No, I will not feel gender guilt

[Blue_In_AK]

114. I don't think anyone here is asking you to feel guilty for being a man.

All anyone is asking (I think) is that men try to understand why women are sensitive about this topic, why we may be leery of striking up conversations or making eye contact. Why we may generally be distrustful. I doubt there are many women here who haven't been creeped out at some point or another in their lives, to varying degrees, by a man -- whether a stranger, an acquaintance or family member or a spouse. I myself have been flashed on more than one occasion by strange men, I've had more than one close encounter with dangerous-feeling strangers. Only my sixth sense kept me from being victimized by a serial rapist stalking Northern California. I had so many dates with grabby-handed guys, I can't even count them. I had a 17-year marriage to a much-loved man who nevertheless abused me.

All that is behind me now and my life is at peace, but I still feel nervous going out alone at night, I tend to avert my eyes when I pass a strange man on the street or especially on a trail. It's just an instinct now.

So I think that all I and the other women here are asking from you is that you not belittle the issue. Stop it when you see it.