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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To be frustrated when people make assumptions about your lifestyle based on your appearance?

180 replies

ShadeMuse · 25/09/2024 17:28

I’ve noticed that people often make assumptions about my lifestyle or financial situation based on my appearance, and it annoys me. I feel like they’re judging me without knowing my actual circumstances. AIBU to be upset by these assumptions and to expect people to avoid making judgements based on looks?

OP posts:
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ForZanyAquaViewer · 25/03/2025 11:05

Nosleepforthismum · 25/09/2024 18:43

My kids go to a church preschool. I was once told I’d come to the wrong entrance when I came to pick them up and taken to the other side of the church where they had a food donation area to support people in need. I was in a paint stained t-shirt, leggings, odd socks and lidl’s version of crocs so it was probably fair. They were so lovely and I couldn’t tell them I was completely financially fine and that I regularly donated to the scheme so I just took a loaf of bread, mumbled politely through and prayed for death.

And yes, I was far too embarrassed to even pick my kids up so pretended there was an emergency so they were kept for an additional half an hour with the other children staying and I made DH go and get them. Not my finest hour, I must admit, but now I always try to find matching socks as a bare minimum to leave the house.

I GUFFAWED! 🤣🤣🤣

DoreenonTill8 · 30/09/2024 14:03

Ops not a regular poster ..

Mean Girls Movie GIF by filmeditor
JaneJeffer · 30/09/2024 13:22

I have made a snap judgment based on your four posts on this thread but I don't think you'd like to hear it.

CassandraWebb · 30/09/2024 11:02

MelodyMalone · 30/09/2024 10:35

I always looked younger than I was and did find I got stereotyped as a dozy young mum
when my son was little (I was young, but not as young as I looked). Now he's 33, people still express surprise, but I take it as a compliment now 😄

I looked very young when I had my son. I was 29 but very fresh faced and slim and still got ID'd regularly. I had two degrees and a professional career and was married but I could tell some of the mums at baby group (most of whom were in their late 30s/early 40s) saw me as some kind of teen mum.

I just found amusing if they talked down to me, I think a few got a shock when they finally realised who I was (I had quite a high profile job locally).

MelodyMalone · 30/09/2024 10:35

AtouchOfCloth · 30/09/2024 08:31

I understand where you're coming from as I find people raise their eyebrows when I mention my eldest is a teenager. It is human nature to make judgements regarding other people in general but it's still frustrating when people make them without all of the facts.

I always looked younger than I was and did find I got stereotyped as a dozy young mum
when my son was little (I was young, but not as young as I looked). Now he's 33, people still express surprise, but I take it as a compliment now 😄

AtouchOfCloth · 30/09/2024 08:31

I understand where you're coming from as I find people raise their eyebrows when I mention my eldest is a teenager. It is human nature to make judgements regarding other people in general but it's still frustrating when people make them without all of the facts.

FortunateCatsGlugDaquirisAllEveningBlindly · 30/09/2024 08:27

I remember once going to see a new locum GP when I was a mature student at uni. I had just been swimming and was heading for a lecture after. I wouldn’t have won many style awards. I had old trainers, crazy patterned leggings, a hoodie, a coat I bought for warmth not styleI never wear make up and I had my wet hair scraped back in a health and safety ponytail.

I forget exactly why I had to go in, but I know I needed another prescription for my epilepsy.
The consultation was ending and the GP added ‘Do you find it hard to hold down a job because of your epilepsy?’
I yanked my ID out from under my hoodie hoping she wasn’t close enough, or still too new to realise that staff IDs were maroon and students’ IDs red.
’No, but the drugs make me quite tired as lectures go on.’
Got up walked out.
Have had other incidents of being stereotyped by the medical profession in particular because of the way you dress/your condition.
No idea why so many voted that you were being unreasonable.

Ivymedication · 29/09/2024 11:19

I've definitely made assumptions on people based on their looks.

A few years ago I was in line behind a woman and her son at an amusement park. I noticed her as she was wearing some really uncomfortable shoes. They were from primark, I knee as I had tried them on and they were so painful I couldn't even take a few steps in store.
Her feet were cut to ribbons.
She was nicely dressed but everything she was wearing looked cheap, her son was dressed cheaply too.
I remember thinking how fortunate I was that I was able to bring my son to the fair and it wasn't really a hardship, but to me it seemed like this was a big treat for them.

Then her husband joined them in the queue, he was instantly recognisable as one of the richest men in the country. Known for coming from a rough area and building up a fortune through sport.

So I leant a bit of a lesson that day. Though it is still hard I find if you only get a brief snapshot of someone's life, and you are an intense people watcher like me.

Buy on the otherhand, I honestly couldn't care less what others think of me. Unless they know me and care about me, they can think what they like.

muddyford · 29/09/2024 11:03

The trouble is that we evolved to make snap judgements based on appearance (which would save our lives) and those only change if and when we get the opportunity to get to know a person better.

Fairyliz · 29/09/2024 11:01

ShadeMuse · 25/09/2024 18:30

This seems like projection. I am a slim and attractive woman so this does not apply to me.

So what assumptions are they making?
I thought that generally the more attractive you are the better you get treated; so it probably means you get better service etc due to their assumptions.

BlueGrackle · 29/09/2024 10:59

ShadeMuse · 25/09/2024 18:30

This seems like projection. I am a slim and attractive woman so this does not apply to me.

So what exactly are they judging you for. Being slim and attractive ?
If you’re a lazy slob that lives on crisps and spends your days watching day time television, can you not just put people straight.

OrlandointheWilderness · 29/09/2024 10:57

May I ask what assumptions people tend to make when they meet you @ShadeMuse?

Gbtch · 29/09/2024 10:55

Ontobetterthings · 25/09/2024 18:42

Wow. So rude!

Not rude; hilarious!

Marine30 · 28/09/2024 19:17

Hereforaglance · 28/09/2024 17:58

Is this why i not met a 90 yr od billionaire who is single and ready to marry me damn

😂😂

5128gap · 28/09/2024 18:01

ekalf · 28/09/2024 17:49

Only an overweight person would write this

Wrong. I wrote it. I'm 8 stone 10. I just read a LOT of posts from other slim women who seem to think the whole thing is a vale of tears caused by the jealousy of larger women. Which ime is BS.

Hereforaglance · 28/09/2024 17:58

Is this why i not met a 90 yr od billionaire who is single and ready to marry me damn

Hereforaglance · 28/09/2024 17:54

usernother · 25/09/2024 18:07

I agree. I'm sick of people giving me their pitying looks, spare change and sometimes a sandwich whenever I sit down in our city centre.

Least that lunch anda pint sorted lol

ekalf · 28/09/2024 17:49

5128gap · 25/09/2024 21:38

I'm going to have a wild stab at this. The OP is slim and attractive. Most other women are fatter and uglier than she is. They assume she has a miserable life eating lettuce. They think she isn't very clever. They think she is going to steal their husband. They think this because they're jealous. Its very upsetting. But no one cares. The reason no one cares is because they're jealous.

Only an overweight person would write this

BunnyLake · 28/09/2024 17:37

Allfur · 26/09/2024 17:21

Doesn't bother me in the least

If I was very beautiful but also very clever I’d enjoy confusing people. Better to be underestimated and prove them wrong than oversell yourself.

Did we ever find out what the gripe was, I can’t seem to see it. I think OP only posted three vague comments.

Fanlover1122 · 27/09/2024 14:08

Elsvieta · 25/09/2024 20:39

Dunno really. I mean, I'm quite scruffy and also quite poor (and therefore often to be seen doing poor-person things in poor-person environments), but I sound quite posh (and, I suppose, quite intelligent). People often talk down to me and then treat me totally differently the second I've opened my mouth. You can see the confusion on their faces as they realize they've "miscategorized" me (in their minds. I don't think it's OK to talk down to people based on appearance etc but they seem to). And I find it hilarious and get a kick out of it every time. I suppose it's just a matter of personality really; you can't help how these things make you feel. I'm just sort of bloody-minded by nature and have never given a monkey's what others think of me (as a kid / teen was never influenced by peer pressure etc and it's the same now). I'm baffled by why anyone would care if strangers (who are clearly bigoted anyway) are "judging" them. But we are what the fates made us.

It's one of those things where you feel what you feel and YANBU in that, but you'll be happier if you can accept that in all walks of life, there are idiots, and they're not going away. It's like crappy drivers or anything else; they will always be there, so be alert but also try not to let them bug you. I guess. But maybe that's easier said than done - for some people, anyway.

I am totally the same!! Am incredibly scruffy….I get followed around shops (as I live in a very wealthy area) I am though very well off…I dress up for work….and charity and black tie events…..but I love just chilling in the scruffy clothes, hair pulled back….zero make- up, diamond free! I kind of like to see the real person….i hate fakeness…and would never treat anyone differently, be they homeless or Royal family…..and I confess I judge people that do!

Allfur · 26/09/2024 17:27

I'm still a bit confused about what people mistakenly think op is?!

cuckooooooo · 26/09/2024 17:25

People are bound to assume things based on appearance. Move on, stop being so self obsessed. They probably just give you a passing thought

Allfur · 26/09/2024 17:21

Doesn't bother me in the least

merryhouse · 26/09/2024 16:34

AutumnalNights · 26/09/2024 15:26

It's never a complimentary thing when people take one look at you and assume you are single though is it ?

I'm just intrigued as to how many people let you know this - does it come up? Do they gasp in shock when you mention your partner?

AutumnalNights · 26/09/2024 15:26

It's never a complimentary thing when people take one look at you and assume you are single though is it ?

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