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Original poster

Women report rise in "aggressive eye contact" since masks

55 replies

SunsetBeetch · 28/07/2020 12:14

Are masks giving men a licence to stare? Women report a rise in 'aggressive eye contact' since face coverings became commonplace as an expert warns they 'provide anonymity' for threatening behaviour

mol.im/a/8564247

OP posts:
Dervel · 28/07/2020 14:10

Maybe some people just have resting aggressive eyebrows?

Itsjustabitofbanter · 28/07/2020 14:00

Yeh, I think this is bollocks

NonnyMouse1337 · 28/07/2020 13:55

I ordered a bounty flavoured ice cream at the weekend and I was given a raspberry one. I guess it's hard to understand my mumbling when I'm wearing a mask. Blush

UncleShady · 28/07/2020 13:52

I've not noticed this but I have noticed social distancing has certainly upped the ante in patriarchy chicken.

NonnyMouse1337 · 28/07/2020 13:52

[quote NotBadConsidering]Titania has a view on this Grin:

mobile.twitter.com/TitaniaMcGrath/status/1288068797274914816[/quote]
Grin

NonnyMouse1337 · 28/07/2020 13:50

Direct gaze, eyebrows contracted and forehead tilted towards you is typical for an angry gaze.

That's how I look when I'm trying to concentrate on what someone is saying. Nothing angry or aggressive about it all all.

Original poster
SunsetBeetch · 28/07/2020 13:47

[quote NotBadConsidering]Titania has a view on this Grin:

mobile.twitter.com/TitaniaMcGrath/status/1288068797274914816[/quote]
What a dilemma! Grin

OP posts:
BeingATwatItsABingThing · 28/07/2020 13:45

I can’t say I’ve noticed this at all. I don’t tend to pay attention to others enough though beyond acknowledging their existence.

LemonChiffon · 28/07/2020 13:39

Are people not just looking at other people's masks? I always look at other people's if I like the pattern or style etc - hope people don't think I'm staring at them!

Hearhoovesthinkzebras · 28/07/2020 13:37

What on earth is aggressive eye contact?

iamtheoneandonlyyy · 28/07/2020 13:34

This must surely detract from actual issues I would have thought. Load of nonsense

Staffy1 · 28/07/2020 13:33

@ThePankhurstConnection

I have to say I haven't noticed this personally BUT I am a fat, middle aged woman so my invisibility shield is well in place - unless someone needs to call me Karen. I'd be interested in what other women have experienced though.
Grin
NotBadConsidering · 28/07/2020 13:32

Titania has a view on this Grin:

mobile.twitter.com/TitaniaMcGrath/status/1288068797274914816

ScrimpshawTheSecond · 28/07/2020 13:30

In a broader sense, I expect elevated and sustained levels of uncertainty and stress would quite unsurprisingly lead to increasing levels of aggression/intolerance/irritation.

testing987654321 · 28/07/2020 13:29

Are people actually aware that they're failing to express themselves? I have only worn one a few times and forget people can't see me smiling so act exactly the same as normal. It's not as though we consciously perform these things usually.

[suspect typical lack of awareness of self might be an issue generally]

Clumsyduck · 28/07/2020 13:19

Do you mean eye contact as in a ogling way or full on aggression ??

Iv had a few guys make eye contact with me For example in the supermarket which felt weird in comparison To if it normally happened I think just because all I can see is their eyes 🤔

Actual aggression then no not personally having said that someone took a photo of me in my mask and wow talk about crazy murderous eyes 😅 so maybe it’s hard to tell

Haveastock · 28/07/2020 13:14

PasstheBucket if your face covering is only covering your mouth you’re wearing it wrong Grin I find it so strange not being able to read people’s expressions and have realised how much I communicate non-verbally with my facial expressions. My eyebrows are doing overtime!

Spannwr1971 · 28/07/2020 13:13

I'd actually wondered if women wearing masks, had noticed being oggled less.

Nuffaluff · 28/07/2020 13:13

I’m struggling to convey emotion when wearing a mask. I said ‘thank you’ to a few people in town yesterday. Normally I’d smile, but I kept a neutral facial expression.

startrek90 · 28/07/2020 13:03

I live in a country that has mandatory mask orders and I have to be honest I have not experienced this. I have however realised how much I rely on facial expressions and lip reading. There have been a few frustrating and at times amusing moments of miscommunication.

PasstheBucket89 · 28/07/2020 12:57

it literally only covers your mouth 😂, although perhaps its more noticable now? maybe? were probably all paying more attention to peoples faces more so now.

FloralBunting · 28/07/2020 12:52

This is weird phrasing.

However, I have noticed communication being really strained in different circumstances, due to not being able to read expressions. I try and deliberately have a charitable attitude and not assume the worst, but I don't think I realized how unconscious facial expression is to communication, and it has led to some really sharp interactions, which, were we able to see each other's faces, would have been perfectly pleasant.

ScrimpshawTheSecond · 28/07/2020 12:39

A 'social smile' doesn't even reach the eyes, so we're lacking the usual social signal for 'I mean no harm'.

ScrimpshawTheSecond · 28/07/2020 12:38

I know I've been doing a fucktonne of trying to smile conciliatorily with my eyes, and had to compensate for lack of facial expression with extra friendliness.

And no, that's not my female conditioning, it's noticing the completely natural response to someone wearing a mask (slight shock/recoil) and working out how to ameliorate it.

Picklypickles · 28/07/2020 12:37

I've not noticed anything like this, but I am 5ft nothing so not many people are at my eye-level and I don't tend to pay much attention to others when I'm out and about!