No matter who you are, I'm sure at one point in time you've had to deal with someone who creeps you out. They may not even do anything, they just give off that vibe. Every since I was a little girl I've been told to listen to that gut instinct...if someone rubs you the wrong way it's probably for a reason.
Even though this is something I've had hammered into me, I'm usually pretty immune to people being creeps. I mean yeah, I notice it but it hardly ever bothers me. I generally just laugh about it. Maybe it's because I was a server for so long or maybe it's because I make myself uncomfortable enough that no one else can do it, but whatever the reason, I'm pretty unshakeable.
But, as the old cliché goes, there is a first time for everything. And for me, this came in the form of a guy at my work. He comes in every single day and sits in the corner from the time we open till the time we close. No big deal right? Except that corner is where all the magazines are, and one of my jobs is to input new magazines.
For the first year that I worked there, he didn't give me that creepy vibe. But little by little I started getting uncomfortable. He didn't do anything really (he would just look me up and down every time I was near him), but I just felt weird and uncomfortable whenever I would go to work in that corner. I tried to ignore it, to laugh it off with my coworkers, but I just felt uneasy and I couldn't shake it.
This was literally how he would look at me the entire time.
This uneasy feeling got so bad that I stopped working on the magazines unless it was before we opened. I even talked to my boss about moving the chairs so he wouldn't be so close (that was a no go, apparently we have to have the chairs there because we have to be able to see him pretty much all the time). I avoided going in that section at all unless I absolutely had to.
Now you might think this was a little over the top considering the fact that he didn't do anything at all. But if you have ever experienced that feeling, you know exactly what I'm talking about. To be quite honest I couldn't believe that I, a very strong personality, would let one person dictate so much of my work life.
I am a passionate believer in women empowerment and taking care of ourselves. I am also a passionate believer in myself as an individual and me sticking up for myself. But in this situation, I felt helpless because he hadn't done anything that constituted as a break in policy for my work. Especially because I am the youngest one there, I felt like if I said "He makes me really uncomfortable because he looks me up and down and just gives me a feeling" I would be seen as overdramatic. I couldn't say anything to him unless he said something to me or he did something physical and all he was doing was watching me. I didn't want it to get to that point, though.
Needless to say, I got real tired of feeling like that real fast. So last week I pushed the cart over to the magazine section and when he started to stare I stared at him right back until he got uncomfortable and moved chairs. Now whenever he sees me coming, he just moves. I refuse to be made to feel uncomfortable in the place that I work (or anywhere!) by some creep. If I had known that was all it would take, I would have done it so much sooner. And while I definitely do not suggest this method to deal with all creeps out there*, I do encourage everyone (whether it be male or female) to stick up for yourself and for your right to exist without someone else making you feel uncomfortable.
*DISCLAIMER*: I "confronted" the person making me feel uncomfortable in a very safe environment, where I had people who could back me up if need be. I do not advise confronting creeps if you are not in a public place or you do not have someone to help you. Instead, leave if possible, call for help or call 911.
Confrontation should be the last resort. Also, pepper spray is an amazing investment for both men and women. Ten dollars at most Wal-Mart's!!! Big 5 and even hardware stores sell it as well for 10$!!!
