Sometimes I hate being a woman. I used to love putting on a whole outfit and makeup to go out. I get so much enjoyment from putting an outfit together. I don’t do it anymore. At least not when I’m going out alone. Whenever I go out alone I try and look as unpresentable as possible now. I’ve found that if I look slightly presentable I get watched by men. I get approached by creepy men. I get catcalled by old men. I’ve been in a few borderline dangerous situations in the past 6 months when I’ve gone out looking even slightly ok. I’ve been followed. I’ve been told by a man he’s going to wait for me to get out of work at night. Twice. After I told him I’m not interested. Then I hear all these stories of terrible things happening to women in my area. So now I don’t leave the house without pepper spray. Now I don’t wear my hair up because it makes me easier to grab. I don’t go to gas stations at night. Im scared to go to grocery stores by myself, but I do it anyways. Im constantly terrified. It’s miserable feeling like I have to make myself look insane in order to feel a little bit safe.