Twitter #WhenIWas is proof that all women experience some form of sexual harassment or sexual violence at some point in their lives.

A new hashtag is highlighting the subtle sexism, sexual harassment and violence women face from an early age.

We're using the #WhenIwas hashtag to share experiences and reveal just how early sexism, harassment, sexual violence & discrimination start — EverydaySexism (@EverydaySexism) April 19, 2016

Since Tuesday morning, women of all ages, ethnicities and backgrounds have shared their stories on Twitter.

Some women tweeted about being catcalled at ages as young as 9 or 10 years old. Other women shared stories of sexism in the form of sexual comments made by family friends at a young age or sexist dress codes enforced by teachers. The hashtag was also used to share darker stories about rape, molestation and victim-blaming.

As Bates explained to The Huffington Post in a recent interview, many of these smaller incidents of sexism can lead to more violent and serious abuse. "We’re often told not to make a fuss about street harassment or that we’re getting upset about nothing if we talk about media sexism, but you can see from the stories we receive that these things have a [domino] effect," Bates said. "When you normalize these everyday pinpricks, they create an environment that makes the more serious incidents possible."

Scrolling through the hashtag, which now has thousands of tweets, serves as an important reminder that all women experience some form of sexism -- and many experience it at a very young age.

Scroll below to read some of the stories shared with #WhenIWas.

Warning: Some readers may find the below stories triggering.

#WhenIWas 13 we were told we had to wear vests under school shirts "no matter how hot it was" bc our bras were distracting male teachers — Nina Keen (@KeenNina) April 19, 2016

#WhenIWas 15 I was told by a teacher that I was too mouthy for boys to like me when I complained that I was being sexually harassed — Amanda Tracy (@AmandaTracy) April 19, 2016

#WhenIwas in high school a white boy told me he wanted to hog-tie me+cut off my hair. Not in Mississippi or Alabama but Berkeley, California — A y a d e L e o n (@AyadeLeon) April 19, 2016

#WhenIwas 13 and developed breasts all the boys would make comments and try to grope them. But it was just "boys will be boys" behavior. — Rachel Gibbs (@rachelisrae) April 19, 2016

#whenIwas in 14 a teaching priest told us in class that rape is impossible as "a letter can't be posted if the letterbox isn't open". — Sadhbh (@Sadhbhzilla) April 19, 2016

#WhenIWas 16 i didn't know how i was supposed to tell the boy on the bus to stop touching/groping me. i didn't know that i could. — sailor mourn ⚰ (@detricotage) April 19, 2016

#wheniwas 8 my swimming instructor insisted he would help me learn how to float by holding me between the legs @EverydaySexism — Luna (@mentalexotica) April 19, 2016

#wheniwas 13 my male math teacher told me I didn't need to learn geometry because I already had such good curves. — OhmyTash (@ohmytasha) April 19, 2016

#WhenIWas 16 on a school trip I was drugged by a man at a hostel. He attempted to rape me. Police said I was old enough to know better. — Lydia Hulme (@EllesieBean) April 19, 2016

#wheniwas 13 I was sexually assaulted in a store by owner. In court he said it was ok as I was fat & ugly so no one would want me anyway — Girl Interested (@girlinterested) April 19, 2016

#WhenIWas 5, I was sexually assaulted till I was 8, by a close family member. Still overcoming it and trying to be okay. — Leeah the Spoonie (@POTSiePrincess_) April 19, 2016

#WhenIWas ten i was sent to the office for wearing shorts that were "distracting" to boys. TEN. — brie (@carouseIdoll) April 19, 2016

#wheniwas 15 my friend's dad said he would "knock the bottom outta that" if he were my boyfriend — grouchho marx (@trashbouquet) April 19, 2016

#WhenIWas 15 I was date-raped. I said NO NO NO - didn't matter. So, the next 2 times, I let it happen while I recited multiplication tables — liz salandar (@lizsalandar) April 19, 2016

#Wheniwas in HS, I was sexually harassed. Counsellor told me to show school spirit: if offenders were suspended, the hockey team wld lose. — Permanent Side Eye (@sarahkerr81) April 19, 2016

#WhenIWas 18, I broke up with my abusive BF. Our church asked me to not come anymore because it made him and his family uncomfortable. — Angie Kilbourne (@AKluvsSeahawks) April 19, 2016

#wheniwas 19 I was raped and denied it because I was never taught about Consent. I only found out after a bunch of YouTube scandals — Paige Anne (@Lefty31) April 19, 2016

The hashtag quickly gained traction with people of all genders tweeting their experiences. As of early Tuesday afternoon, 20,000 women shared their stories using #WhenIWas according to Everyday Sexism.

So often women and girls are dismissed, ignored or disbelieved. 20,000 stories on #WhenIwas prove we're not 'overreacting' or 'making it up' — EverydaySexism (@EverydaySexism) April 19, 2016

Head to Twitter to share your story using #WhenIWas or to read more stories.