# Does a woman always know when she is being "checked out" by a man? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [May 25, 2009, 5:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-woman-always-know-when-she-is-being-checked-out-by-a-man/497582 "2009-05-25T17:37:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Rascal\_s\_Mom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a698b9/32.png) [@Rascal\_s\_Mom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rascal_s_Mom)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 2:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-woman-always-know-when-she-is-being-checked-out-by-a-man/497582/21 "2009-05-26T02:26:39Z")
> [@sjc](#): > > Your son told you? He sounds like a rascal! Ha! Good one! He must have noticed MY cleavage! ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Woodhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@Miss\_Woodhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Woodhouse)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-woman-always-know-when-she-is-being-checked-out-by-a-man/497582/22 "2009-05-26T04:31:08Z")
About the only person I know has ever checked me out is my husband, and he’s kind of obvious about it, cartoonishly so. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-woman-always-know-when-she-is-being-checked-out-by-a-man/497582/23 "2009-05-26T06:38:27Z")
> [@Claire\_Beauchamp](#): > > Yes, we all have 360 degree vision and ESP as well. So cut it out. It’s not really ESP. Actually, men’s eyes emit particles called testosterons which women feel subconsciously. This, like other forms of radiation can cause cancer, so if you catch a man checking you out you should immediately slap him and irately demand “Are you trying to give me CANCER ?!” The poster declines responsibility if you actually do this and get branded a lunatic ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 7:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-woman-always-know-when-she-is-being-checked-out-by-a-man/497582/24 "2009-05-26T07:31:55Z")
Nah, as a man I am pretty sure that women don’t always notice. I’ve seen too many people have to point it out to their friends. And if a woman does notice, there’s usually some reaction, even if she likes it. I’m a pretty avid people watcher. For me, it seems that women are more likely to notice when I’m not checking them out, but look like I might be. When I actually have caught myself doing it, nobody else seems to notice. ---
**Author:** ![ParentalAdvisory](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/53a042/32.png) [@ParentalAdvisory](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParentalAdvisory)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 8:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-woman-always-know-when-she-is-being-checked-out-by-a-man/497582/25 "2009-05-26T08:29:21Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Some people love cleavage, personally I look down on it. Nice one! ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 10:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-woman-always-know-when-she-is-being-checked-out-by-a-man/497582/26 "2009-05-26T10:52:46Z")
Mostly, I’m as oblivious to being checked out as I am to most other things in life. I spend a lot more time lost in thought than actually taking notice of the real world (I still worry that I’m allowed to drive). ---
**Author:** ![Anne\_Neville](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Anne\_Neville](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anne_Neville)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-woman-always-know-when-she-is-being-checked-out-by-a-man/497582/27 "2009-05-26T12:52:51Z")
Either I’m ugly enough that no man has ever checked me out, or I can’t tell when they are. ---
**Author:** ![apollonia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/2bfe46/32.png) [@apollonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/apollonia)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 2:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-woman-always-know-when-she-is-being-checked-out-by-a-man/497582/28 "2009-05-26T14:37:48Z")
Uh, as a rule I’m not going around fretting about whether other people are looking at me. I’m too busy you know, actually going about my day. I’m less concerned with being aware that guys are checking me out than making sure I got everything on my grocery list or I didn’t forget an appointment or I make my train. ---
**Author:** ![pendgwen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3da27b/32.png) [@pendgwen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pendgwen)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-woman-always-know-when-she-is-being-checked-out-by-a-man/497582/29 "2009-05-26T14:41:26Z")
My obliviousness is a standing joke among my friends and family. ---
**Author:** ![eldowan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/848f3c/32.png) [@eldowan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eldowan)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-woman-always-know-when-she-is-being-checked-out-by-a-man/497582/30 "2009-05-26T14:53:49Z")
eldochick _never_ notices when anyone is checking her out, unless it is the pervy old dude drooling. Seriously, everytime I tell her that I saw another guy checking her out she is completely supprised. And, for all you girls that think all guys are obvious when checking someone out I got news for you. You probably don’t even see half the looks you are getting (not counting the watching as you walk away looks either). Despite belief, there are guys who understand (at least a little) how to subtely check someone out. ---
**Author:** ![Giltathriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/b38774/32.png) [@Giltathriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Giltathriel)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-woman-always-know-when-she-is-being-checked-out-by-a-man/497582/31 "2009-05-26T16:45:16Z")
Definitely not me. I can tell when a guy is interested in me if we’re having a conversation or something, but generally I have to be told if a guy is just looking at me, however obvious it might look to others. ---
**Author:** ![Jodi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7feea3/32.png) [@Jodi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jodi)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 4:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-woman-always-know-when-she-is-being-checked-out-by-a-man/497582/32 "2009-05-26T16:54:21Z")
I have a better sense of this now that I’m older and it happens less. (_“ARE YOU CHECKING ME OUT? WHY NOT???”_) Not that it happened a ton when I was a sweet young thing, but I was one of those girls who didn’t know a boy liked her until someone informed her directly. And I don’t mean just in junior high, though that may be how it sounds, but throughout my twenties as well. I doubt it was just that the guys were being super-subtle; I think it’s more likely another example of a combination of under-estimating my own attractiveness and general cluelessness. > [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > It’s not really ESP. Actually, men’s eyes emit particles called testosterons which women feel subconsciously. This, like other forms of radiation can cause cancer, so if you catch a man checking you out you should immediately slap him and irately demand “Are you trying to give me CANCER ?!” **Der Trihs** , this post is both light-hearted and funny. Are you feeling okay? 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 6:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-woman-always-know-when-she-is-being-checked-out-by-a-man/497582/33 "2009-05-26T18:37:05Z")
> [@gonzomax](#): > > Some people love cleavage, personally I look down on it. Oh, I don’t know. I’m of two minds about it. ---
**Author:** ![badbadrubberpiggy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/57b2e6/32.png) [@badbadrubberpiggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/badbadrubberpiggy)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 6:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-woman-always-know-when-she-is-being-checked-out-by-a-man/497582/34 "2009-05-26T18:59:03Z")
> [@WhyNot](#): > > _scratches head_ > > How would I know? I mean, I know when I know, but I don’t know when I don’t know, you know? This. Um, I think. Yes, I notice when men check me out, but I have no idea if I _always_ notice, because I don’t know if if I’m not noticing 😃 My husband, on the other hand, has no idea how many women check him out on a daily basis. Completely oblivious. ---
**Author:** ![maladroit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f475e1/32.png) [@maladroit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/maladroit)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 7:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-woman-always-know-when-she-is-being-checked-out-by-a-man/497582/35 "2009-05-26T19:13:36Z")
Let me say that I believe I can usually tell if a man I am looking at is checking out someone, me or anyone else. Always is a bit strong. ---
**Author:** ![palindromemordnilap](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/db5fbb/32.png) [@palindromemordnilap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/palindromemordnilap)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2009, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-woman-always-know-when-she-is-being-checked-out-by-a-man/497582/36 "2009-05-26T19:29:29Z")
I was checking out a woman and I don’t think she noticed until the librarian tried to use the bar code reader on her. ---
**Author:** ![discodancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9c0ed/32.png) [@discodancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/discodancer)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 5:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-woman-always-know-when-she-is-being-checked-out-by-a-man/497582/37 "2009-05-27T17:42:26Z")
I think most of the time I don’t notice when I’m being checked out unless the guy is trying to be very obvious about it. Often, a friend or someone I’m with will tell me when someone is giving me the once-over. Once when I was on a date and sitting right next to the guy, and he checked me out from head to at least my knees (I was sitting down so I doubt he could see my ankles). It was creepy. I kept wondering if he realized that I knew because I was looking right at his face, or if he wanted me to know. Could a guy be that oblivious? ---
**Author:** ![bup](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/6bbea6/32.png) [@bup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bup)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-woman-always-know-when-she-is-being-checked-out-by-a-man/497582/38 "2009-05-27T17:50:35Z")
> [@palindromemordnilap](#): > > I was checking out a woman and I don’t think she noticed until the librarian tried to use the bar code reader on her. When’s her due date? ---
**Author:** ![manila](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/e5b9ba/32.png) [@manila](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manila)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 6:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-woman-always-know-when-she-is-being-checked-out-by-a-man/497582/39 "2009-05-27T18:16:37Z")
Err… I may get my man card ticketed here, how can I put this… Don’t we…err, check out EVERY mature female we see? I know I do. And have done every day of my life since I started getting interested in girls, whether I was in a relationship or not. Okay its not a leer or stare ( and I hope / think its not obvious) Its just something that we do, I know I do and we all do yup? right? Colleagues, girl behind the counter, girl riding the bike on the street. Come on fellas back me up here… Its normal isn’t it? Or are we talking about something else here? ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2009, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-woman-always-know-when-she-is-being-checked-out-by-a-man/497582/40 "2009-05-27T18:18:22Z")
Maybe it’s just me, but I’m a lot more selective than that. After a first glance, it’s probably only one woman in twenty, if that, that I “check out.” [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-woman-always-know-when-she-is-being-checked-out-by-a-man/497582.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/does-a-woman-always-know-when-she-is-being-checked-out-by-a-man/497582.md?page=3)