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Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84 SMI; site sun.uucp
Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!bonnie!akgua!mcnc!decvax!decwrl!sun!sunny
From: sunny@sun.uucp (Sunny Kirsten)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: More on crossing streets
Message-ID: <1895@sun.uucp>
Date: Mon, 24-Dec-84 12:49:46 EST
Article-I.D.: sun.1895
Posted: Mon Dec 24 12:49:46 1984
Date-Received: Thu, 27-Dec-84 03:01:35 EST
References: <611@utcsrgv.UUCP>
Distribution: net
Organization: Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Lines: 18

There's more than one way to not skin a cat.

Might I suggest something which seems to have been overlooked?  There's a
lot more subtlety to body language than crossing the street.  For those men
who wish not to appear threatening, yet consider it too much effort to cross
(and re-re-cross) the street to give a lone woman some secure space, try using
eye contact (or, specifically, the lack thereof) to show distance.  In other
words, if a man walks down the street with eyes straight ahead on his path, and
does not look at the women he passes, then they will see the distance (mental
rather than physical) and not be so afraid.  Other postings have made it clear
that being friendly is not conducive to feeling secure against overfriendliness.
Being distant by virtue of totally ignoring the presence of others can be more
effective than walking across the street and still ogling passersby.  There's
a lot to be said for, and learned from body language, the most signifigant
part of which is eye contact.
				Sunny1
-- 
{ucbvax,decvax,ihnp4}!sun!sunny