‘You Women Are So On Guard’: Man Says He Now Understands Women’s Fears After His Own Experience
Women often exercise caution when walking alone in public for fear of being harassed or attacked. While this alertness is second nature to us, men typically don't have to go through life with this same level of caution, nor do they understand what women go through on a daily basis.
But one man is sharing his experience of being on the receiving end of that fear, and now, he has a message for all men.
Constantly On Alert
Women are taught from an early age that the world can be a scary place. While we shouldn't live in fear, when we're alone we should be on alert because we don't know who's lurking nearby.
From looking over our shoulders to carrying a can of pepper spray and holding our house keys in our hands as a weapon, many of us take measures to keep ourselves safe.
The TikTok
Simon, also known as @simonlee107 on TikTok, recently shared an important video that has gone viral with over 4.5 million views and 1 million likes. In it, he recounts an encounter he had with a young woman one day which changed his worldview for the better.
"Men, listen up. I learned something extremely valuable today leaving the gym about the opposite sex—they are in true fear of us."
She Was Afraid
Simon explains that he was leaving the gym when he noticed a young woman who was 15-20 steps ahead of him. At this point, he's walking behind her, listening to his music, and not paying attention to the situation. Suddenly, the woman looks over her shoulder.
"She sees me," he says. "I smile, you know, we're both leaving the gym, normal [stuff] right? I notice that she started picking up the pace."
Escaping To Her Car
As soon as Simon and the woman make eye contact, she then clicks the unlock button on her car keys. Quickly, she enters her vehicle and locks the car doors. Once safely inside, Simon says she looks at him through the window.
"She was thinking that I was going to attack her or follow her."
An Unsettling Realization
Simon continues and says that he was walking toward his car as well, which was parked next to the young woman's vehicle.
"I had no idea until this moment in time that you women are in such fear and so on guard that it don't matter like—you could be dressed in a suit and tie, you could be dressed like a bum, you can be in a nice little hoodie—a van Gogh—you fear us."
"It Breaks My Heart"
Upon the realization that women have to go through the world every day with a fear of being attacked, Simon says, "There's so much that bothers me about that."
He adds that he himself is the nicest guy in the world, yet the knowledge that a woman could look at him with fear "breaks my heart...[and] for you to think that about me, it kind of hurts."
The Way The World Is...Unless
Simon says that as much as knowing that one woman feared him, it hurts more to realize that women have to think that way about every man they see and must always exercise caution because of a few "maggots and leeches and pigs on this earth."
Before ending his monologue, Simon has one final message for men.
"I Call Upon All Real Men"
"We need to let these ladies know that it's safe out there. There are good men that will stand by and protect you no matter if we know you or not. I understand there are some vile demons, goblins, and ghouls out there trying to get in your pants," Simon says.
"We're not all bad guys, and, some of us are actually kinda good. And on behalf of all real men, real warriors, and real gentlemen, I apologize, lady, that this is the feeling you have to go through every parking lot you walk through."
