First Look + Second Stare = Unwelcome Attention

I just want to clarify that when a man looks at you the first time, it may be out of curiosity, but when he turns his head around to look at you fully again, a fraction of a second later, he is checking you out.

Staring, especially constant staring at work, while travelling or while just minding your own business can be annoying to those women who are not looking for any unwelcome attention. Let us grow up ladies and realise what kind of attention is good and which is bad. After being made aware of the rules of engagement again and again, when men gawk at you, it isn’t a compliment. It is a behaviour that needs to be discouraged.

When your sister, friend or collogue talks to you about unwelcome staring, you need to take it seriously instead of justifying it. Always remember, a curious look is different from a perverse look and as women, we instinctively know the difference. I encourage women to know and understand that when a man turns his head around to look at you twice, it is not curiosity. For some women this is good news but for some others this is unwelcome attention.

To the men, if you do not receive a smile or an encouraging look from the woman you have turned around to look at, she is most definitely not interested in you. Do your best to not annoy her by continuing to stare.  I would encourage men to understand that staring at a woman, who does not want to be looked at or checked out by you may tantamount to sexual harassment. Please refrain from being oblivious of your behaviour and the damage it may cause to another person. We all need to stand up for each other, it can only happen if we are aware of what is right and what is wrong, and also when we do not ignore someone’s plea for action. 

And my simple plea is to just stand together and stay strong.