1) I used to be a man.
2) I’ve only been a woman for four months, so there hasn’t been a lot of time.
3) I’m 5’10″ and wider in the shoulders than most men here.
4) I dress in a sinister fashion. That probably helps.
5) I have a lot of practice at staring men down. See 1).
6) Most of the men I meet are not a physical threat to me while they’re unarmed and on their own.

So, not so much respected my boundaries as respected my violent capabilities.

I live in the UK. I’m 29.

I have been sexually harrassed and intimidated, but I am a shy person, so telling somebody to “back off” would be my very last resort. I don’t want to escalate the situation or make the guy angry. I will try to quietly get out of an awkward/sexual-harrassment situation if I can. Most of the times that I have been sexually harrassed have been by a group of guys that I was walking past. The harrassment would make me angry but it was over quickly, I didn’t need to tell them to “back off”. I have never been followed, stalked, grabbed or sexually assaulted.

At my first school ball one guy (a stranger) tried to intimidate me sexually, getting into my personal space. I turned and left that situation immediately. I didn’t say anything to him.

Another time a bus was crowded so I ended up sitting on the back seat, squashed next to two really drunk guys. One of them asked for my phone number and address. He shook my hand then didn’t want to let go. The guys were friendly and I didn’t mind talking to them (they were really drunk but quite friendly). I didn’t tell them to back off, but I was a bit uncomfortable/scared – I didn’t know if one of the guys would try to kiss me or something . I felt relieved when I could get off the bus.

I’m 43, and I live in Corvallis, Oregon

I live/go to school in PA, but have spent time in NYC and Rome.

I imagine my reluctance to go out in public has a bit to do with it. Being an introvert on the extreme side of the scale can be a bastard.

I’m 28 and grew up in Sydney (have noticed a couple of Sydneysiders/other Aussies posting on this thread – is there a connection?) and have lived in Poland, the UK, and now Germany.

I am a man who, while at a bar enjoying a drink, had another man constantly try to hit on me and who wouldn’t take no for an answer. Not only was he continue to come on to me after I politely told him that I was not interested, but he did so in a very vulgar manner, telling me exactly what he wanted to do to me.

And this wasn’t a gay bar, it was a regular local sports bar.

And it wasn’t my first time being hit on by another man. I had previously been hit on when I was out and it was done in a very polite and flattering way.

So, while I cannot claim to understand what it feels like to be a woman in such an environment, I have gotten a taste and it wasn’t pleasant.

I am fat, so its quite possible that is the reason. Or it could be my personality – I’ve been told I am aloof and stoic. Does wonders for my self esteem, let me tell you.

So yea, I’m apparently in the growing minority here.