My boyfriend and I generally work out together, adjusting to fit our needs but usually sticking close by each other. Last night we were doing curls and other standing exercises with barbells, standing facing each other about 2 feet from a row of elliptical machines. We were minding our own business, counting off reps.
In the middle of the first set, guy on elliptical pipes up, "This is not fair. I'm trying to keep a steady heart rate!"
We don't respond.
"I can't keep this with such a pretty girl working it in front of me like this!"
BF looks at him with a bit of a smile.
"Seriously, if she keeps flexing like that, I'm going to have to stop. She's a real good looking girl."
BF says, "Come on, dude."
We're between sets, talking about unrelated things and ignoring the guy, who keeps muttering about how hot I am.
I say, "Come on, quit it" and back away by a few inches so I'm not in his line of direct sight. We start up again, and guy says, "You both have great form, but SHE is something else. Guys my age don't usually get to see girls like her. This is a great show."
Ignoring and lifting continue, while he keeps making remarks, telling BF how pretty/hot/sexy "she" is; he gets pretty weird, saying things like that I remind him of his oldest daughter.
At no point does he address me directly, and at no point does BF give him any feedback except that first incredulous smile and remark. It's a pretty tight space without a lot of room to readjust.
So, later, I told BF that I felt like a man who clearly had so little respect for women needed to be told as much by a man, and he said, "Yeah, I should have said something, huh?" I told him it was fine because I didn't feel immediately threatened, just objectified by a creep, but that neither of us should be so quiet next time.
What would you have done? What would you expect your partner to do if someone was directing remarks about you to them?
(Lest I sound like this happens all the time-- it doesn't. Yesterday was just my unlucky day.)
