# The female "leave me alone" walk **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [September 10, 2007, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-female-leave-me-alone-walk/418669 "2007-09-10T13:52:09Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sophistry_and_Illusion)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-female-leave-me-alone-walk/418669/1 "2007-09-10T13:52:09Z")
You’ve seen the walk: both arms crossed tightly in front of them, usually accompanied by the head tilted slightly downward. It pretty much radiates, “Leave me the fuck alone.” I see it all the time, on every college campus where I have ever taught. But you don’t see the boys walking like that, ever. What gives? Someone explain the sociology/psychology/whateverology of this to me. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-female-leave-me-alone-walk/418669/2 "2007-09-10T13:53:41Z")
[QUOTE=Sophistry and Illusion] You’ve seen the walk: both arms crossed tightly in front of them, usually accompanied by the head tilted slightly downward. It pretty much radiates, “Leave me the fuck alone.” I see it all the time, on every college campus where I have ever taught. **But you don’t see the boys walking like that, ever.** [/QUOTE] You don’t? Not even the boys with frizzy black-colored hair and black lipstick? ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 2:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-female-leave-me-alone-walk/418669/3 "2007-09-10T14:10:51Z")
Oh they still do that? I’d though the invention of the cell phone had made that obsolete. ---
**Author:** ![Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9d8465/32.png) [@Swallowed\_My\_Cellphone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Swallowed_My_Cellphone)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-female-leave-me-alone-walk/418669/4 "2007-09-10T14:21:54Z")
I though that was the “I’m cold and wish I didn’t have to shamble across campus” walk. I’ve seen my sister and ex-girlfriends do it plenty. When we’d go out clubbing with friends in our 20s, there was a variation: arms still crossed but the head was tilted up for the animated discussion. I think guys do it less because the are cold less (based on observations of the regular office quarrels over the thermostat). ---
**Author:** ![Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sophistry_and_Illusion)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-female-leave-me-alone-walk/418669/5 "2007-09-10T16:15:18Z")
[QUOTE=Swallowed My Cellphone] I though that was the “I’m cold and wish I didn’t have to shamble across campus” walk. [/QUOTE] Well, I’m pretty sure it’s a year-round phenomenon. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-female-leave-me-alone-walk/418669/6 "2007-09-10T16:17:21Z")
[QUOTE=Sophistry and Illusion] Well, I’m pretty sure it’s a year-round phenomenon. [/QUOTE] So is “chicks feeling cold.” 🆒 ---
**Author:** ![Zsofia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/7bcc69/32.png) [@Zsofia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zsofia)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-female-leave-me-alone-walk/418669/7 "2007-09-10T16:26:56Z")
[QUOTE=Sophistry and Illusion] You’ve seen the walk: both arms crossed tightly in front of them, usually accompanied by the head tilted slightly downward. It pretty much radiates, “Leave me the fuck alone.” I see it all the time, on every college campus where I have ever taught. But you don’t see the boys walking like that, ever. What gives? Someone explain the sociology/psychology/whateverology of this to me. [/QUOTE] Well, do people have a tendancy to come up and and bother the boys? ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-female-leave-me-alone-walk/418669/8 "2007-09-10T16:27:46Z")
You don’t see random girls coming up to boys and trying to get them to go out with them. Girls can see that a lot. And if you try to be nice when brushing someone off, some guys take that as a qualified “yes” and keep on trying. Plus, some guys consider it their god given right to comment on the appearances of girls and to let the girls if they consider them cute or not. Gee, thanks. After a while, you figure out how to keep people from bothering you. ---
**Author:** ![Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b3f665/32.png) [@Sophistry\_and\_Illusion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sophistry_and_Illusion)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-female-leave-me-alone-walk/418669/9 "2007-09-10T16:37:29Z")
\*\*Zsofia \*\* and **tremorviolet** –I figured it might be something like that. ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-female-leave-me-alone-walk/418669/10 "2007-09-10T16:37:52Z")
Yeah, I was going to WAG that it’s a “don’t hit on me” walk, and that you don’t see guys doing it because the average male gets hit on less than he would like. ---
**Author:** ![sugar\_and\_spice](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e8c25b/32.png) [@sugar\_and\_spice](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sugar_and_spice)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-female-leave-me-alone-walk/418669/11 "2007-09-10T17:45:22Z")
I think its either “I’m cold”, “I’m thinking about something”, or “I’m shy”. ‘Don’t hit on me’ makes sense if we’re talking about the subway or a city street, but before 3pm on your average college campus, I actually don’t think Don Juans are much of a threat, YMMV. As for women often being colder than men, I think that college girls often tend to underdress for the weather, since chunky sweaters aren’t really flattering. Also, arms-crossed is a more natural stance if you are used to carrying a shoulder bag. ---
**Author:** ![tremorviolet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e47774/32.png) [@tremorviolet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tremorviolet)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 6:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-female-leave-me-alone-walk/418669/12 "2007-09-10T18:27:22Z")
[QUOTE=sugar and spice] I think its either “I’m cold”, “I’m thinking about something”, or “I’m shy”. ‘Don’t hit on me’ makes sense if we’re talking about the subway or a city street, but before 3pm on your average college campus, I actually don’t think Don Juans are much of a threat, YMMV. As for women often being colder than men, I think that college girls often tend to underdress for the weather, since chunky sweaters aren’t really flattering. Also, arms-crossed is a more natural stance if you are used to carrying a shoulder bag. [/QUOTE] It probably depends on the person but I pretty much did the “don’t mess with me” thing 24/7. It becomes a habit. And my face would do this weird thing where it would feel stiff when I was in public. I’m not anything above average but I have bright red hair which seemed to give people permission to mess with me. And I’m naturally kinda introverted so I had difficulty responding and found it easier to avoid the interactions all together. Now that I’m older and more confident, I have to consciously remember to tone down my stance and relax my face. Talking to people is a good thing. ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-female-leave-me-alone-walk/418669/13 "2007-09-10T18:40:16Z")
[QUOTE=tremorviolet] It probably depends on the person but I pretty much did the “don’t mess with me” thing 24/7. It becomes a habit. And my face would do this weird thing where it would feel stiff when I was in public. I’m not anything above average but I have bright red hair which seemed to give people permission to mess with me. And I’m naturally kinda introverted so I had difficulty responding and found it easier to avoid the interactions all together. [/QUOTE] If I remember your photos correctly, you would be downright intimidating, let alone approachable, if you put on that demeanor. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Dung\_Beetle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dung_beetle/32/7945_2.png) [@Dung\_Beetle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dung_Beetle)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-female-leave-me-alone-walk/418669/14 "2007-09-10T18:48:02Z")
When I was in seventh grade, some kid I never saw before in my life cured me of that posture by yelling at me, “Hey, maybe if you didn’t hold your books that way, your chest wouldn’t be so flat!” Unfortunately, he was too late. Turns out I had already permanently stunted my growth. ---
**Author:** ![An\_Arky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/87869e/32.png) [@An\_Arky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/An_Arky)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-female-leave-me-alone-walk/418669/15 "2007-09-10T18:57:58Z")
[QUOTE=Slithy Tove] Oh they still do that? I’d though the invention of the cell phone had made that obsolete. [/QUOTE] No kidding… Note to self: Come up with an invention that simultaneously holds cell phone to ear and covers breasts, leaving hands free to root around purse for…whatever women root around in their purses for… ---
**Author:** ![OneCentStamp](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/13edae/32.png) [@OneCentStamp](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OneCentStamp)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-female-leave-me-alone-walk/418669/16 "2007-09-10T19:03:06Z")
[QUOTE=An Arky] Note to self: Come up with an invention that simultaneously holds cell phone to ear and covers breasts, leaving hands free to root around purse for…whatever women root around in their purses for… [/QUOTE] …pepper spray? ---
**Author:** ![lobstermobster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobstermobster/32/10033_2.png) [@lobstermobster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobstermobster)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2007, 7:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-female-leave-me-alone-walk/418669/17 "2007-09-10T19:07:40Z")
who the hell gets hit on by strangers just walking around? I’ve never seen anything like that. I do the bitch face walk when I’m trying to dodge panhandlers. If you look like a sympathetic young women they’ll really go after you. ---
**Author:** ![RedRosesForMe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/91b2a8/32.png) [@RedRosesForMe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedRosesForMe)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 12:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-female-leave-me-alone-walk/418669/18 "2007-09-11T00:15:22Z")
[QUOTE=lobstermobster] who the hell gets hit on by strangers just walking around? I’ve never seen anything like that. I do the bitch face walk when I’m trying to dodge panhandlers. If you look like a sympathetic young women they’ll really go after you. [/QUOTE] Nearly everytime I leave my house on foot I get hit on by strangers. Occasionally at stoplights, too. Not that I’m such a looker, I just think some men can’t contain their excitement at spotting a pair of breasts, even if they are covered. ---
**Author:** ![Autolycus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@Autolycus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Autolycus)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 12:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-female-leave-me-alone-walk/418669/19 "2007-09-11T00:17:04Z")
I’ve seen this phenonemon a lot, but I have no idea how it developed. ---
**Author:** ![lobstermobster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobstermobster/32/10033_2.png) [@lobstermobster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lobstermobster)\ **Post date:** [September 11, 2007, 12:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-female-leave-me-alone-walk/418669/20 "2007-09-11T00:28:59Z")
[QUOTE=RedRosesForMe] Nearly everytime I leave my house on foot I get hit on by strangers. Occasionally at stoplights, too. Not that I’m such a looker, I just think some men can’t contain their excitement at spotting a pair of breasts, even if they are covered. [/QUOTE] I’m going to need to see these boobs I have never once been hit on just outside walking around. Bars yes but even that is rare. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-female-leave-me-alone-walk/418669.md?page=2)