Is lockdown fuelling a rise in misogyny? Doctor claims SIX male drivers shouted lewd comments at her while she was on a run - and women agree sexual harassment is getting WORSE during the pandemic (14 Pics)

A woman has claimed she was sexually harassed by six different men while out on a run - and argues the problem has got worse during lockdown.

Dr Michelle Kelly-Irving, a public health scientist from Ireland who lives in France, told how a 'middle-aged white man' slowed down his BMW, rolled down his tinted window and 'made lewd comments' as she jogged.

Writing on Twitter, she said he was one of six men who did this during her run, adding: 'I hope my response scared you off from future opportunistic behaviour and I hope my foot dented your car door.'

Her tweet, shared on Saturday, was liked more than 65,400 times and attracted dozens of comments, with many women sharing similar experiences.

Dr Michelle Kelly-Irving, a public health scientist from Ireland who lives in France, told how a 'middle-aged white man' slowed down his BMW, rolled down his tinted window and 'made lewd comments' as she jogged

Writing on Twitter, Dr Kelly-Irving said he was one of six men who did this during her run, adding: 'I hope my response scared you off from future opportunistic behaviour and I hope my foot dented your car door'

In a follow-up tweet, Dr Kelly-Irving said she believes this sort of behaviour has got worse during the coronavirus pandemic, with many women forced to run alone amid lockdown.

She wrote: 'The pandemic has let them revert to their deep-seated misogyny.'

In response, fellow Twitter user Helen Holdsworth, from the UK, tweeted: 'I'm almost 60 and still get lewd comments from men while running. Cowardice means they only do this from the safety of cars.

'My mother (92) says it stops only when you need a stick to walk. And then you risk being run over by the self-centered monsters.'

In a follow-up tweet, Dr Kelly-Irving said she believes this sort of behaviour has got worse during the coronavirus pandemic, with many women forced to run alone amid lockdown

Sophie P, also from the UK, commented: 'A few weeks ago I went for a jog for the first time in years. I was circled by a gang of teenage boys on bikes for several minutes while they shouted dirty insults at me. It was really quite scary. Such a sad state of affairs.'

Jaspreet Sohal replied: 'Good on you. I think most women have had to deal with this. I had to change my usual walking route as local taxi drivers thought it was OK to follow me.'

And Mrs O tweeted: 'I feel like this sort of misogyny is on the rise. It's designed to keep women in our places. Hope more are filmed and their partners informed. 

Dr Kelly-Irving's post attracted a stream of responses from other women who have experienced similar - and many praised her reaction

'I would kick my husband or sons out if they behaved like this, but then wouldn't be with him in the first place if he was such a t*****.' 

Aoife Ní Shúilleabháin, from Dublin, agreed it 'really has gotten worse during lockdown', adding: 'It's never a compliment if someone catcalls but it's intimidating AF when someone shouts something rude or aggressive.'

Many men also responded to Dr Kelly-Irving's tweet, with one, Graham Scrambler, writing: 'I don't think most men realise how often this happens to women.'  

Many men also responded to Dr Kelly-Irving's tweet, with one, Graham Scrambler, writing: 'I don't think most men realise how often this happens to women'

One in five girls experience street harassment during lockdown 

In April, research from global children's charity Plan International UK revealed one in five girls have experienced street harassment during lockdown.

The poll of more than 1,000 14-21-year-old girls also found that, despite the streets being emptier than ever, one in five (18 per cent) of girls who have experienced street harassment during this time say that it has got worse in the lockdown period.

One in 10 (nine per cent) of girls have received unwanted attention including having insults shouted at them, and one in 10 (nine per cent) also said they have experienced unwanted sexual attention, unwanted sexual or physical contact, or indecent exposure in public. 

Yet one quarter of girls (26 per cent) who had experienced harassment did not tell anyone about the incident.

Overall, the poll found that over a quarter of girls (28 per cent) feel less safe outside during the lockdown period.