I just experienced this today in public. I and another woman were sitting in the Doctor’s office (pregnant) and I opened up my snack. After all its ok, I reasoned, its normal to eat snacks when you’re pregnant, and I am hungry afterall….
Then I sensed everyone was looking at me. I tried not to be embarrassed and tried to eat as aidel as I could. I tried to act like a lady.
Then I was relieved another hungry lady opened up her snack and started, seeing as I was making the way open for snacking in public, I guess.
However, one lady sitting with her husband, when she snacked on her fruit salad also later in the waiting room, was eating self consciously even in front of her husband. It was like an immature act she was putting on. Even though she was only 110 lbs. THen she accidently dropped a half grape on her shirt and became embarrassed and turned to him for support and re-assurement if she has dirtied herself up.
I feel, being a woman, that the answer to all this social phenomenon is that we definately enjoy eating but are ashamed of it, becasue indulging and gluttony are inter related and we women definately don’t want to portray that image to the world. Even if we do eat like animals sometimes in the kitchen at home.
We do care more what people think of us, than men care.