I am not suggesting that this is not a bigger issue for women than for men but we all wear a costume in public.
It is a rare individual who does not care about their appearance when in public.
Many people very carefully and with great effort tailor their appearance to achieve an affect.
I think I see people every day who do their best to look down on their luck and pathetic so that they will receive more alms from the traffic on their corner.
My “personal” banker wears a nice suit and a gold watch but I am pretty sure that I make more money that he does and I certainly have more money in the bank. I wear a polo shirt, jeans and sneakers. No gold watch, just my wedding band.
I am pretty sure he is the one in a costume and I am the one in my more natural attire.
I have to be told sometimes I need a hair cut but I do watch my weight and it is for more than just my health. I like wearing short sleeve shirts as I think I have nice forearms. I don’t wear baggy jeans.
I avert my gaze these days, I used to give most women a good look. I don’t want to seem creepy. Also it seems that women don’t seem to conform to my preferred type as much as they used to so I am not missing much.
But I mean really, passing people on the street where you are not going to be talking with them. All you really have for interactions is an exchange of visuals. Is there something wrong with thinking to yourself, she is pretty or she should try a different hairstyle or I wonder what she would look like in a dress? It’s not like I am plotting something. Today it is better to keep your head down so you don’t give someone the creeps.
Of course now that I am older, it is easier to give someone the creeps. Is that some form of ageism.
Even when I was younger my daughter told me what amounted to “don’t look at me like that, it is not for you” when she dressed like, well, you can imagine.
Well, when I am out and about I don’t look at younger women who dress like that anymore.
The only people I can tell, “you look pretty” are down to my wife and sister.
TEK
