Unnecessary comment about my outfit from male member of staff at the school - your thoughts?

Yes, I do believe there is a power dynamic to consider in societal interactions between a man and a woman who are strangers.

I would've laughed

All I have is he is a man and this means I presume all men are more poweful than women so women have to treated like little petals with no thoughts of their own and leave all the adulting to big strong men while little women sit back and are only good for whatever men tell them to do, or doing their nails and hair

Or some such tripe

@desperatemum1234 my eyes!

It's not funny.
You are entitled to walk down a street without a random bloke commenting on your clothing, insultingly , creepily, admiringly, "funnily" or otherwise. It's patronising and belittling.

Would he have been as smart mouthed ( or "funny"🙄) to a burly bloke passing on the street?

Why can men not just let you go about your day?

It's too late now. But that's his one strike. If he makes any further comment, rip him a new one.

It gets worse.

Ok, I'll reword my post.

It is not unreasnable to take offence to an unsolicited comment from a man that others would have just found funny.

I consider it VERY unreasonable to try to get that person to lose their job, or have to go through a complaint process, because of it. It was not a sexual comment, no innuendo, no aggression, not intimidating, just a humorous comment which failed to cause hilarity on the recipient.

If he had said something like "MMMhhh, you look like a vampire slayer, how about I bite your neck and you fight me?", then it would be a completely different situation. But it wasn't.

I don’t know why I’m surprised that there are posters on here trying to justify why it’s ok to openly mock a strangers choice of clothing.

Because she said he worked in a school and it’s late on a weekend.

A shop assistant once said to me "you must be Dawn French!" it took me weeks to realise it was because I bought a chocolate orange (I'd forgotten the ads). I wasn't happy about the comment though!

He’s an utter twat. Do your DC go to that school? Do you know him outside the school?

It’s bad form in front of teens to catcall a passer-by but next time just get angry. Or confront him: “I beg your pardon” or “ What did you say?”

Don’t be scared or self-conscious - get angry.

What power dynamics?

Are you saying that women are at a disadvantage or ore vulnerable in society automatically when a man speaks to them? In any context?

There was no power dynamic here and to suggest otherwise is ridiculous and quite frankly insulting.

@dogsmaid Kate Bush as Cathy in her video Wuthering Heights

I’m about as a thick skinned as they come and would have rolled my eyes at him and inwardly thought “what a twat”.

I might’ve even had a similar thought to him if I’d passed the OP in the street….. but it would have stayed an internal thought.

I don’t know why I’m surprised that there are posters on here trying to justify why it’s ok to openly mock a strangers choice of clothing.

“it’s just a joke!” is a classic bully response when called out on their behaviour……. as an earlier poster said, this guy clearly never left the playground.

that link is brilliant, very savage 🤣

@GreenNewDealNow my friends & family have all sorts of nicknames based on dubious clothes choices from years ago & they are funny. However as you said I just wouldn’t mock a stranger.

character in a film

This is a rational response 😆

If I wore a red dress with a back belt, and someone said “Morning Kate/Cathy” I wouldn’t be offended; seems comparable to me.

?

You need to know the person well to make comments/jokes on someone's appearance that aren't respectful compliments I think. The OP said it was said in a snidey manner. The bloke needs to be aware of how things can land/be perceived by strangers.

You sound like the kind of woman who revels in putting complaints to every professional that dares to talk to you. Gives you a power boost, doesn't it? "That'll teach them!".

Well it sounds like quite a statement outfit. You might expect comments (not negative ones of course).
And his comment wasn’t negative or insulting.
If I wore a red dress with a back belt, and someone said “Morning Kate/Cathy” I wouldn’t be offended; seems comparable to me.

Sorry @TwatAtSchool91 but I lol-ed

I got myself a rather severe haircut once... Went to work and a colleague greeted me : Moooorning, Mr. Shelby!
Then a stranger : "I like your haircut. It's a... it's a...classic!" 🤣

They were both very funny! And I have to admit, me and Mr.Shelby looked like sisters 😁

' A few months ago '

Good grief ! and you are still dwelling on this ?!!!

When school restarts in September, be ready with your words, be ready with a reply - a quick ' not appropriate ' will suffice
then get on with your day.

He picked the wrong parent to have a joke with. Jesus wept.