Fraudulent Feminist.

Most of my wacko stories on this blogarama involve interaction with wackos on the street. So here we go again:

I was walking to work in the usual manner, and almost slammed into a workman. I apologized, as did he, and then he added, "Pretty ass!"

"Excuse me?" I said, giving him the benefit of the doubt.
"Pretty ass!" he repeated. My inner Gloria Steinem reared her righteous head. "That is so rude! You don't just say that to a woman on the street!" Gloria retorted. Workman looked incredulous.
"Whaddya mean?! It's not rude! Pretty ass!" Gloria and I stomped away, in indignant feminist glory, tossing another "It's rude" behind my feminist shoulder.

But here's the fraudulent part. As I walked away, I started giggling and laughing, and even felt a little proud of my pretty ass. (Which is not especially compliment-worthy by any mean, but heh.) Gloria would NOT be proud that I giggled at the outright objectification.

But then... I kept thinking about it. When a workman compliments a lady's derriere, he ususally says "Nice ass" instead of "pretty ass." And wait... this guy hadn't even seen my tushie when he said it... Ut oh. I think I made a mistake. I think he probably said "pretty eyes"-- which is not so worthy of a Gloria-esque tirade. No wonder workman was so confused by my response. Actually, I'm pretty confused myself, as my eyes have never been much of a strong point with me, and plus this a.m. they were a little red and puffy from one too many Yards beers last night. That's all I want to say. Good night and good luck.