Women report rise in "aggressive eye contact" since masks

[SunsetBeetch]

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

[quote NotBadConsidering]Titania has a view on this :

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

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

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.

Yeh, I think this is bollocks

Maybe some people just have resting aggressive eyebrows?

@Dervel

Maybe some people just have resting aggressive eyebrows?

That'll be me then.

I haven't noticed anything except maybe people are less chatty with strangers.

.

@UncleShady

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

Yes, absolutely. I've spent the last year trying to hold my line when walking but now social distance is more important and I've fallen back into old ways.

I suspect it is the usual male staring but more noticeable now that eyes are nearly all that is visible of the face.

@PasstheBucket89

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.

You're covering your nose as well right?

Titania always makes me laugh. I agree that it's all a bit "literal violance". I've not experienced this at all but then again I have 2 toddlers and my interactions with other people usually only go as far as "is my toddler going to bash into the other human? No. You may now go back to ignoring the existence of said human".

The answer to Titania's dilemma is, of course, to cross your eyes.

Not that I've had botox the upper part of my face doesn't move at all. My emotions are all basically blank staring

I went to Tesco today and it was crazy. Either:

a.all the men were perves

B.the bottom half of my face is fugly and covering it makes me much more attractive to men

C. Wearing a mask means men feel 'safer' about looking at a woman and making eye contact.

I honestly couldn't believe just how obvious some of them were about looking and holding the stare once they caught eye contact.

Really bizarre and so glad I found this thread!

C. Wearing a mask means men feel 'safer' about looking at a woman and making eye contact.

I haven't personally experienced this but I do wonder if their mask makes them think they can't be seen staring, a bit like a toddler with its hands over its eyes thinking you can't see it, hence carrying on ogling instead of being more surreptitious. Wouldn't be surprised.

Sounds like there's a few women staring to find out if they are being stared at lol.
Honestly though, sounds like crap

I think it's a feedback loop. I doubt I'd intimidate any men, even if I tried, but I get into a cycle of trying to communicate a polite smile, worrying that I've been staring too long while I do it and then going back to staring for even longer while I futilely try to communicate a polite smile. Meanwhile, he may have smiled back politely too but I have no way to know and probably has similar thoughts (or he may not be as neurotic). The worst part is when I try to fake a full face smile and worry that I've more likely just narrowed my eyes.

Hopefully, if we don't get a vaccine soon, the WHO can announce that wearing dark/mirrored glasses helps stop the spread.

@fleurdeliz

I went to Tesco today and it was crazy. Either:

a.all the men were perves

B.the bottom half of my face is fugly and covering it makes me much more attractive to men

C. Wearing a mask means men feel 'safer' about looking at a woman and making eye contact.

I honestly couldn't believe just how obvious some of them were about looking and holding the stare once they caught eye contact.

Really bizarre and so glad I found this thread!

I don't know that these are the only options.

@iamtheoneandonlyyy

That's sad that's how you interpret my post. I thought maybe this was the kind of thing I could say on this board without fear of being told it was 'you not them':

Clearly not hey?

@Goosefoot

Maybe not the only options. My husband said maybe my dress was tucked in my knickers and that's why they were staring.

@fleurdeliz it's only my opinion on the idea of 'aggressive eye contact' in general.

@iamtheoneandonlyyy

Really - it's your opinion that women are going out 'looking for aggressive eye contact'.

That's your first thought?

No my first thought is that it's not a thing.
And that if I notice someone staring I usually realise I must have been staring at them.
I just don't think hordes of men are using masks as a way to aggressiylock eyes with people In general.
I think it's just a strange time

It’s all pretty logical really, we all have ingrained behaviour. Make eye contact with someone you look away, maybe smile or nod to acknowledge them. There are whole sets of behaviours ingrained that we have. Slap a mask on and suddenly we lose a significant portion of our non verbal communication. I think a portion of people just freeze as they try to extrapolate how to behave. Thus make eye contact for a little too long than is comfortable. Obviously if this is causing anyone distress I’ll resolve to make sure I’m not staring as I’m working all this out.

I'd imagine some men will find women in masks 'hot' - well if the women are young and pretty anyway, which could explain some of the staring. Never underestimate what some men will find arousing. 😆
Doesn't explain the 'aggressive' part though.