Ok folks, here’s the thing. I’m about to share my thoughts. My thoughts are not reflections of what everyone else should think. They’re simply my own, so if you get offended, that’s a bummer because I don’t want to hear your thoughts. (I can already sense you getting angry, so if you don’t know me very well, let me clarify…I’M KIDDING!) I want you to share your thoughts with me because I know you will have them after reading this post.

I’m assuming that you all know about the #YesAllWomen movement. If you don’t, you should, so look it up. I’m also assuming you know about the counterproductive #NotAllMen movement. Yesterday I was scrolling through the social media world, reading the posts by these men and women. What I got from it is: 1) Women are sexually harassed and treated like crap a WHOLE lot more than a lot of men realize. 2) Men who are actually respectful and decent are offended because they feel like they are being targeted alongside rapists and dirtbags by the #YesAllWomen movement even though that’s really not the intention. Ok. So. Here come the thoughts….

Yesterday, I was sitting in an airport terminal ready to head to LA. I decided to go grab a cup of Starbucks, and on my walk back to my seat, I noticed a man (probably around his mid to late 40s) staring at me. I was traveling by myself. There were people all around, but I suddenly felt like they all dissipated, and it was just me and this man who seemed to be indulging himself with his eyes. I didn’t feel anger towards him; I felt fear. Later on, the same man walked up to the group of people I was sitting with. At that moment, he looked completely unsuspicious, kind, and friendly. He asked if any of us had an iPhone 4 charger. I did, but I didn’t offer it to him. Why not? I talked myself through it. {I probably read into the whole thing. He stared for a while. But I do that to guys! Yeah, but it was kind of creepy. But he seems genuine and kind!} In the forefront of my mind, I saw him as a danger, and only in the background, did I think of him as a man who really did just need to charge his phone and might’ve just stared for a bit too long. This may seem paranoid to some of you, and some others will understand my fear. But either way, it was real for me.

Society has taught me, and continues to teach me, to be afraid and suspicious of people, especially men. I hate that; I understand why; I get it. But there also has to be a limit to the distrust because living in such a state is very unenjoyable. I wouldn’t even give the man a phone charger in a public place where he could do nothing to me. Where is the line? Because I think there needs to be one.

Chances are high that most of you are not on the same page as me. All I know is that I need some refreshment because all this hype about how terrible so many men are to women is bringin’ me down people! I don’t want to discredit the #YesAllWomen movement AT ALL because I agree with it on many levels. Every woman, at some point in her life, has or will experience some form of sexual harassment. As disgusting as it is, it’s the truth. However, as a young lady living in today’s society, it upsets me that so many decent and kind young men are getting smashed by this movement because of enormous blanket statements that are being made, even if it is not intended to do so.

I think there needs to be a new movement, a movement that reminds women that gentlemen definitely still exist. This wouldn’t be like the #NotAllMen movement because it’s not saying “Well I’M not like that.” It’s not saying, “I don’t sexually harass women,” so this doesn’t apply to me. It’s coming from a woman’s perspective, and it’s saying “I empathize with your fear, and I met a man today who treated me well. There is hope! He did this….” I wonder how I might react differently to people if I was aware of all the good things they are capable of and not only the bad. We are not meant to live in fear. Some people are very sick, but some people are still very well.

Here’s my first reminder: “He opened the door for me when I walked into Starbucks. #ThatOneGentleman”