I have a lot to say on this subject, but for now I’ll share a story I heard from R’ Manis Friedman, dean of Beis Chana (for Baalei tshuva girls).
Basically there was a girl learning there once who was totally unkept; she very much neglected herself and it was crudely obvious.
Well she had a lot of issues that she needed to discuss with someone so finally one day she arranges to speak with the rav. Upon entering his office, she makes to close the door behind her, but of course R’ Manis says to her to leave it open. She looks at him questioningly, and he explains that “a man and a woman shouldn’t be in a room together alone.”
When she heard that she began crying uncontrollably, explaining to him once she regained her composure that this was the first time she remembered being treated like a woman…