I spent four weeks last July learning how to go door-to-door, appealing to latent activists, and asking for their monetary support. I was given 5 hours in which to knock on as many doors as possible, and hopefully connect with about 40 people. Of those 40 people, 5-8 of them should, statistically, have given me money. My job was to make sure those givers gave me total, over the course of the night, at least $110. This was a job that took tremendous communication skills, the ability to think on your feet, and, surprisingly, is much more in your control than you would otherwise guess. So, in essence, the world to a canvasser is divided into givers and non-givers. But it put me in an interesting position to observe how people present themselves to strangers, which also said a lot about them. How they said "No" to me was particularly revealing.

It's canvassing season -- canvassers across the country are going door-to-door to talk to you about their pet issue. Here are some things to think about, if someone knocks on your door:

1. Political Agency

"I have to ask my husband," or "My husband is the one who writes those checks."
Occasionally: "My wife makes those decisions."

Perhaps it's not fair, but the question of who holds the check book is a huge one when it comes to canvassing -- and pretending you don't have it, or don't have the authority to write a check -- it is tantamount to having political agency or handing it over to your significant other.

A lot of the time I got the sense that someone was interested in what I had to say, but then used not their lack of money, but their lack of control over money as an excuse.

2. Traditional Roles v. Politics

"I have given money to every Dick and Jane College student who has come through here this summer, I'm not giving to you. I am looking for a childcare provider, though. You interested?"

There's not much to say about this one. This particular resident of an East Lansing neighborhood had asked me if this was a summer job. "No," I said, "I just graduated. This is my career." My career as an activist -- he still offered me a position taking care of his children.

And then there are the people who told me to be careful, or that it was too dark to be knocking on doors in high summer, in their idyllic, 300k dollar home neighborhoods.

3. Protectionism

"Get out of my neighborhood!" said kids, taunting as they ride past on their bikes.

A man puts his arm around his wife as I pass.

Another canvasser was shot at with bebe guns by kids.

Our attitudes about private property and the sanctity of the home is absolutely contradictory to the ability to have conversations and build community. I also employed a canvasser who was "arrested" by citizens in a Colorado Covenant Community, who said that his right to free speech -- talking with citizens -- was superseded by their community covenant.

4. Appearance

"I got kicked off a porch today for looking at a man's wife. It wasn't my fault she was wearing a bikini!" said one of my fellow canvassers.

"You should wear a tank top," suggested a newbie. "You are a girl."

Those who are canvassed are looked at as much as canvassers are looked at themselves -- and appearance -- sexually -- is an agency which is perceived by beginning canvassers as "money makers."

5. "Masculine" v. "Feminine" Forms of Communication

Six months into my canvassing career, I began failing, as I continued to canvass in the failing Michigan economy, and I began to take "No" for an answer. As I was building consensus, I would take no for an answer, because finding people who said yes immediately was how you got people who were truly committed to a cause. But that's not how you raise money.

The combative continual "ask" -- someone who keeps asking you for money until you cave and say "Yes! Fine!" and if they manage to do it in a persuasive and congenial way -- these are the successful canvassers. They're pushy, they're loud, they tell you what to do, and wait for you to do it -- this is a persona I had a hard time adopting.

I didn't unpack this fully. But I found the notes I made last August and wanted to write what I remembered -- because it's important for women who are faced with these decisions (either at their door or on the street) to understand that there is more going on than someone asking you for money for their pet political cause.