I think "it" in both cases was the action. 'It' refers to telling a girl to smile or asking for a kiss or commenting about their tits.
Kitty is saying that these orders from men make her intimidated, which is unsurprising given as any response other than smiling and acting like they're just being friendly results in verbal abuse most of the time.
I'm sure most men do think it's just a friendly thing, "smile" is an attempt to cheer you up. "give us a kiss" is just a cheeky flirt, "nice tits" is just "lads being lads." But it just doesn't really come across like that at all.
I know being ordered to smile after being told my mother had cancer again just put me in a fouler mood. Conversely, a guy later on asked me "Are you okay?" and enquired about my family, which I found a little odd, but it actually made me feel a little better, like someone was genuinely concerned about a stranger, instead of making me feel like I have to have a permanent grin on my face at all times of the day.
Re: devil's advocate waffle
Kitty is saying that these orders from men make her intimidated, which is unsurprising given as any response other than smiling and acting like they're just being friendly results in verbal abuse most of the time.
I'm sure most men do think it's just a friendly thing, "smile" is an attempt to cheer you up. "give us a kiss" is just a cheeky flirt, "nice tits" is just "lads being lads." But it just doesn't really come across like that at all.
I know being ordered to smile after being told my mother had cancer again just put me in a fouler mood. Conversely, a guy later on asked me "Are you okay?" and enquired about my family, which I found a little odd, but it actually made me feel a little better, like someone was genuinely concerned about a stranger, instead of making me feel like I have to have a permanent grin on my face at all times of the day.