To be gobby to pervs at the gym/in general?

[Spenguin]

So, I lugged myself out to the gym this afternoon (partially because of the air-conditioning, don't get me wrong!) and was happily plodding away on the treadmill when the usual started... men, without shame, having a good old stare. This isn't a stealth thing - I mean, seriously, I'm sweating like a pig in a hothouse and have arms flailing. Pretty it ain't.

I'm dressed in black - so you'd think the neon bra tops across the room would have been more obvious to them - black t-shirt (short sleeved, non-plunging neckline), black full-length running leggings etc.

I then go to the weights section, wherein I meet my fiance, and started the bullshit leg press machine i.e. sort of lying down at 45 degrees and pushing away from the base in order to lift a weight (?!?!?). Basically, it looks as if I'm in a birthing position and the fanjo is, to a certain sort of person, exposed. the fiance is standing right next to me whilst I do this exercise. This fucking pervert is on another machine about a foot away, directly opposite, and blatantly looking at my groin.

I stop the exercise.

I say 'no, someone's perving! I'm not continuing until he stops'

He continues to look.

I glare back.

He can't see my gaze becausemyvaginadoesn'thaveeyes

I try to recommence.

He still looks.

Fiance is staring at him.

I yell and seethe and holler 'stop looking at my VAGINA!' and storm off.

Proceeded to leave the gym, come home, feel dirty and cry a little.

So, ladies, when people stare and gawp at you (with no shame) what do you do? Was I being "unlady-like" to yell at him? I was pretty quick off the mark. The fiance didn't even get an opportunity to wade on in there! I'm a bit mouthy!

[squeakytoy]

You probably looked a bit of prat to be honest.

When I am in the gym I tend to stare ahead of me blankly, not really focussing. It could well be that this bloke was thinking of the football score and not seeing you at all.

[gordyslovesheep]

I think you need to get a thicker skin

[breathing]

FFS people look in gyms. You will find a lot actually look from an exercise pov rather than a leer. I stare at people working out, watch how their muscles are working on machines but never think phwoar!

[Spenguin]

It happens literally every time I go to the gym. I could understand if I dressed showing a lot of flesh, very tights clothes etc, but it's pretty obvious from all the puffing and sweating that I'm there to exercise, not to ponce and prance about picking up men.

squeakytoy - true, you could be right. However, this guy's a regular and I've seen him have a good old letch at quite a few females.

[Itsjustafleshwound]

Sorry - You sound like a nut job

[breathing]

I agree with squeeky. I focus on anything whilst counting out reps and getting myself in the zone

[DreamsInBinary]

Looking does not necessarily equal letching.

As squeaky says, when I'm in the gym, I stare at the middle distance or look at the other machines working out my next move.

Afraid YWBU here.

[Bucharest]

Are you very gorgeous?

No?

Then you're hoping imagining they're perving.

[DreamsInBinary]

Having said that, I would kill for a "stop looking at my VAGINA" moment to relieve the tedium

[breathing]

I am trying not to laugh thinking of the image of a woman leaping off her machine yelling "stop looking at my vagina" snd storming off

[Spenguin]

Fiance also agreed this man was quite obviously letching.

He was obvious enough to make me feel 'violated', hence the crying. Some man stared at my vagina and made me feel dirty.

I'm still nuts?!

[PomBearEnvy]

Haha you haven't got a pair of those dodgy cotton leggings that go completely see through when stretched do you?
He sounds a horrible perv, but i'm not sure screaming at him and stomping off has really accomplished much.

[Spenguin]

Well, in fairness, it wasn't really a scream. That was more for artistic narrative.

It was said at normal volume, just with a lot of rage behind it.

However, I fully admit to wanting to yell at the weight-lifters who do all the unnecessary 'hissing' noises. FFS.

[gordyslovesheep]

if someone looking in the general direction of your minmin is enough to reduce you to hysterics then - erm - yes - hth x

[Spenguin]

PomBear - sadly, not, no! Full-on, whale-blubber-thick proper Nike running ones.

[SarahStrattonsHotCrossBunnies]

I'm with you breathing. And trying very hard not to laugh. OP the leering is in your head pleeeeeeeeeease come and work out at my gym and I promise I wont laugh there won't be any pervs [bugrin]

[Itsjustafleshwound]

Most gyms worth the fee-- have a section especially for women if you feel so uncomfortable ...

Could you not have just managed a less confrontational way to deal with this 'letching' than shouting ??

[Spenguin]

gordy - minmin! I've never heard that before! That's the thing, it wasn't the 'general' direction. The man was a foot away and looking quite intently. It was no staring off into the distance.

[moondog]

There's a girl whjo comes to my gym who needs arresting frankly.
Incredibly tigh paperthin leggings and she does insist on doing arse in the air stretches in the middle of the room. I swear you can see the inside seams of her thong.

Hideous

[SarahStrattonsHotCrossBunnies]

A foot away from your fanjo and staring? [bushock]

Maybe not so U after all...

A foot away? A foot? Seriously? Did you trip over him when you jumped up and shouted?

[Pixielovescake]

I dont think you are nuts. It is not acceptable for anyone to stare at anyone in that way. and i think if you said it loudly then got his attention and then stared at him some more until he got uncomfortable it might have been better. You shouldnt storm off (although i understand why you did !) because you have nothing to feel dirty about. Hes the perv not you , he should be uncomfortable.

[DontdoitKatie]

Can't believe you're getting dismissed here.

Good for you for saying something. You should have gone up to him and asked him "why are you staring at me". He's probably got a porn movie running constantly in his head.

Prick.

[Spenguin]

Yes, literally a foot away. The machine he was on was a seated one and so he should have been looking forward and at right angles to me (I need a diagram!). So, for him to look at my crotch, he had turned his head 90 degrees to the right...again, not just 'general direction'. He was directly in line with me.

I, too , was amazed I managed to do a swift exit without a) falling over b) clipping someone/thing.

[DontdoitKatie]

It's funny that you're getting the piss taken out of you and given a hard time, when men will have fights with one another if one bloke stares too hard at another.