Too often, women receive unwanted attention from men who ostensibly think shouting at us in the street will get them laid. Street harassment — undoubtedly the creepiest and least effective way of communicating — disproportionately affects women, especially women of color and trans folks.
Of course, there are ways to compliment a woman's physical appearance. There's no shame in that game, as long as the woman feels comfortable and you're not just a thirsty rando on the street, a bar, or work.
Sometimes though, the compliments that mean the most to a woman are the ones that have nothing to do with her appearance. Need proof? We asked women to share the best compliments they've been given that aren't at all about their looks.
Prepare for your icy heart to be warmed.
"I got a letter in the mail from a former coworker telling me I had changed her life and inspired her to live more fearlessly. She wanted me to know what a big impact I'd had on her and how much she looked up to me. I cried." — Liv McConnell, 23
"I run new hire orientation at my company (PepsiCo) every two weeks for all N.Y./Northeast hires. A man once told me that I was very approachable, professional and that he felt immediately comfortable in my presence. He said that I made him feel less nervous about his first few days on the job.
I felt super amazing after because of this genuine compliment. He picked up my vibes and my aura which was cool — not the typical compliment I usually receive." — Brittny Tomaselli, Age 24
"If I had a sister, I'd want her to be just like you." — Alle Connell, 31
"One of my students told me that my children are so lucky to have me as a mom." — Amy Demchak-Connell, 42
"The nicest thing I've been told is I have an endless capacity to forgive, and that means a lot." — Shaunna Murphy, 29
"A friend at theater camp told me that she was excited about my life. We were 10. I never forgot that moment." — Mandy Velez, 24
"A good friend once told me 'You're the only person I know that did what they set out to do in high school, and I'm pretty proud of you.'" — Lauren Gordon, 27
What's the best compliment you've ever gotten?
Main Image: Screenshot from YouTube/Movieclips
