Would you consider this encounter an example of everyday sexism?

[AngeloMysterioso]

Just been to a meeting at lunch, I’d walked up from the tube in the rain in a leather bomber jacket and got a bit hot so when I got in the building I took my jacket off. The office had one of those automated gate things and his chap was coming out whilst I was stood next to it, so I got out of the way and said “Sorry! Don’t mind me” perfectly politely. He looks at me and goes “You’re dressed for the summer! Not this weather.”

I am dressed thus: black heeled court shoes, black tights, a knee length black pleated skirt, and a black sleeveless top. The whole effect is rather sombre, and far from summery. It’s not like I’m strutting around in a crop top and hot pants. And even if I were, why is is this guy’s place to pass comment? I mean what the fuck is it to this random dude what I’m wearing? Does he remark on the outfits of every stranger he encounters, or just the women?

My point is, I’m willing to bet if I’d been a bloke in a tshirt and jeans he wouldn’t have said a damn thing. My DH however thinks I'm overreacting.

My DH however thinks I'm overreacting

Your dh is right

As someone who is hyper-sensitive to "Banter" because of what I do for a living, you're over reacting.

Massive overreaction klaxon

Jeez- snowflake

Haha, this has to be a wind up?

You had a sleeveless top on and he saw you just after you'd walked into the building from rain. It's a reasonable thing to say, as to him is bucketing down and you're there holding your jacket in a sleeveless top.

If I saw a man (and I'm a woman) in a building holding his jacket and in a Peter Andre-esque sleeveless number and it was raining, I would probably say a similar comment. And even then, it's nothing insulting it's a comment about a sleeveless top and bad weather.

There are far far worse things to be offended about OP, this is a non story.

I find that comments from strangers on clothing usually come from women. My DH always dresses in quite light clothing, it can be a snowstorm outside and he still wears a polo shirt, he gets the "aren't you freezing?' comment from both men and women.

I do understand that these type of comments can make you feel very self conscious. A woman once walked up to me and my DH on the street saying "OMG you guys are so matchy-matchy!". I was wearing jeans and a red t-shirt he red trousers and a blue polo, the reds and blues weren't even the same type of colours. I had not even noticed we were wearing similar colours, but it made me very self conscious of it the rest of the day.

Wouldn't happen if the sexes were reversed.

Yes it would! There was nothing remotely sexist about what was said. I would definitely make a similar comment to a man. Totally inoffensive and in my view OP totally overreacted. No wonder strangers don't dare chat to each other!

Women prefer to make comments I find - ‘oh , I like that top - etc etc’
‘ what this old thing?’ Etc etc. It’s all just conversation filler. My dh doesn’t waste words with any of this stuff though.

I bet the OP is from down south, we northerners love a bit of pointless chit chat