I didn't realize just how many precautions I take on a daily basis until I read this list. It's really depressing that I consider these actions "natural" or "normal". And yes, #MeToo.

and, yes - #MeToo.

Necessary that we do.

When I worked and had to go into a garage late at night by myself, from a distance I checked under the car for feet. Approached giving it a wide berth to see if anyone was behind the tires and activated my car alarm as I went. Quickly locked the doors when I was inside.

At 6'2" and 240lbs, built like a linebacker, I never worried about being attacked by anyone. Then I started considering situations I found myself in from a woman's perspective. Would I be worried to walk down this street at night if I were a woman? Would I be afraid of crossing that open parking lot to my car if I were a woman? Most of the time, the answer was "Yes". Now I consider all situations from my wife's perspective. At 4'11", she is my opposite. Basically, I'm worried all the time. It's very depressing to think about.

Very important for them to learn about safety. Thanks for posting this.

black, white or brown, etc.) if they would rather be a woman for a single week and not one has ever said "yes". You would think that they obviously know how much it sucks in so many ways...illnesses, pay/jobs, physical abuse, ... that they would acknowledge how shitty it is to be a woman STILL and how little progress has been made in thousands of years of patriarchal rule. The men want to keep women as second class citizens as much now as 3,000 years ago. This is reason 1,000,000,000 I chose not to have kids.

This morning I walked with a buddy to the ATM. When we got to the ATM, there was a woman already using it. It's mid morning but nobody else is around, just her and us guys walking toward the ATM booth. She saw us and I could see apprehension in her face, so I slowed my pace to keep some distance. My buddy was yakking away so he did not take notice. As he walks up to the door of the booth, she steps out, pushing the door open to block his path and rushes to her car parked next to the booth. My buddy steps into the booth while I'm still a few paces away, and the woman is already in her car, her door shut, stumbling for her keys. My buddy sees that she left her ATM card in the machine. He grabs it and rushes out to her car, taps on the window, and waves the card so she can see it. The woman is jumping out of her skin by now, seeing this guy appear out of the blue next to her car. After a second or so, she rolls the window down a crack, my buddy hands the card to her, the window closes, and off she goes. My buddy comes back to the ATM and goes about his business as if nothing happened.

Several things bothered me about this incident:

First, that we live in a world where the mere presence of men is enough to frighten a woman so much.

Second, that men take this a perfectly normal.

Third that, frankly speaking, this is reasonable behavior given the circumstances.

From time to time I find myself in situations, in parking lots especially, where I am the only male around and there is a female walking toward her car. I can sense the apprehension immediately, and I try to keep a respectful distance. Sometimes I have to walk a circle around her to avoid invading her perimeter.

This is so sad. Sometimes I wish I could just say. Do not fear me; I am not your enemy. I will keep my distance to prove I'm harmless. Go in peace, but please do not be frightened by me.



https://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x5028657

I’m a male and I’m in pretty decent shape and I’m sure I could come across as intimidating if I wasn’t careful. I’m aware that women have plenty of reason to be apprehensive around a male they don’t know or if they are alone.

I personally try to give women plenty of space, be flighting with eye contact (if it is made) etcetera.

I’m at s loss though. What can I do to help improve this situation? I’m fearful for the sort of world that my daughters are going to enter as they grow more independent and older, but how can I make a difference?

Like going to my car in a parking lot.

I don't drive my car keeping even with another car. I'll either speed up or slow down so that I'm not even with any other car. This is especially so when I'm stopped at a stop light.

Every woman has things we have to do.

What they have done to stop themselves or their friends from committing assault.