Spring Break
Concerning lookers and gawkers: Back off fellas
Rachel Brinker
Issue date: 11/3/09 Section: Forum
Guys, I don't know if you've noticed, but the women you see every day are in college. They have more important things to be thinking about than checking out the dudes on their way to class. But, dudes, it seems like y'all don't have anything better to do.
I am one of the 10,000 women on campus whose attention, every day, is pulled in two different directions - caught between following our own train of thought and trying to keep that one vital piece of information for the chemistry midterm in our minds, or dealing with the barrage of lookers, gawkers and sneak-peekers. The level of visual consumption of female bodies on campus is so high, women are forced to give at least some energy and thought to it, every day.
So, here's a news flash: It's a waste of our time. Guys, you're just on autopilot, mindlessly consuming all of our shapes, sizing up our various parts without even really thinking about what you are doing.
So, I ask, what does that say about you? You probably don't even think anyone is even noticing this. But we do notice. And it's not cool. On my five-minute walk to class, I'm forced to walk through a gauntlet of what look like slobbering zombies intent on consuming anything of me they can get their eyes on in the five seconds it takes for us to pass each other.
Women are people, not pieces of meat, and you see us on campus because we are smart and we know what we want and don't want. I am not walking on this sidewalk for your enjoyment. This may come as a surprise to you, but me being here is not even about you. I am here to get an education. So, seriously - back off.
Rachel Brinker, senior in liberal studies
I am one of the 10,000 women on campus whose attention, every day, is pulled in two different directions - caught between following our own train of thought and trying to keep that one vital piece of information for the chemistry midterm in our minds, or dealing with the barrage of lookers, gawkers and sneak-peekers. The level of visual consumption of female bodies on campus is so high, women are forced to give at least some energy and thought to it, every day.
So, here's a news flash: It's a waste of our time. Guys, you're just on autopilot, mindlessly consuming all of our shapes, sizing up our various parts without even really thinking about what you are doing.
So, I ask, what does that say about you? You probably don't even think anyone is even noticing this. But we do notice. And it's not cool. On my five-minute walk to class, I'm forced to walk through a gauntlet of what look like slobbering zombies intent on consuming anything of me they can get their eyes on in the five seconds it takes for us to pass each other.
Women are people, not pieces of meat, and you see us on campus because we are smart and we know what we want and don't want. I am not walking on this sidewalk for your enjoyment. This may come as a surprise to you, but me being here is not even about you. I am here to get an education. So, seriously - back off.
Rachel Brinker, senior in liberal studies
Note: writers will not reply to comments.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 48
anon1987
posted 11/03/09 @ 1:12 PM PST
I find it slightly troubling that you believe that all the girls on campus are "above" this kind of thing, that we all have "better" things do to than worry about male gawkers, which is implied as every male on campus. (Continued…)
Chris
posted 11/03/09 @ 1:28 PM PST
Two pretty simple points:
The entire world does not revolve around you, and every guy on campus is not checking you out 24/7. Get over yourself.
And your giant insult to males everywhere is just that. (Continued…)
Al_ack
ak24/7
posted 11/03/09 @ 2:20 PM PST
Anon: It's called "internalized oppression" when a member of an oppressed group claims to want or deserve negative treatment. That is part of what makes the whole oppression thing work: it's no big deal; it's normal; stop seeing trouble where there is none. (Continued…)
Saul
posted 11/03/09 @ 3:46 PM PST
We are not different than animals. The luscious pheromones put out by a lively healthy viral woman will grab a man's attention beyond his scripted role of college student no matter how he tries to block his animalistic urge to mate and procreate. (Continued…)
Miranda
posted 11/03/09 @ 5:48 PM PST
I believe that you bring up an amazing fight... men keep your googly eyes to your friggin' selves... I don't feel like between my classes that wiping the drool off my body is something that I should particularly have to do. (Continued…)
Zivi Loeb
posted 11/03/09 @ 7:17 PM PST
Hi Rachel,
I'm so glad you have shared this article. I find the contents quite provacative and found myself having a number of reactions to it. (Continued…)
Zivi
Zivi Loeb
posted 11/03/09 @ 7:20 PM PST
Hi Rachel,
I'm so glad you have shared this article. I find the contents quite provacative and found myself having a number of reactions to it. (Continued…)
Brian Krichevsky
posted 11/03/09 @ 10:28 PM PST
I don't know if any of you caught today's "Letter to the Editor", but I did, and I was a little bit dismayed. Let me explain.
First, we must meet the author, Rachel Brinker, a senior at OSU studying (surprise, surprise!) Women's Studies. (Continued…)
Chris
posted 11/04/09 @ 9:50 AM PST
You just have a built-in defense against someone pointing out you (the author, obv) are whining; stretch a minor psychological defense mechanism too far. (Continued…)
Leah
posted 11/04/09 @ 1:07 PM PST
I think that you brought up an interesting issue you. I truly do not find myself being judged as much from men as I do from women, that lovely thing we call horizontal hostility. (Continued…)
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