“Dear Man on flight DL1723,
You referred to me as a ‘2-ton woman.’
You told your friend as soon as I boarded and you saw me, that it was ‘not good.’
When I confronted you saying, ‘I am not 2 tons, but I did just have a baby,’ you sighed and got up to use the bathroom, then quietly asked the flight attendant for a different seat.
I’m glad there were not any.
I bet you didn’t tell her why you wanted to sit elsewhere, that you said something so heartless and were confronted.
You did not apologize. You did not even acknowledge my existence throughout the remainder of the flight.
That’s fine. I do not need your validation.
So why am I posting? To call you out.
Because I do not exist to please you.
Because I will take up as much space as I want.
Because even when confronted, you did not think you were in the wrong, that you did not need to apologize.
I’m glad you had to sit next to me the entire two-hour flight, I’m only sorry I couldn’t take up more space.
As a woman, I am sick of this s**t.
Would he have said that had I been a man?
Or had my daughter and husband with me?
I don’t know.
But women deal with these attitudes and behavior more than men, that I do know.
And I. Am. Over. It.
Oh, and this post is public.
I hope a woman in his life sees this and is able to explain to him why his behavior was inappropriate. Not that I think it’ll make a difference.
Update: The outpouring of love and support has been unreal.
In that moment, I was shaking with anger, I was overcome by sadness, and for a moment I was ashamed and self-conscious.
I was totally broken.
Then I remembered who I was, what I do, and how much I have accomplished and still have to accomplish.
I think we have all said something unkind at one time or another, and this is just a reminder that we do not know the battles people are fighting and that we just need to be a little kinder to each other.”
This story was written by Katie Kiacz . Be sure to subscribe to our free email newsletter for our best love stories.
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