Staring ‘is sexual harassment’. London commuters are being warned that staring is sexual harassment. Posters have started appearing in stations across the capital as part of a Transport for London campaign against “common examples of sexual harassment” – including catcalling, exposing, pressing, cyber-flashing and touching. Also on the list is “staring”, with one poster reminding travellers that “intrusive staring of a sexual nature is sexual harassment and is not tolerated”. A 2019 Centre for London survey found that women are nearly twice as likely as men “to mention personal safety as a barrier to walking and using public transport”, said MyLondon. (The Week, 12 March 2022)

My comment: As a male I am not confident of being able to explain the difference between staring and appreciation, or to establish my well-known innocence. If appreciation of beauty is now sexual harassment I must have been guilty once or twice (?) in the last 65 years. Oh dear!