To a select group of high school and college boys,
Have you never seen a person exercise before? Are you confused as to why I'm wearing headphones and running around my University? Do you think I need to get out of your way even though I’m on the sidewalk?
These are not rhetorical questions, I genuinely want to know the answer. I don’t understand why you continue to beep at me while I'm running outside, and I want you to know that I don’t particularly want it to happen.
When you beep at me, you set off a process of textbook female over-thinking that I'm really trying to avoid when I work out. You beep, maybe shout something and wave out the car window (my favorite is “RUN FASTER!”), and I start thinking about what purpose your honking could possibly have served. Do you beep at all runners? Are you laughing at me because I’m sweating? Are you trying to scare me because I have headphones in? Are my shorts too short? Does my hair look gross?Do I look fat? Or are you doing it to acknowledge that you think I am attractive?
Well, if you think I’m cute, thank you. If you think I have a nice butt, thank you. If you would like to take me out to dinner, that’s awesome. But you have as good a chance of getting my positive attention by beeping at me while I’m working out as you do by cat-calling me as I’m trying to catch a cab on a Friday night (aka there's literally no chance at all. Sorry to burst your bubble, cat-callers).
I’m not saying that you’re trying to signal any of these things with a simple beep. I’m just speculating. Either way, when you beep at a runner, 9.999 times out of 10, she is going to be irritated rather than amused. I'm begging you, for the sake of female runners everywhere, please stop. It makes us uncomfortable and makes you look like a tool.