Passing

I happened to see a Twitter tag where women pose questions to men about being afraid for their safety.  Granted, I do not commute on foot or public transportation in a large metropolitan, so none of this applies, but the idea that all women walk around using their keys as brass knuckles and calling friends upon safe arrival home...  I'm a woman, I don't even think about it.  

I don't walk through unsafe areas, though.  I suspect there are plenty of men who regularly walk through unsafe areas who also consider their physical safety.  I am personally aware of a larger number of homosexual men who have been mugged and beaten than heterosexual men.  I have to assume these guys worry more based on past experience; I have to assume that their sexuality makes them the target.  But, ladies, by all means, you are the only ones who experience this.  Of course.  

I cut my hair short recently, and when I wear my down winter coat and hiking boots (which happens every time it snows more than about three inches), I get called sir more than I ever did with long hair (which was never).  I happened to be out shopping today and noticed that women were watching me.  Not because I'm attractive, presumably.  I've never, ever noticed a man watching me.  I also got ignored by store clerks, which was amazing.  I haven't been invisible to clerks since I was in high school.  

A hair cut is all it takes for me to threaten women and enter shopping stealth mode.