Do men have a problem with women out jogging???

[FluffyPants82]

Hi all
I'm quite new to running and really enjoying it apart from the unwanted attention and comments I get from men ( never women) either from cars or on the street. Some are pretty harmless like " have you missed your bus?" Or " is someone chasing you?" They don't bother me that much but why comment at all? But this morning, i was getting a bit tired so slowed down, almost walking when I passed a parked van with 2 men inside, driver leant out of window and said " what's the matter, your snatch too sweaty?!" Just ignored him and carried on but is this a thing? Have any other women encountered this out running? I don't get this ever if I'm just out walking, only if I'm running . And just to be clear, I don't get all this attention because I'm a supermodel type, far from it- very average and nothing special so I just don't get it.

[wtffgs]

I think quite a lot of men have a problem with women full stop

It's disgusting, wankerish behaviour designed to put women down.

[NoLoveofMine]

I concur wtffgs.

This kind of behaviour is sadly all too commonplace. What else would motivate a man to do this other than contempt for women and girls: www.oxfordmail.co.uk/news/yourtown/oxford/15267306.Girl_taken_to_hospital_after_can_thrown_from_car_at_her/?commentSort=oldest

[Undercoverbanana]

The words "fuck off" said calmly and disdainfully are the way to go.

Please don't wear headphones when running - it is extremely dangerous.

Whatever you do, don't let their ignorance and immaturity put you off, OP.

[SafeToCross]

A poster upthread said her neighbour yelled stock phrases at runners...I had deja vu when I went nordic walking for fitness on the cycle path two weeks running and at the exact same spot passed the same older male dog walker who commented something hilarious both times about me losing the snow. He must have such a dull life.

Just heading out for a run now, Stuff 'em.

[Timmytoo]

I would've said"Not as sweaty as yours - or did you idea yourself and look right at his crutch and guffaw at it!"

[Timmytoo]

Pee!! Aaarrrhhh!!

[aquashiv]

When I was a new runner it used to bother me. I remember one man taking the piss out of me looking so red ergo unfit .telling me I looked as if I were about to drop dead. I was furious and told him I had just run 8 miles and he could do with some exercise himself you ugly fat fucker .luckily I am no longer suffer from new runner fury and wear ear plugs.

[FluffyPants82]

Undercoverbanana- I definitely won't let it put me off, went out this morning, bit earlier than normal but only because I was starting work earlier today not because I was trying to avoid lots of people. If you read through the messages there are lots of women it has put off and that has bothered me more than the incident with sad van man.

[whirlycurly]

On the upside I get some lovely cheerful hellos, a lot of "wish I had your energy" and the other day, running through a city street quite early on, an old lady stood aside and applauded as I passed.

Don't be put off - choose a safe open space to run in and take someone if you can to start with. I think you lose your self consciousness fairly quickly.

Some of these experiences are truly vile. I'm lucky to live where I do.

[StrangeLookingParasite]

Also once had a bloke on a bike pull up alongside me, gestured for me to take my headphones off, than asked if he could chat to me! Do I look like I want a fucking chat while I'm a) puffing and panting away and b) listening to music?

No, no, no, you're doing it wrong, you're supposed to be grateful for his attention; his precious, precious attention. (In his mind).

[CantChoose]

I gave up running because of this. Made me feel threatened and it sucked the joy out of it for me.

[MaisyPops]

whirlycurly

On the upside I get some lovely cheerful hellos, a lot of "wish I had your energy" and the other day, running through a city street quite early on, an old lady stood aside and applauded as I passed. smile

Don't be put off - choose a safe open space to run in and take someone if you can to start with. I think you lose your self consciousness fairly quickly.

This. In the few years I've been running I've only had something unwanted and sexist 3 times. Most it's just good mornings from other runners or the occasional 'rather you that me' on a morning.

[natwebb79]

"
I do run but mostly in parks or country runs. I get fed up of hot sweaty people in full kit running on the pavements. They look ridiculous and inappropriate to my mind"

Eh?? I'm training for a marathon and one of the long runs on the training plan is 20 miles. I'd have to do about 500 laps around my local park and, seeing as the marathon will be on roads/pavements, that wouldn't prepare me very well. What an odd comment! 😁

[JessicaEccles]

Inappropriate?! Human beings are meant to run! I am just so jealous as I can barely walk these days but I love to see women being so strong and brave

[Thirdload]

I agree that they're doing it to show off to other men.

They pick women runners because if they made comments to a bloke there's the risk he would stop and lamp them.

[HotNatured]

I cycle to work every day have started doing something I wouldn't have dreamt of feeling safe doing before, wearing headphones due to constant comments from van drivers. It's so draining I just got sick of it. I'm much happier in my own little world, though clearly its not ideal from a safety perspective. If only these silly little men were able to control themselves

[RhiWrites]

This is for MaisyPops as the first person on this thread to defend men for doing this.

Bonus points to the poster who asked the OP if she had large breasts.

Why is it that on every single fucking thread about men being sexist and vile someone comes along to blame women and claim the men are just being friendly.

It is aggressive to shout comments at runners, it is aggressive if you experience it as aggressive. There is nothing endearing about it.

[unapaloma]

Running just behind me (I didn't know they were there) then yelling in my ear to frighten me.

Twice, men have aimed their cars at me and 'pretended' to run me over (once mounting the pavement to do so, the other time driving into the lane for the other direction).
That's really threatening! You shouldn't have to, but I'd be tempted to get a headcam, and pass footage of future stuff like this to the police

[Fiona1984]

I don't run, but try to wear headphones if I'm just walking, otherwise I'm liable to swear and get very angry when drivers think it's clever to beep at random women. What do they think they actually achieving?
The other day I was walking up the (rather steep) hill to the bus stop, and got beeped at. I'd had to take my jacket off because it was a hot day and I already didn't feel well. I was wearing skinny jeans, boots and t shirt, not that it makes any difference. I've been harassed whilst wearing baggy jeans and a winter coat before. It annoys me, in the summer I feel like I can't wear weather appropriate clothes because it will encourage them.

[MaisyPops]

This biscuit is for MaisyPops as the first person on this thread to defend men for doing this.

Haha. Ok.
Ummm... did I say "it's amazing for men to shout sexual comments at women?" No. Did I say "it's totally ok for women to be harassed"? No

Did I say that there's an elderly man in our village who makes what he thinks are funny (but aren't) comments to ALL runners, yes.

Did I say later in the thread that we just humour him because he's clearly lonely and talks to everyone around the village, yes.

Do I think that a lonely man making unfunny jokes about us missing the bus to all runners is the same as predatory men making explicit comments about women's bodies? No.

So keep your biscuit.

[Laiste]

Women minding their own business have had to endure the ignorance and rudeness of men shouting at them in public for time immemorial. Running, standing, sitting, just walking down the street.

None of these wankers would dream of yelling out their shit at some big burly bloke getting on with his life. I sometimes imagine the joy of being able to instantly morph into some muscly 6 footer and punch their fucking lights out.

[Laiste]

My post isn't specifically a response to yours maisy btw. It's a response to the whole thread.

[CherryChasingDotMuncher]

There was a recent thread about the rudest thing a stranger has said to you. Almost 100% of it was men making rude comments about women's appearances. The same seems to go for running, I hate it as nearly every time I have blokes shouting things at me, and once a group of lads (not runners) ran next to me for ages asking questions it was very intimidating.

I'm fucking sick of bloody men going out their way to intimidate women. Why do they do it? Is it the power trip? Do their penises grow when they do it? Does money fall in their bank accounts for every unwanted comment? Can anyone offer an answer?

A good "fuck you" will put them in their place, and if you see someone else do it pull them on their behaviour. Men get away with this because no one ever checks their behaviour, we need to start telling men and boys that this is not OK.

[FluffyPants82]

I also have a dilemma now... for a little while now I've been encouraging a friend of mine to come and run with me- she is a larger lady but has caught the fitness bug, has been exercising in her own home on treadmill, rowing machine etc and is finally getting the confidence to venture outside( still a little unsure but I've been egging her on to do it) now in the light of what's happened to me and others on here, I don't want to expose her to that! And men seem to love homing in on a woman's size and weight and completely missing the point too as if they are out running, they are trying to get healthier! Really torn now as what to do? She's quite a strong character and would more than likely march up to them and have a go but at the same time, words can cut like a knife.

[Laiste]

It's outrageous that i'm even having to suggest this, but as things stand, how about running v.early in the morning, or late evening, or is their a local track or a park which is quiet?