The #metoo hashtag began trending on social media in October 2017 and is still very prevalent now, over six months later. Its purpose is to help demonstrate the widespread problem of sexual assault and harassment.
#MeToo & Dating
Whilst the hashtag was popularised by an actress who was subjected to sexual assault in the workplace. This has made dating quite confusing What is and isn’t acceptable? 1 in 5 couples met their partner at work, but if flirting by the water cooler is likely to get you fired, surely it’s too risky to even contemplate. For now, maybe it might be safer to stick to online dating on sites like this free dating site.
It is hard to know what you can and can’t do on a first date how your actions or reactions will be received or interpreted. I think the most important thing is to be honest but polite respect the other person you are dating. More often than not, it’s not too difficult to tell if you have chemistry with someone and if they are attracted to you. It is how you react to the situation that is important.
Saying No
I was reading an article this morning about a woman in her late 30s that had engaged in lots of relations with men because she didn’t know how to say no. Having sex out of politeness seems a little bit crazy to me! I wonder why she found it so hard to say no thank you. If there’s something on offer that you’re not interested in, it’s completely fine to decline it. If someone touches you and you feel uncomfortable with it, tell them. Your body is your own and it’s okay to tell people to stop, at any point, if they’re behaving in a way that makes you uncomfortable.
Dating Precautions
If you’re going on a date, it’s really important to take precautions to ensure you stay safe.
Before going on a date, it’s imperative to tell someone where you’re going and to call them when you’re home and safe.
I’ve recently heard about an initiative in London where you ask the bar staff for a person called Angela. This alerts the staff that there’s a problem and they will then contact the relevant authorities. I think this is a fantastic idea and will certainly help people stay safe.
Choose a public and busy place and arrange to meet them there, that way there’s no obligation to tell people your address nor for you to be alone in the car with a stranger.
If your date does start making advances that you’re not comfortable with, leave. You’re not obliged to stay and if this happens on your first date, it’s probably a good sign that this person isn’t the one for you.
Make Good Choices
I think you can really get a feel for who the person is by getting to know them online. You can find out so much about a person, about what’s important to them, what their values are and how they treat others just by chatting.
Taking simple precautions and using your head and not your heart before you jump in feet first is the way to go. Check out this dating site as a place to start. Enjoy yourself and stay safe.
You can read more about dating here. Thanks for reading.
