The problems with being female.

Aside from the obvious complaints from either end of the gender spectrum (namely moodiness, indecision, PMS, hypersensitivity and not being taken seriously), being a woman also involves some degree of fear of men.

I wish, for once, all the creepy men who talk to me on the subway, the street, in dark corners would put themselves in our uncomfortable shoes and realize they are scary. Unfortunately, it is usually the socially-awkward and foreign who do this.

First off, many of my middle-eastern/North African friends have said that the approach of harassing women in the street is common because the girls there play hard to get for so long, but eventually give in. So when these men move to Canada, they do the same thing, expecting the same response. I get the same treatment from African men of all kinds. I'm not here to make racial commentary, but rather to point out a trend I've seen in my life.

What I used to find most shocking was that these men would tell me I am beautiful or approach me with other inappropriate comments when I would be at my worst physically. I would either be wearing no makeup, bad clothes, doing unflattering activities, etc. Some feminists might say that can be attractive to some, however, I now firmly believe this kind of man preys on the weak. In my case, I was the "fat" girl. I am also probably naive-looking because I seem to be approached more than some of my equally pretty friends. They wait until you look 'down on your luck' and pounce.

Luckily, I never felt comfortable around men who fetishize fatness, rather than those who simply don't mind or happen to like a chubby girl, but most importantly, liked my personality.

Yesterday I was followed in the subway. From platform to platform, and on two trains. I knew immediately by that look in his eye that he would try to talk to me. I tried to get away subtly at first, then more obviously so he'd know I was onto him and NOT interested. Finally, he once again sat right next to me and started to speak softly, giving me compliments and all. I was not going to leave the station when I got off the train, and I would have called a friend to meet me, but luckily, after talking to me he got off.

I was and still am genuinely scared. I need pepper spray.

Not sure if this made any sense, but I had to finally rant about something that happens so often to me and really makes me feel weak and powerless. Sometimes, I truly hate men.

But luckily there are some great ones around me, and great women too, who would fight tooth and nail to protect me, as I would for them...