ustralia/7cbf1efa-a340-4282-af11-d3baa0fb4744

That's a total of 16 children killed by their mother or close relative (in one case) in just four incidents.

Of course, women DO NOT commit infanticide or filicide like their male counterparts. Dream on....
 
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There's a hell of a difference between an innocent, appreciative, whistle directed at a pretty girl passing by - and the DELIBERATE and INTIMIDATING catcalling that is typical of a MOB of defectives surrounding a target and closing in on her/him. It's INTENDED TO THREATEN, TO INSTILL FEAR! And this happens to men as well as women who happen to be walking alone. And that old chestnut : 'You should be grateful' has no place in a civilized society! That's no better that saying 'she was wearing a short skirt so she deserved what was coming to her'.
 
I’d just tell them from my car to piss off! Then drive off with car locked.
 
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Now about those two young wimmin's libbers in that small NZ country town where my father used to live and who, on rounding a street corner, spat deliberately into his face. Dammit, I mean a 70-something old man threatening them by being about to walk round a street corner on the same pavement as them. He should've known better than to have been so rude!
 
Now about those two young wimmin's libbers in that small NZ country town where my father used to live and who, on rounding a street corner, spat deliberately into his face. Dammit, I mean a 70-something old man threatening them by being about to walk round a street corner on the same pavement as them. He should've known better than to have been so rude!
i come from a small town in the sth island. Gore
 

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