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The Celtic Chameleon's avatar

No, it's logical. And it's not prejudice. (Edited to add -"Prejudice - preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience.")

When men as a sex commit around 98 percent of all violent crime (and they do) and when 99 percent of the people who have harmed you across three different continents were men (and they were) and when the sex of men are documented throughout history across every culture, ethnicity and creed as being dangerous and predatory (and they are) it's not remotely prejudicial to avoid men in an effort to stay safe. It is irrational to call a learned response based on facts and reality prejudicial when it comes to making decisions that affect my own body and safety.

And to be clear, I work with men and spend time around men regularly, but will always choose a woman over a man to sit beside, talk to, as a server, definitely for intimate medical care. In any and all interactions when there's a choice I will unhesitatingly pick a woman I don't know over a man I don't know. Because, statistically, provably and irrefutably they're far (far) safer on every level.

Yes, that's logical. I am absolutely allowed ethically and pragmatically to choose the safest option that makes me comfortable where possible.

Recently, at work, I was given a sweet little certificate for making the most positive impact on everyone. A bit daft, but it was meant well. The men I spend time with during any part of my day are given the same respect and politeness as the women. They do not know that I have a perfectly rational aversion to dealing with men, and avoid them when possible. When it's not possible, I am an adult about it.

You can choose to believe that picking the safest and most comfortable option is prejudice if that makes it easier to understand. But I prefer reality.

What a shame 9 year old, 18 year old and 30 year old me didn't know what 55 year old me knows.

You can't tell the safe men from the unsafe men. Avoid where possible.

https://celticchameleon.medium.com/please-stop-saying-people-when-you-really-mean-men-tk-a335a50031e0

https://celticchameleon.medium.com/ogled-in-the-park-and-other-stories-2c3237de8c08

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The Celtic Chameleon's avatar

(Edited for typos and to join the two comments I made together).

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