Not to want my legs commented upon within my hearing?

[TobyLerone]

We have workmen in at work.

Today I am wearing a dress which finishes a couple of inches above the knee, with bare legs and heels.

I just went outside for a cigarette with a colleague and the workmen were sitting on the kerb right outside the door, eating their lunch. I felt very self-conscious walking past them and my (male) colleague told me once we were a safe distance away that they had been looking up my skirt as we passed.

When we went back in, I insisted on going through a different door so we didn't have to walk past them again. But I still had to walk past the open door where they were sitting. And after I'd gone past them and out of sight, I could hear them talking about how great my legs are and wondering if I'd wear a shorter skirt tomorrow!

I'm wearing trousers tomorrow. And maybe a polo neck

Stop bragging

You'll be on here moaning when you walk past and they dont even look up

YANBU

But YABU for boasting about your great legs by stealth

Its deeply irritating. I must be very militant or something, but I don't make money out of dressing up for men or getting comments from them, it doesn't benefit me in any way whatsoever (I don't lack self confidence), so I tell them to f off. Or words to that effect.

Heh. I told my bf on gchat just now. Typical male response:

told you so
just sayin'
you have awesome legs
they feel good around my waist

In all seriousness, though, it is a little irritating.

I'm a professional woman, in my own workplace. I'm not any kind of militant feminist, by any means, but they don't know that! I was slightly intimidated, but someone more sensitive than I am could have found that highly offensive.

I would have loved it but I have quite bandy legs and am self conscious about them. This sort of thing doesn't bother me.

YANBU although if my legs were commented on it would not have been complimentary.

Oh FFS - take it as a compliment. YABU!!!!

Yeah - YABU - you obviously have nice legs or you wouldnt wear a shortish dress.....and I am jealous, lol.

Yeah, just accept it for what it is ...a compliment!

Ladythumb, you have just made me almost write a reply I'd have been proud to have put on the feminism board. Ugh.

Take it as a compliment. I used to get nice comments before I piled on the timber gained some weight so I am a bit

It is irritating to be admired? Really?

Perhaps a Burka is the answer?

Don't worry about that someone else who may be more sensitive as they weren't there and they'd be less likely to be wearing a skirt that length.

Enjoy your good legs and strut your stuff!

It's not really a compliment, is it? When 3 men are blatantly looking up my skirt and then saying things like "I hope she wears a shorter one tomorrow. Maybe we'll see muff".

My assistant and my boss have just been going on about how hot the chief plumber is. I think he's gross!

YANBU

It's not on to try to look up women's skirts, make them feel uncomfortable/intimidated (whether to a greater or lesser degree) or comment about their bodies in their earshot when they are just trying to go about their business.

If they made a muff comment, fair enough to be vexed but they didn't. Did they?

Wait. So anyone who is an actual feminist and likely to be highly offended by that should wear a burka/wouldn't wear a short skirt anyway?

Yes, they did. I'm not drip-feeding, honestly. I just hadn't thought of quoting what they actually said.

Maybe we'll see muff

Mmm, think even I would object to that!! Can you go to work tomorrow with an afro wig poking out your pants and wear a shorter skirt.....they may regret wanting to see muff after that.

Seriously, lucky you to have nice legs but no, it's not nice to see/hear workmen perving over them!

Ginabraz maybe random men not making personal (sexual) comments to women is the answer? Rather than burkas? Just a thought.

Can you go to work tomorrow with an afro wig poking out your pants and wear a shorter skirt.....they may regret wanting to see muff after that.

I snorted. I'd totally do that, except for the fact that I was unsure enough about my legs in this skirt anyway. Normally I'd wear it with tights and have been a little self-conscious all day because I have bare legs.

Actually....

I get really pissed off by this kind of thing at work. Last year we had a construction site on the campus and so loads of labourers/ contractors about for several months. Got shouted at several times, and for the women students (mostly 18-21) it was much worse.

I actually think it's dreadful you can't walk around your workplace without getting that, it's not like the city centre on a Sat night. People need to behave with some kind of professionalism at work, surely?

You'd thing, RP, but apparently not.

*think

The plumber is a personal friend of a friend of my boss. I don't really want to cause a big fuss about it. It's just irritating. It's 2011, FFS!