It’s time to get real this perverted behavior we sometimes playfully roll our eyes at has some serious undertones. There’s nothing light-hearted about being sexualized, especially when it happens at the most unsuspecting moments. While it might seem harmless on the surface, the constant need to sneak a look or treat women like eye candy is just one piece of a much bigger puzzle.

Let’s frown against these moments, whether they happen at the gym, the supermarket, or the office. This behavior chips away at the comfort and confidence women should feel when simply living their lives. The moment a man decides to turn a woman into an object of his uninvited gaze, he crosses a line, no matter how innocuous it seems in his head.

And speaking of what’s going on in their heads what exactly is it that drives men to sexualize women at every opportunity? Let’s dive into this a little. For some men, the urge to sexualize stems from internalized media portrayals that teach them to see women as nothing more than bodies to be admired. For others, it’s an issue of power. They’ve been conditioned to believe that their gaze gives them control, making them feel dominant, even if it’s only for a fleeting moment.

There’s also the unfortunate reality that some men are simply unaware of the discomfort and harm they cause. They believe it’s harmless because they’ve been socialized to think that women “like” the attention. But here’s the thing: it’s not flattering to be reduced to an object of lust. It’s invasive, violating, and entirely unwelcome.

Men who engage in this behavior need to understand the impact their actions have. They might think they’re just taking a harmless glance, but in reality, they’re creating an environment where women feel scrutinized, judged, and sexualized against their will. That’s not the world we should be aiming to build. It’s time to frown against them and call out this behavior when it happens because women deserve to feel safe and respected, always.

By Edima Columbus