I work at a grocery store as a cashier. I was taught to look someone in the eye when talking to them, it is rude to do otherwise. So When I greet customers, I look them in the eye, smile, and say, "How're you doing today?" or "Find everything you needed?" So the male customers (usually 25-70+) often look me over and attempt to strike up a conversation. This not only slows me down, but makes me uncomfortable. So I frown, do not respond, and even continue with the next customer, but they DO NOT GO AWAY. Men often select me to help them with the self-serve registers when there's an idle male co-worker right next to them. There's an older man who goes out of his way to come to my register (when he's done checking out) to tell me "Oh there's your pretty face!" Even my male co-workers go out of their way to talk to me. I try to make it clear I am not interested by not looking at them, and not really responding to what they have to say. I don't wear make-up and never contacts, I always tie my hair back, I'm twenty pounds overweight, and I even wear a sports bra to make my breasts smaller. And women (ages 13-50) always give me the "stare-down" and often are short-tempered with me, even though I am helpful, polite, and faster than anyone else in the store.
I feel like I will always stand out unless I don't give anyone the time of day. (But then I will be fired.)
(Maybe I have especially potent pheremones?)
Is it normal? How do I fix this?
Firstly, please don't change your mannerism in anyway. Regardless of what people might think, it's the perfectly professional thing to do to smile and ask if everything's alright. I would like my local grocery store staff to do the same too. It's just nice and friendly. If you feel that uncomfortable, find somewhere else to work.