“Damn, what are you taking off?” the dishelved man exclaimed, leering toward me.
The sun beated on me and I finally relented to the discomfort as I was passing a few of the society’s unwanted. Without thinking of the consequences, I took off my leather jacket while walking.
I raised my eyebrows in anguish slightly, but kept looking straight ahead. Don’t make eye contact. And I continued into my building relieved to see fellow coworkers in sight.
It’s really not the first time it happened to me. With being female and an asian body frame, I receive many comments from time to time. It’s the sacrifice I make for living and working in the city. But for some reason, this time, I was steamed. I didn’t ask to be treated like an object. And even underneath my jacket, I wasn’t wearing anything ostentatious. It’s unfair. So there are times that I want to understand why comments like this are made.
A few months ago, a man tried to put his face toward me making kissing noises and saying some racist comments. My Caucasian friend who was walking with me was more offended than I was. At the time, I accepted it as the things I had to encounter in life. They don’t understand. They don’t have the education to understand diversity and equality. Like rude people in stores who don’t apologize when they accidentally get in my way. Or the people in line who save spaces for friends and you have to wait an additional 20 minutes to get in because of them.
Perhaps, I take certain things less seriously. However, today, I just couldn’t stop thinking about it. Granted, I work close to the Tenderloin—a neighborhood known for a seedy reputation. But I have moods.
In some sense, I am angry at myself for deciding to take off my jacket while passing the men. I could have just waited the extra 30 seconds to take it off. But misinterpretations abound and I was reaching the peak of my discomfort from heat as I passed them.
In some way though, isn’t it supposed to be a sign that you’re still young and looking good? I just wouldn’t want those kind of people making such comments. I am not that desperate.