Q: I’ve got a problem with my roommate. She has wandering eyes, especially when it comes to my boyfriend. Whenever she knows he’s coming over she makes a point to be in the living room with hardly any clothes on. Last week she came into the room we were already in wearing only her shorts and a bra. What are some tactics, short of screaming in her face, that I can use to solve this matter?
A: It sounds like your roommate has violated more than a rule in Roommates 101. Her behavior shows a severe lack of respect for you and your man.
One of the first ways to squander your roommate’s “flirtations” is talking to your boyfriend about it. Chances are he’s not interested, but I have yet to meet a guy who doesn’t at least want to glance at a scantily clad woman. If you talk to your honey about what you think your roommate is doing and get his feedback, it may make you more comfortable if the situation resurfaces. Also, if he knows you don’t like it, he’ll know not to look at her. What doesn’t get attention will eventually go away without prodding.
Don’t be afraid to couple this tactic with a more straight-forward approach. When you announce your boyfriend’s coming for dinner, wipe up your roommate’s drool and hand her the dirty paper towel. Ask her to make sure she has all her clothes on before she comes out. Turn it into a joke-something like, “Mike’s coming over so please make sure you’re covered up. He doesn’t have enough drool for both of us.”
If this doesn’t work, tackle the offense head-on. Asserting your concerns in a straight-forward fashion isn’t the easiest way to handle a problem, but it is a sure-fire way to get your point across. If you confront your roommate, she may hiss and spit like a cat, but she should be respectful of your decision. Calling her out on her behavior is going to embarrass her, so the relationship may feel prickly until those ruffled feathers settle down.
If she still doesn’t lose hope he will admire her form, let him handle it. Whether it makes him uncomfortable or not, he should get ready to act on your concerns and show his respect for you. His eyes shouldn’t look anywhere else so when he’s stepped to the plate let him swing the bat. A man’s request to cover up will ruin any girl’s dreams of catching that particular Prince Charming.
If all efforts prove fruitless go somewhere else. Grab your boyfriend and head for the door. Spend quality time together without having to suffer through a strip-tease.