Dear 60ish woman at Hideaway eating Ceasar salad, drinking wine, and reading a novel by yourself – – I like your style.
This brings to mind something that I’ve got to ask….
Why are so many women so afraid of walking into a nice eating establishment for a meal by themselves? I know women who would rather drive through a fast food chain place and eat something terrible for them than sit at a table alone in a restaurant. Or they’ll go without food to avoid the torture of eating alone.
Must women always have someone with them to prove that they are valued or loved? Surely not. What about the feminist movement? We are women, we vote, we run large corporations, we raise families. We can bring home the bacon…we can fry it up in the pan. Heck – we can own the farm that raises the pigs for the bacon — but order it from the server if we’re the only one at the table. Huh uh.
Is it because if a woman is out alone people will assume the woman doesn’t have friends or a partner? Is there dread of having no one to talk to? Is there a fear of being pitied or hit on by strange men? What are women afraid of?
Now I’ve been known to drive through and grab a quick bite, especially if I’m not really hungry but know I need to eat or am pressed for time. But having a meal out – by myself – is within my comfort range as well. In fact, I love having breakfast at a coffee shop alone. It’s good people watching. I almost always have a book with me, and my journal for that matter. So whenever I eat out alone I usually chose a place with good lighting. My time between ordering and meal arrival is spent reading or writing. I consider this well spent time, personal time. Rarely has anyone bothered me, other than to ask what I’m reading or if I know them – to stop and chat.
So here I must ask a few more questions –
Women friends – do you mind eating alone in a public place?
If you do eat out alone, what tips do you offer women who are hesitant so they too can dine out comfortably?
Dear 60ish woman at Hideaway eating Ceasar salad, drinking wine, and reading a novel by yourself – – I like your style. This brings to mind something that I’ve got to ask….Why are so many women so afraid of walking into a nice eating establishment for a meal by themselves? I know women who would rather drive through a fast food chain place and eat something terrible for them than sit at a table alone in a restaurant. Or they’ll go without food to avoid the torture of eating alone. Must women always have someone with them to prove that they are valued or loved? Surely not. What about the feminist movement? We are women, we vote, we run large corporations, we raise families. We can bring home the bacon…we can fry it up in the pan. Heck – we can own the farm that raises the pigs for the bacon — but order it from the server if we’re the only one at the table. Huh uh. Is it because if a woman is out alone people will assume the woman doesn’t have friends or a partner? Is there dread of having no one to talk to? Is there a fear of being pitied or hit on by strange men? What are women afraid of? Now I’ve been known to drive through and grab a quick bite, especially if I’m not really hungry but know I need to eat or am pressed for time. But having a meal out – by myself – is within my comfort range as well. In fact, I love having breakfast at a coffee shop alone. It’s good people watching. I almost always have a book with me, and my journal for that matter. So whenever I eat out alone I usually chose a place with good lighting. My time between ordering and meal arrival is spent reading or writing. I consider this well spent time, personal time. Rarely has anyone bothered me, other than to ask what I’m reading or if I know them – to stop and chat. So here I must ask a few more questions – Women friends – do you mind eating alone in a public place?If you do eat out alone, what tips do you offer women who are hesitant?