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RE: Are women who dress provocatively responsible for unwanted attention, or should men learn to control themselves? The @ecotrain question of the week

in #ecotrain6 years ago

I guess for woman, we can't help but extend 'unwanted attention' into it's worst possible outcome, because that's very real for us. It's more a problem with the question and how it can be interpreted - I just posted mine, and it was tricky to say the least.

I do agree it's cultural, and I wrote as much on mine too. I'm offended by girls who wear revealing things on trains - I mean, come on - !! I hate it when girls wear bikinis into shops (my husband doesn't) - it's just that we don't need to see that, thanks, in that situation! I definitely don't buy that 'I should wear what i want, where I want, in any situation' because that's just not polite. Mind you, why can men go topless and not woman? See, it's a big, big topic. But absolutely, we should show respect for others.

As for unfulfilled desires, I do think it's more about NOT KNOWING HOW TO HANDLE our desires. Why should every desire be filled? Shouldn't we be looking at how to handle the range of human emotions we have and how to deal with them? If your sexual desire isn't fulfilled in a relationshiop, that doesn't mean you have an excuse to have an affair (sorry, I know this is personal, and tbh, I've been guilty in my youth too, and I'd like to argue I didn't know better, and I suffered guilt for a long time because of it - and J's Dad did the same, which affected his kids for a long time too) - maybe it should be about looking at the range of emotions that led you to want to act on that primal desire? And talk it through with one's partner/call it off before doing something even more to cause damage?

It's definitely a cultural thing, and that means WE ALL HAVE RESPONSIBILITY to do something about it. Many woman will argue it's all harmless - but I would argue they haven't been the ones subject to abuse and rape and the worse extensions of 'unwanted attention'.

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i think it's also the fact that men are not taught to necessarily center other people's emotions the way women are taught to "cater" --- and this furthermore leads men to center their own desires to the point of being so blind to what a woman wants many men profess not to even know... many years into their own relationships. i think that's all related. Related thoughts on....

I do think it's more about NOT KNOWING HOW TO HANDLE our desires. Why should every desire be filled? Shouldn't we be looking at how to handle the range of human emotions we have and how to deal with them?

I absolutely agree 100 percent and have a post planned on this topic. Thats why I shy away from being angry at men and work towards more culturally constructive solutions. XX