Such a thoughtful and considered article. Everyone should read this — Weighing in on "Man or Bear":
the most common question I get about my travels is some version of, “Aren’t you afraid to bike/hike/travel alone as a woman?” By naming my gender, the implication is clear. What people really mean is, “Aren’t you afraid of men?”
@samgrover I liked her thoughtful approach to the topic. Her description of the occasions when she's not comfortable with a particular man was also very astute — about all the tiny clues she's picking up and her thoughts about what's going on for the man too.
@Miraz This is a great article. She explains the stages of distrust and fear so well. All those mental gymnastics are exhausting.
@Miraz Thank you for sharing this. This description is chilling in its accuracy:
Men who lack social awareness or empathy often also lack other skills in emotional management. And usually, what men in these situations actually want is closeness. They’re trying to get closer to me, physically or emotionally, in the only way they know how. That combination of poor emotional skillsets and a desire to get closer is exactly what puts me in danger.
