Ladies; Why do you get offended if a guy gawks at your figure?

I'm never offended by a man looking, and I ignore catcalls, as is the only proper response by a lady to such things. Responding only encourages it anyway.

You are correct in assuming that women do dress to attract attention, that's kind of the point. What is confusing for men, is that we don't want to be objectified. There is a balance between looking attractive, hot even, and dealing with the attention.

For you to look is fine, for you to whistle is fine, just don't call us names when we don't respond. If you approach us and are rebuffed, then you should say something like "sorry to have bothered you." and walk away. That gentlemanly act is uncommon and will often get you a "oh... wait, i'm sorry, etc etc etc" type conversation from the woman.

As long as you're a gentleman, you may play the game nicely. Women who treat you like dirt because you looked at their intentionally low-cut blouse are not worth your time.

The uncertainty is why it's fun to play this game. What spoils the fun is flirting and then being expected to "pay up" with favors, money, etc because he/she bought you a drink or something. Don't take it so seriously and you'll have lots of entertainment.

In general, lets be honest, only good looking men are allowed to stare.

In my case, I dont try to dress pretty/sexy unless I'm with my boyfriend and I consider very well the kind of crowd at my destination before I pick my outfit. For example, going to work where most of the people are old men, I dress as conservative as possible. Going to a concert where most girls dress sluttier than me anyway, I do dress "nicely" and its ok because guys dont dare when I'm with my bf. Although I still see some occasional stares from a certain type of demographic I'd rather not mention.

It's a double edged sword. Think of it like this:

All of us are like little girls spinning around and dancing in our frilly dresses wanting to be watched because we look good/pretty. We never really out grow that, but our bodies certainly do. We start to become women, and spinning around in our frilly outfits has a much different effect. We still miss the affect it had when we were little girls. Some of us try to use the new, grown up bodies to get the attention anyway, because it's better than no attention. (no attention sucks.) And besides, if the planets align just right, the new, grown up attention is pretty darn cool too. Ooo-la-la.

You make a very good point here, Steve C.

However I've been advised that, in my case at least, it isn't so much the gawking ladies object to as the saliva drooling down my chin and the tendency my eyeballs have to shoot out on stalks till they're mere millimetres away from the objects of my admiration.

I think "moderation" could be the watchword we're looking for, my friend.

Gawk??? come on buddy get serious, a nice glance is okay but to gawk makes you look like you were just let out of prison. My feeling is this, if you had a sister would you want some guy staring at her in that fashion?

If you see something nice and attractive it is okay to look but to make the other person feel nervous and unsafe is another thing all together.

Ok, I don't dress to get stared at, I dress to what I'm comfortable in and in fashion with. However, the day I don't get stared at I'd be sad, and feeling like I lost *it*--nothing wrong with looking at a girl but it's when it's over the top ogling, drool down your chin etc. is just plain wrong--

No, you're not out of line - this is a question that many people ask.

I guess it's that some women, in fact, are trying to flaunt it, while others dress for themselves or their husband / bf - and become insulted if anyone stares or remarks.

Any girl who wears something that draws attention to their figure is ASKING for the attention, whether they act like they're offended or not. That's the reason girls wear most of their clothes--to get noticed. Most girls feign being offended but are really flattered (they wouldn't wear a low-cut shirt otherwise).

I'd be complimented if some guy showed a sign of attraction (I don't get too much of that these days).

When a woman wears a low cut blouse or very short skirt, she wants you to think "Wow, that girl is pretty." or "Wow, that girl is sexy." or even "Wow, that girl has great legs."

What she does NOT want you to think is "Wow, that girl wants to have sex with me!"

Dressing sexy is one way a girl gets a man's attention. But once the attention is there, she wants to be seen as a PERSON, not a pair of breasts.

Looking is fine, as long as you don't make a scene. But all too often, for whatever reason, men just can't help being JERKS and making rude, crude comments!

I agree with some here...there is a difference between "looking", "staring" and "gawking"...Looking is OK..so is staring as long as it doesn't last an interminable period of time...

"gawking" is for horny teenagers, sailors on shore leave, and guys that just don't "get it"...Of course, we LOVE being "admired"...it's just when the admiration borders on "leering" and "stalking" that we mind..

or when the guy is talking to our chest, and not our face...