#make men uncomfortable

[goldengirlssaywhat]

📺 The Golden Girls (1990)

[witchofmanynamess]

Today on the train, three boys wandered through the isle and made some comments to two girls who were just minding their business. The girls seemed very uncomfortable with the attention, but they were young (probably 15ish) and did the thing we're taught: Smile and nod.

When the boys came back looking for seats, I crossed to sit with the two girls. Three boys with a pack mentality? Yeah, they sat at the 4-seater next to us.

For the next 45 minutes, I had my headphones turned all the way down and interjected when the boys started (poorly) chatting up the girls. Finally, I told them "boy, they're not interested." To which one of them asked "what about you? What, are you a boy or a girl even?" (Mind you, these boys were also 15ish, and I, afab, was wearing a bright yellow dress and wearing my hair in shoulder-length curls)

The boys left for a moment when one of them clearly got embarrased his mate had asked that. I asked the girls if they were alright, and they said yes and thanked me for helping.

The boys came back. And I. Made. It. Uncomfortable. They wanted to talk to the girls? Okay, but I'd tell them to shut it when the girls were trying to make them stop. Wanted to talk to me? Sure, but I refused to give them my name, my age, or say where I was from.

Teach your boys to be respectful. Teach them to mind their business. And be there for the people who're uncomfortable or afraid of speaking up for themselves.