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this is one of my favorite artists on Instagram, she just posted this not long ago and it has got me FIRED up because I've experienced the same thing. I enjoy plein air painting, but every time I try- some MAN always has to come up and interject himself into my hobby. Whether by being creepy (as experienced by this artist) or by just standing around and making stupid worthless comments about my art when God knows they have less talent than a fucking ant.
I'm just so tired of seeing stuff like this where women can't go out and enjoy things alone because stupid men are always lurking around waiting for the perfect opportunity to ruin your experience. I'm about to start bringing bear spray with me and using it on the next scrote who even smiles at me while I'm out painting. I wish they would all just GO AWAYYYY
It's interesting that art is in this conversation because I saw somewhere before some portraits of 18th-19th portraits of French women, where in the painting, there is a road and a woman waiting near an oil lamp street lamp. These weren't just any ordinary women, though. They were prostitutes. And then I learned that back in the old days, if a man wanted to know which woman was a working lady who can give him sex for a fee, he would need to look for any unattended woman hanging out in public.
Women back then had male chaperones to help them around, but it was also symbolic for a "properly kept woman". She is private property, either from her father or a husband if she is married. If her father or husband cannot accompany her, another male family member is also fine. But a woman all by her lonesome? That's a prostitute. And unfortunately, this same mentality rages on.
I also believe this is just also one of the many ways men oppress + punish women by making us fear being outside and force ourselves to shut ourselves from participating in the public free world.
I hate this for her (and you) so much. It's why I can't run with headphones or bliss out completely, always have to keep my head on a swivel because men are around. My solution is to be as friendly and welcoming as a cactus. I'm pleasant to women and children out there but to men I don't smile or in any way act accommodating. I maintain eye contact, I watch them without shame and turn to look back at them repeatedly until I'm sure they aren't following me. If they say something to me I don't respond, just look at them coldly. Unfortunately, men are dangerous predators until proven otherwise. Ted Bundy was extremely charming, after all. It's so terrible that we have to be so vigilant just existing in public.
Dude imagine if women went around to total male strangers and asked them "do you have a wife??" while holding guns to their temples. It's the same energy.