Woman in underwear in own home

Why are you angry? You wore undies at home, you were spotted, it was mentioned in the context of you fyi the gutter man is coming back so you might want to cover up. You don’t have to cover up if you are that way inclined but you do now have the choice.

She doesn't need to have her curtains closed. She's not a vampire.

It was likely that the neighbour saw you and 'blamed' the workman as a deflection off himself. Sounds like a hint that you can be seen from the street/their garden etc.

Nothing wrong with walking around in your underwear in your own home. But maybe the contractor mentioned it to your neighbour thinking that perhaps she should warn you that he would be working on the house that day and could see in through the windows. Perhaps he was actually trying to do the right thing and was worried he might have embarrassed you by being at your window last time.

Surely that’s something you just “don’t notice”? And if you feel you have to mention it at all you mention it to the person concerned. Certainly not to a 3rd person.

It's not really a moot point unless her curtains are always closed.

A lot of people are justifying it as just "information" but ignoring the fact at the point of the conversation she'd had curtains installed so it's a mute point. Should have never been passed on, especially not a message from the help (lol).

YABU. The neighbour was just informing you of what happened, as a matter of fact. What you do with that information is up to you.

If you had no curtains why did you walk round in your underwear once you were aware that workmen were at work.

it's obvious if you have no blind or curtain, people will see you.

if it bothers you that much, put some clothes on.
If you don't care that people see you in your granny pants, why the thread?

I never understand people who don't want privacy anything on their windows street side (blinds or anything), and complaint that randoms are looking. Of course they are looking, why wouldn't they.

I think in this scenario it would be more inappropriate not to say anything - giving someone a heads up that they can be seen in their pants by next doors' builders is just the decent thing to do.

Yeah you're not wrong. I mean I just wouldn't comment. As a contractor, a male, to comment to another male about a random woman isn't really appropriate. But it's true that if there's nothing covering the window you could be seen.

I mean id rather know. Like id like to know if I had a bogey hanging out my nose.

Im well aware how glass works. But unless the neighbors opposite are trying really hard then I don't expect there to be people at window height to see upstairs. Therefore I would assume I can be in my bedroom (first floor maisonette) in my underwear and not be seen.

If I was downstairs with no curtains up i would assume passers-by could see me.

I rather think the comment was made, so you'd both know that it's possible for others to see you through the window. I certainly don't think it was said in a nasty or sexist way. Of course, you can walk around in your underwear in your own home or naked if you like, but were you aware you could be seen? My guess is, no, you didn't know anyone could see you.

The contractor saw you, and I'm sure carried on with his job but he mentioned the fact you can be seen. Your neighbour may not have articulated it properly but was letting you know that it's possible you can be seen. If you don't give two shits if anyone can see you or not, then crack on walking around in your underwear. No one usually sits waiting to see if their neighbour is going to walk around in their undies, you were clearly seen accidently.

Exactly.

I'd suspect a sizeable majority of people don't want all and sundry to be able to see them in their underpants, so would appreciate a subtle heads up.

I mean, it's normal human behaviour to notice what's going on around you - I'd certainly notice if my neighbours were wondering around in the nude 😂

If people want privacy, they should shut their curtains. Otherwise, people will notice and comment. If I thought my neighbour didn't realise they could be seen, I'd find a way to let them know.

Some women would not want neighbours and people on the street to see them in their underwear so perhaps it's more about politely passing on the info that you can be seen rather than any weird misogynistic conspiracy. It's no different from people who are unaware that their bathroom glass is actually see through and that everyone can see them in the shower. The fact that you are bothered by men seeing you and talking about you suggests that you actually do care about being seen in your underwear by strangers. Otherwise who cares what other people say?

But why mortified if you just act appropriate which is to ignore whatever you see in your neighbours windows. It's private. He'd never know he was seen.

Ah you must not know how glass works in that case!

Well yeah that's definitely true. No doubt whatsoever contractor was perving. Then telling the other guy. Why? Presumably so he could also try and catch a peek.

Because he might be unaware that he's visible and subsequently mortified?

Agreed. We have big bay windows in our bedroom and a guy who used to live opposite used to walk around naked.

I’ve no doubt he had no idea we could see him as, despite the size of the windows, the road is quite wide and tree-lined.

He was just getting dressed in his own home, why on earth would I tell him?

The only relevance the men in pants argument brings is that women wouldn't be excited at the sight of a bloke in his undies. It wouldn't even become a conversation other than a pisstake with friends. Women are more likely to be ogled, which could be the contractor's whole point.

I think he was just informing you that you could be seen so that you could cover up this time.

Like others I don't understand why you would walk around in your pants with no blinds or curtains up. People can see into your windows so maybe wear something.

I'd never walk about the house in underwear, curtains or no curtains, it would feel odd to me. I wear a dressing gown or a beach type dress if it's hot. I'm 60 though, I think times have changed.