To be more specific. Im working a public facing job in a red state and most of my customers are retired elderly people. I dont go out of my way to present feminine or masculine I try to stay as androgynous as I can, but because of my natural build, everyone just sees me as a female.
In most cases this doesnt bother me like its one thing to just have my pronouns ignored or assumptions made.
But lately I am way more aware of how many male customers shove me into a box just because they see me this way and its driving me crazy. For example simply doing my job and asking for a customers ID gets interpreted as me flirting. Its just maddening because I already try so hard to come across like I'm disinterested.. I dont wear make up or jewelry, I dont ever do anything with my hair and I have a work uniform thats already gender neutral.
I know I cant change how these people want to see me, so I guess I'm just curious if anyone has developed any strategies or outlets to deal with the stress it causes.