Member-only story
The One Thing Guys do on Sidewalks that Ruins my Day
I call it The Trap
The more I walk in public spaces, the more I notice a distinctly male formation I call The Trap. I encounter it on sidewalks, though it can also happen at the entrance to a convenience store, somewhere in a park, anywhere. Leave the country or go to a different state, but I guarantee you’ll see it within minutes.
It’s The Trap. The setup is always the same. At least two men, sometimes three, strategically placed on either side of your path. Perhaps there’s too much traffic for passing pedestrians to step into the road. Or there are tall shrubs stopping us from going around. Whatever the case, we have to do it; we have to walk directly through the tiny audience.
For me, it’s a terrible moment. The conversation that was lively a moment ago suddenly stops as I take my first steps. My stomach turns as eyes look me up and down in that horrifying way only men in the street can manage. I speed up, desperate to get out of the invisible box. I make the mistake of looking up and see one trapper giving me a weird smile and I pull a face. My disgust inspires a laugh from the trappers, making the entire situation even worse.
