"Has your own shoe ever been untied and you haven't noticed? Honestly, if you're above the age of, say, eight, this is just unlikely. But okay, let's say your shoe was untied, and you didn't notice. In that case, did you actually trip over your own, limp shoelace? Also unlikely."
"But you know what I notice? And I really hate to make this about gender, but as a woman and a parent to a young woman, you know who are the ones telling me and my daughter that our shoes are untied? It's always men. Middle-aged to older men."
"It also feels insulting and infantilizing, and is an interruption of our conversations or our attention to whatever it is that's on our minds. Just leave us alone."
Intervening to inform someone about untied shoelaces is often unwarranted, especially for adults. The act is frequently performed by men towards women, which raises questions about underlying motivations. This behavior can be perceived as infantilizing and an interruption to personal conversations. The author emphasizes that individuals can manage their own shoelaces and do not require unsolicited assistance. The message encourages people to respect personal space and autonomy, allowing others to navigate their own lives without unnecessary intervention.
Read at Portland Mercury
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