Quote:
Originally Posted by kawaiivictim
Ya see, I'm 19.
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Welcome to womanhood in a patriarchal society. I suggest you take a seat, get out your notebook or tablet, and take notes.
1. Do not make eye contact with men who are staring at you or obviously trying to get your attention if you are not interested in conversing with them. Do not feel compelled to smile at a man just because he looks at you. Smiling at them is a signal to them that you are open for approach.
2. I see you're the OP on the thread in Non-Relationships about
men who tell women who are strangers to them to smile. I hope that was informative and that you learned something there, because that fakey-arse "SMILE!" thing is really just creeptastic patriarchy in action.
3. If a man with whom you are not interested in conversing tries to make a bait-and-switch by asking you what time it is, for help, or for directions, respond to him as you would a coworker: Professionally. "It's 3:15/Oh, you're on the wrong side of the track--the other side goes to Silver Spring/Go three more blocks and make a left, and it will be about three doors down on the right side." Then go back to what you were doing.
4. Do not be afraid to pull out your phone and make a call or text, open a book or ereader, open a tablet or laptop, or put on headphones while you are on a plane, train, or bus. Many opportunists like to try to take advantage of having a captive audience should they sit down next to, or be seated next to, a woman.
5. If you travel frequently, and you have a tablet or laptop that you take with you, set the wallpaper/background to a picture of you and a brother/guy friend/male cousin. Also, keep some pictures of said guys in your phone, so that you can look at them should you sense someone is about to try to pick you up. A nosy man trying to look at your screen will see it and assume the man is a significant other.
6. Invest in a ring that looks like an engagement ring or wedding band if you travel frequently and want to be left alone, or just want to be left alone while out with your chick buddies. My friends and I had such rings that we would wear out on the town.
7. If all of these seem too defensive, then learn the art of the white lie.
"That's a pretty dress you're wearing/nice smartphone/interesting looking [whatever]."
"Thanks! It was a gift from my boyfriend."