Eyebrows at work incident

[DanaJ]

I had a little incident at work the other day, I just hate these jerks I work with. Anyway, I work construction (steel) and it is a very macho job. Most of the guys I work with, the only reason they are not in prison is because this job exists :D

So, I'm merrily working away the hours, when a co-worker (one I don't care for much anyway) comes up and starts staring and grinning at me. OK, I am instantly suspicious - and something tells me it is about my brows. I do have them kept on the femme side most of the time, by the way.

He says to me "Lower your glasses" (safety glasses), so I just take them off all the way and shove my face in his. "Is this what you wanna see?" I ask him. He stepped back a little (LOL) and said "well, some of the guys were talking...." so I asked him again "well, did you get a good look? Happy now?". He replied "Oh, I don't care" so I jumped in real quick "You must - otherwise why would you walk all the way down here where I am and ask to see?"

He then walked away and I yelled after him "Be sure to tell all your little buddies so you can all giggle about it"... I was pretty pissed off, I mean, what business is it of theirs?

I didn't hear anything else about it, but the next day I jumped in that guy's stuff again, yelling at him "Do you wanna see anything else?" - the funny thing is, he now gives me a lot of distance LOL

I thought it was funny that I had to get all macho to defend my femme brows :D

DanaJ

[eileen1969]

standing up the way you have against the macho type's! I personally like to watch them run and sqiurm like little boy's they are! I am so proud of you hun love Eileen and I would do the same! :love: :love: :love: :love:

[Jodi]

Dana, Over the years of shaved legs, armpits and chest, i have only had two instances where someone has made a remark. In each instance it was a macho jerk trying to impress the guys. My remark, with a stern look, always is--"any medical conditions that i have are noone else's business". Has shut them up instantly each time.

Jodi

[Tristen Cox]

That's pretty funny actually, would have loved to see his face :p

[Jenny Beth]

The best defence is a good offence and you pulled that off. Knuckle draggers generally can't handle intelligent come backs so I suspect that's why he's keeping his distance. As the Aussie's here would say, "Goodonya"!

[Mx Justina]

Dana...

Reading your recounting of your negative incident, I would say that you reacted instinctively, and appropriately (hopefully a good sensing of the predatory situation)...

When I moved from NYC to the hick boondocks I currently reside in, I have had seemingly endless similar, poking-and-probing predatory confrontations. Mostly with local neighborhood juvenile males, and "adult" males. Most of these incidents are in my hazy past...though I never let down my guard.

Funny thing Is that once I let my hair grow long and became more obvious about my androgyny...That type of psychological poking-and-probing intimidation went down dramatically.

Many times these types of predatory insecure mentalities will work (or attack) as a group...which is when they really become a problem (in my experience).

J.

[inherundys]

If anyone says anything about being "shaved", just point out that all the guys in porn videos are shaved and waxed. Just say, "You obviously don't have The Playboy Channel at your house". That may shut them up. :p

[Sierra]

Sounds familar,I too work in the trade.All the jerks know I will call their bluff if they wana rock and they may not live down a tranny taught them some manners.When your out they seem less threatened with the macho stuff.I can joke about it but never let them disrespect me verbaly or otherwise.

[ChristineRenee]

Good for you sis...you handled that jerk very appropriately...and you are right...it is nobody else's business but your own!:thumbsup: ;)

[Jesse69]

Can you post a closeup pic of how your brows looked?

[Stephanie Brooks]

Ya know DanaJ, that reminds me of the book, "Will" by G. Gordon Liddy. There was an incident on a prison bus where a convict stole his eyeglasses. Liddy got right in the con's face and was ready to paste him if he didn't give the glasses back to Liddy. (Actually I think Liddy was ready and willing to kill him.) The con backed down. Liddy didn't get much trouble from cons.

[Mirragea]

Dana,I've lost count on how many times I had to launch a verbal assalt:Punch:at my job.I also work in that type of macho environment.I wish I could reach out and :hugs:you.what I really want to say is f:censor:k um girl!!!!

[carson]

Good for you DanaJ! I'm proud of you sister! I think I've mentioned it on the forum, but when I get asked if I shave my legs, I just give a distainful look and say, "No, I'm just more evolved than you." I do have a question out of pure curiosity. I know steelworkers can be a tough lot. I can't tell from your lovely femme pictures what you would look like as a guy in work mode. Are you physically intimidating?

[Ibuki_Warpetal]

My work environment is fairly macho as well but everyone is pretty cool about things :/
That kinda sucks that you have to even be around those people.

I had a somewhat similar incident last week.
I work for a freight company, and all last week we were crating up the belongings of deploying Army personnel.

It's not hard to guess what kind of looks are exchanged between grunts and a feminine guy with long hair.

Luckily I can lift things twice their size (and do it for 10 hours straight) and I didn't get nicknamed "Ninja" for nothing. :D

Talking back would have been a serious mistake in this situation but you know what they say about actions speaking louder than words. (:

[Fallen Angel]

good for you dana, sound like you nipped it in the bud before it even blossumed. thats one way of earning respect from your work place i wish i could have been a fly on the wall just to see the look on his face xxx

[Sigrid]

Dana, I just want to say how proud I am of you. I takes alot of courage to stand up to jerks like that. In the same breath, however, I beg you please don't let your guard down. If this guy feels that he lost face in front of the other guys on the site, he may just see fit to prove his "manhood" to his pals.

[Marla GG]

I'm glad you shared that story Dana, because I have a feeling others will remember it, if and when a similar occasion arises for them. Macho guys.....*shudder*......I really do think standing your ground is the only way to get through to them. Well done, girl!

[DanaJ]

Thanks Eileen, Jodi, Tristen, Jenny Beth, Justina, inherundies, Sierra, Chrissy, Jesse, Stephanie, Mirragea, carson, Ibuki, Angel, Sigrid and Marla :hugs:

Actually, I am pretty well respected at work, and no one generally bothers me too much. Of course, anytime anyone steps outside the box, they are generally thought of as "fair game". But I am outside the box on many subjects - I don't drive a big American pickup, I don't go hunting, etc. Hell, everyone thinks I am weird at work anyway :D

And you girls are right - the only thing people like this understand is force and getting in their face, so that's what you have to do sometimes. Now granted, I hate to be singled out for something like this, and my first thought was "darn, now I will have to stop getting my brows done" - but I will just keep being me...

On another note, one way I handle it is to now carry the battle to this guy. I will jump on his case everytime I see him for a few days, just as an example to anyone else. Strange thing is - I really don't like be confrontational - but when I feel like I am being attacked I will defend myself.

Carson, I remember your thread and thought about saying that, but then I would have had to explain what that word (evolved) meant LOL My build is 6'1" 220 pounds, which is one reason I can't get away with wearing anything sleeveless en femme - too much maul (sledgehammer) swinging *sigh*

Sigrid, not a problem and thanks for your concern - there was no one there but him and me, so he can go back and lie to all his buddies. I know the guys he probably talked to, they haven't said anything to me yet.

Tristen and Angel, here is what his face looked like - :eek:

The funny thing is, I really am overdue to have my brows done, so I didn't think they were really very femme looking. Jesse, take a look at my last makeover thread to see what they look like. I can take a newer pic if you wanna see - I have no problems with people asking me for pix, actually it is pretty flattering :)

...oh, and see this thread for a pic of when I had them done pretty extreme
http://www.crossdressers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9974

DanaJ

[Kaye_martin]

Well done, you did the right thing that's for sure. To heck with em, just keep on getting your brows done, you're living your own life :) ....... they should be living theirs.

kaye_martin

[Stephenie]

You can also ask them why they are so observent about another mans face. Seems like they might be repressing some strange feeling. I think you handled it fairly well. I too work in a mucho enviroment. Though I have not had any problems since high school, I am in a position at work that I must enforce EEO policies. I have no problem telling some one that harassing some one may be seen as sexual harassment and just how would they like to explain why they are sexaully harassing a man. This will ussaully stop things pretty fast.

There has been two TS employees that have started to transsion here at work. One decieded that it wasn't right for him and the other is still transsioning. I have pointed out in class that both have ther right to live thier lives as they see fit. And that being worried about it may be because you have some issues that you might what to resolve.

[TrueGemini'sWife GG]

I am glad you did what you did, Dana. That guy sounds like a real as :censor: le and got what he deserved. I bet he will keep his distance for a while...

As soon as I read the thread title, I just knew whatever had happened, you did NOT take it lightly. LOL! And of course, you didn't. Like I have told you in the past, you do make one beautiful woman Dana, but in male mode? I don't think many would "get in your face" or even in your way, for that matter!
:Punch:
LOL!

Miss you, brat.
:p

[Tamara Croft]

LOL Dana.... well done you :D so has anything else been said since?? you should take some of those ready made wax strips in.... pin the git down and wax all his off!!!! A:censor:e!!!

Pattie.... I keep telling you......... I'M THE DAMN BRAT!!!!!!!!! GRRRRRRRRR *SLAP*

[Sigrid]

...you should take some of those ready made wax strips in.... pin the git down and wax all his off!!!!
I'm not sure I understand, Tamara. Is that supposed to be some sort of punishment? I mean, hell... I'd pay for that! ;)

[Tamara Croft]

I'm not sure I understand, Tamara. Is that supposed to be some sort of punishment? I mean, hell... I'd pay for that! ;)
Me thinks yet again you're having another blonde moment!!!! I didn't mean wax them so they look fem... I mean like wax off the LOT!!!! :duh:

[carson]

Carson, I remember your thread and thought about saying that, but then I would have had to explain what that word (evolved) meant LOL My build is 6'1" 220 pounds, which is one reason I can't get away with wearing anything sleeveless en femme - too much maul (sledgehammer) swinging *sigh*

Well Dana,

I'm impressed and proud of you. As one of my back shots I've posted will show, I'm pretty big and strong myself. But I wouldn't dare get as aggressive and "in your face" you can/do. Having never worked in the tough environment of steelworking, I wouldn't have it in me to go toe to toe with anybody in a hard hat! I'll just stick with my rapier wit. ;)

[racquel]

Way to go Dana,you do us proud. :thumbsup:

[Wendy me]

I thought it was funny that I had to get all macho to defend my femme brows :D

DanaJ
well girlfreind if you don't stick up for them who will??? way to go girlfreind ....

[Olivia]

Yep, that's the way to handle those clowns Dana! It's really all they understand; I had a great laugh at your comment about having to explain "evolved" to them. No doubt!!! I've known many jerks like that. Heck, with some, you'd have to explain "explain" to them. Way to go girl! Olivia

[MonaSmith]

Well done honey,

Well, you know how I feel about femme brows!!

It is a shame that we have to defend ourselves about these things, but I have found that the odd question, or funny look, over my brows are far outweighed by how much better they look when dressed.

Get them done again sweetie and sod the lot of them.

Mona x

[Ava Mouse]

Yeah, Dana, I know how you feel. Gotta be macho to get respect in the work place, esp. in manly environments like construction...

But, I guess you 'Brow Beat' him, eh? LOL... sorry... :D

[JoannaDees]

Nice one Dana. Just enough tough to get the point across.

[DanaJ]

OK, small update - Friday at work, every time I passed by that guy who made the comment, I pulled off my safety glasses, and made a gesture of running my fingers over my brows. Then I would yell "Look - Look!" LOL

I think he is tired of seeing me now :D Thanks for your support everyone!

Ava - good one! :)

DanaJ