Subservience? Really?

Some people never fail to amaze me. EVER

I finished the university day happy to bits about getting a good grade for my hardest subject that term. Feeling somewhat overwhelmed and tired from the shock and getting four new subjects, I sat on the bus on the way to the yoga class, earphones plugged, listening to some relaxing instrumentals when a woman, seemingly in her early thirties gave me a gentle tap on the shoulder in order to ask me if the seat next to me is free (it was but my bag was on it) I moved the bag and welcomed her to sit next to me.

We started talking about things, mainly of tourist interest since the woman was a fellow English-speaking tourist (albeit not from England) when, suddenly my interlocutor fell silent, staring into the distance. I turned around thinking maybe I offended her by suggesting she should visit the Alcazar or something :) so I asked her what happened and she replied nonchalantly: " Nothing, just staring at the eye candy opposite us."

Me: "What do you mean by that?" (although I fully understood the dictionary meaning and connotation of the term. Oxford dictionary definition: something visually pleasing yet without use)
Ms. Tourist: "You know, one of them guys whose only purpose is to be looked at."
Me: "How do you know him?"
Ms Tourist: [Equally nonchalant tone] "Oh, I don't know him."
Me: :) I was frappe (French word describes the shocked feeling better than English in this case)
[in the most polite detached tone while thinking “you superficial weirdo] Well, how do you know he “serves only for looking at” if you’ve never met him. [ in an ultra joking tone] Oh come on, give him a little credit, for all you know he might be a fantastic person, father and husband with a PhD. (as a side note the man didn’t even have the blingy, I-am-so-great aura to him, dresses casually and acting like any other passerby)
Mrs Tourist: [in a nearly Janice from Friends like tone lol] Oh-my-God! When did subservience come back into fashion?
Me: What subservience?
Mrs Tourist: “You know, treating men like Kings. Defending them.
Me: [puzzled look] Silence. No comment. Suppressing to lol
Mrs Tourist [smiling, changing the subject and focusing back to me] So, where is that Alcazar of yours?

We chatted for a few more minutes before my entertainer had to get off at the second stop [I have to travel five] As we said goodbyes, I sat there staring and really thinking.

My first thought was how do people come to think basic respect, the desire to give everyone a chance before they prove otherwise and the notion that there may be more to someone than their appereance is a form of subservience? I mean huh? According to my faithful partner the dictionary
Respect : Willingness to show consideration or appreciation.
Subservience: Obsequious; servile.
Very different things.

My other thought was to what extent is society and human nature (well at least that of some humans) fixated on appearance and physical beauty that they manage to not even consider there may be something beyond it in a person lucky, or in this case unlucky enough to have good genetics.

The last thought was the one of me as a subservient girl-next-door which nearly made me giggle to myself. Everyone that knows me knows that I supporter gender equality to the 't' or in case to the 'e' (hehe) and am an active person, least likely to stay at home.

I finally got off the bus and into my yoga class for a session of “subservient” movements. Bowing down into the Child’s Pose is the pinnacle of subservience. Right? :)