" I go to the ballpark, wearing a sensible hat to protect my face from the sun. A beer vendor pokes me in the back and then pokes the brim of the hat: “That’s a Preakness hat,” he instructs me, as if I have violated some sacred code of behavior." Maybe he was a fan of horse racing? I mean, what is the context here? This isn't a story, this is a short out of context, single action. I'm not feeling sorry for anyone unless I know the real details behind a thing. If I were out in public I would find it reasonable for someone to point out if I had a shirt with their sports team on it. "I post a declarative status on Facebook and a man presumes I am asking for his advice, despite the lack of a question mark." Again, context please? Maybe it is a guy thing, but if I ever see someone posting some sort of issue I'm going to offer help if I know it. It doesn't matter the gender. It's called being friendly and being helpful. "I find a plaintive e-mail from someone who attended the evening talk: “Do you know you don’t look like your author photo? Do you think that’s fair?” I'd have loved to see more focus on events like these. The expectation that people are going to a womans book fair because of looks, or being dissapointed in the person's looks. Maybe the person thought she was a fake? That I doubt, but I still would like to know more context. "Ah, but there I go again. I am the guilty one. Guilty of being Female in Public. My body, my behavior, my posture, my words — they belong to others, who will judge whether they are suitable or not." People judge everyone. A guy will be judged for any number of things, a girl will be judged for any number of things. Maybe there is a difference in the amount people call out women on it, I wouldn't know. However, I sure as hell know that judgement to men and women is a fairly equal thing. I have had enough conversations with friends to know that much. If the issue here is that people will feel safer insulting women, I agree, that is an issue. If it's that this person doesn't want to be judged, than tough luck/welcome to life. Human beings love to insult others to feel better about themselves. "I have thought a lot — A LOT — about why men of my father’s age harbor this strong need to correct/scold/instruct me." More out of context stuff, more unexplained things, more biases, more more more! ___ I understand this article is making a point. I understand that there are situations here that need addressed, that many of the stories have unseen contexts. However, if these contexts are there, DETAIL THEM. Don't expect me to take your word for it, because I'm not taking your word for it. I can't help but want to actually see studies on issues, to see studies that look at rates at which similarly tall, similarly "imposing' men and women are corrected by outsiders.I want to see real data and evidence, to actually see stories with context. This sort of story nearly entirely relies on out of context emotional appeal, and I have no room in my cold little heart for that.