The idea that loneliness and rejection is an experience exclusive to men is a little funny to me.
Not too long ago, I found an old ID card from my junior high school days and I was surprised to realize how cute I was back then, because when I was that age, I felt ugly. But I think I was just awkward because I was picked on a lot and no one was meaner to be than the boys. One even straight up called me ugly to my face and that was so traumatizing, I carried it with me into high school and it did affect the way I interacted with boys and even the way I responded to positive attention.
A lot of men think that women “have their pick” and don’t have to worry about rejection, and they think this justifies their bad behavior towards women, but I can promise them that committing the crime of being the slightest bit awkward as a girl is no picnic. However, I never felt the need to be cruel to men as a whole. Funny how that works.
Add on being “fat” on top of that. Boys were actively cruel from middle school through high school. A boy was dared to kiss me in a game of truth or dare I wasn’t particiapting in. I was pointed at, laughed at as boys would say to another “That’s your girlfriend!” That. When any interest was expressed, I didn’t believe them. It couldn’t be true, they had to be lying.
