Catcalling-- creepy or a compliment?

[praying]

When Holly Kearl was researching her master's thesis on street harassment last winter, she was pleasantly surprised that lewd remarks were few and far between. Then spring rolled around.

"Suddenly it was April, and I was getting yelled at everywhere by men in cars," says Kearl, who has since completed a degree in women's studies and public policy from George Washington University.

As part of her research, Kearl conducted an anonymous, informal e-mail survey of 225 women on the subject. She found that 98 percent of respondents experienced some form of street harassment at least a few times, while about 30 percent reported being harassed on a regular basis.

"For me, anyone who interrupts my personal space to objectify me or make me feel uncomfortable or threatened is harassing me," she says.

http://www.cnn.com/2008/LIVING/personal/05/14/lw.catcalls/index.html



I find it offensive, even just the way men can look at you on the street.

 

[quatona]

When Holly Kearl was researching her master's thesis on street harassment last winter, she was pleasantly surprised that lewd remarks were few and far between. Then spring rolled around.

"Suddenly it was April, and I was getting yelled at everywhere by men in cars," says Kearl, who has since completed a degree in women's studies and public policy from George Washington University.

As part of her research, Kearl conducted an anonymous, informal e-mail survey of 225 women on the subject. She found that 98 percent of respondents experienced some form of street harassment at least a few times, while about 30 percent reported being harassed on a regular basis.

I personally don´t like it. I would never do it.
In my youth, long hair, hippie clothes, I could easily be mistaken for a girl - at least from behind. At the age of 16 I went on a hitch-hiking tour all through Europe, and I was catcalled several times daily. I found it terribly annoying.

"For me, anyone who interrupts my personal space to objectify me or make me feel uncomfortable or threatened is harassing me," she says.

I find the way this statement is worded highly objectionable. My feelings are entirely my making. Furthermore, whenever "objectification" is brought up I would like to see a clear definition.

I find it offensive, even just the way men can look at you on the street.

Sure, some people look at me in the way I am not comfortable with. I don´t see a reason to take offense, though.

 

[PassionFruit]

What surprises me is that some women find catcalling a compliment.

 

[quatona]

What surprises me is that some women find catcalling a compliment.

Depending on the culture I can explain that to myself easily.
If you are born into a society in which catcalling is common usage and an accepted means of men to express their admiration for the attractiveness of a woman, you are likely to frame it in the same way. You´ll take it for the compliment you are taught it is meant to be, and you are disappointed if you don´t get it.he common acceptance and usage of something, the "normality" of something is a great factor in which we learn to frame our emotional response from early on.

"How are you?" is a very common greeting phrase. Come to think of it, one could as well understand it is an extremely indiscrete, investigative question.

 

[Khameo]

The creepiness is inversely proportional to the attractiveness of the guy.

 

[Robbie_James_Francis]

I think people who are more used it to are probably more likely to take offense sometimes. This reminds me of a conversation I had with my (female) cousin:

"I hate walking past that building site, they always whistle at me."
"They never do it to me "

Those of us with low self esteem would thoroughly appreciate a good catcall now and then.

 

[Autumnleaf]

Some women get more attention than they feel comfortable with. Sometimes it makes me wonder if covering women isn't all bad.

 

[Robbie_James_Francis]

Some women get more attention than they feel comfortable with. Sometimes it makes me wonder if covering women isn't all bad.

I can see what you mean, and I was obviously being flippant in my last post. But I always see covering women as punishing the victim. It's a 'oh men can't help themselves, it must be your fault' attitude that culminates in far more serious evils like female circumcision and blaming rape victims. I'm not saying this is what you're thinking, obviously, I'm just saying how others use these policies.

 

[praying]

Sure, some people look at me in the way I am not comfortable with. I don´t see a reason to take offense, though.

I really should have said some men, but yes I can take offense. It's downright creepy the way some men look at women.

 

[Autumnleaf]

I can see what you mean, and I was obviously being flippant in my last post. But I always see covering women as punishing the victim. It's a 'oh men can't help themselves, it must be your fault' attitude that culminates in far more serious evils like female circumcision and blaming rape victims. I'm not saying this is what you're thinking, obviously, I'm just saying how others use these policies.

Guys are naturally more aggressive. Covering women to protect them against aggressive men isn't such a bad idea in some cultures.

 

[Robbie_James_Francis]

Guys are naturally more aggressive. Covering women to protect them against aggressive men isn't such a bad idea in some cultures.

But surely the issue then is why men are so aggressive, rather than why women appeal to this need?

 

[Bombila]

I've always found it a little creepy, especially if I was herding a bunch of preschoolers at the time. I find it is a dying issue, at least in my part of the world. As more women enter the trades, thus forcing the issue of gender sensitivity on formerly all male groups, more men realize that maybe catcalling isn't all that cool, and they stop doing it.

I think many men didn't understand the intimidation factor of a group whistling and calling out to a lone woman. Some women find it genuinely frightening.

Women in groups may exhibit this behaviour as well, perhaps as a mild 'revenge' for having it done to them so often, and I have noticed that lone men are usually made to feel very uncomfortable when this happens to them.

I don't think we'll soon see the end of the spring upsurge in male 'looking', though, at least not in northern climates. People have just been through a long season where enough bulky coats, hats, boots, scarves, etc., must be worn that a woman may as well be dressed in a burkha. I've heard very nice feminist men discussing with pure joy that on a sunny warm early spring day they have seen lots of women in the streets with bare arms!11!!1!

 

[quatona]

I really should have said some men, but yes I can take offense.

Oh, I did understand that you meant "some men".
I can take offence from a lot of things, too. I just have experienced it to cause me negative emotions. I don´t like to be in negative emotional states. It doesn´t feel good. So while I surely can, I won´t.

It's downright creepy the way some men look at women.

What I meant to say was that I don´t tend to take offense when others do something that strikes me as creepy.

 

[cantata]

I'm made quite uncomfortable by catcalling, mainly because I tend to assume that they're being sarcastic, and also because, post-catcalling, I've been followed by groups of men in the past, and it has always been an extremely intimidating experience.

 

[Sitswithamouse]

Maybe it's all down to the "Generation " factor.
I don't mind being whistled at in the street and when I was younger I would be offended if I walked past a building site and didn't get whistled at.

I do realise that it is a bit offensive now and if someone did that to any of my daughters I would be annoyed and tell my kids that it is not acceptable.

As for covering women I don't think that's the answer. Lets cover the mouths of men who intimidate, that's good logic.

 

[Pogue]

I'm made quite uncomfortable by catcalling, mainly because I tend to assume that they're being sarcastic, and also because, post-catcalling, I've been followed by groups of men in the past, and it has always been an extremely intimidating.

I've had the same experience- I'm never sure if they're being sarcastic or not, especially as I dress pretty conservatively ('like a boy' might be more accurate). I never really know how to respond- do I ignore it, or perhaps shout some abuse at them*? For me, though, it doesn't help with self-esteem. Sincere compliments do help, but catcalling doesn't. At best, it's a minor annoyance, but at worst, it can be really intimidating, especially if you're on your own in the evening.

*I wouldn't really do that. Well, I might, but revert to another language to be safe.

 

[mizangelwolf]

Back years ago I was walking along one day and the car coming upon me slowed waaaaay down and I heard the call along with a *kissy* sound. Then the hilarious thing happened! As the car got along side of me he could see I was about 8 months pregnant and he nailed it, lol! Still cracks me up!

 

[Bombila]

Back years ago I was walking along one day and the car coming upon me slowed waaaaay down and I heard the call along with a *kissy* sound. Then the hilarious thing happened! As the car got along side of me he could see I was about 8 months pregnant and he nailed it, lol! Still cracks me up!

Now that is creepy. Men in cars should never do this to women walking alone, as it is downright scary behaviour.

I do understand why it was funny at the time, but what a braindead idiot he was!

When I was young and foolish, walking home from a late shift waitressing, some guy did that to me, persisting for three blocks, and I was so tired and so enraged by his behaviour that I walked out into the street and kicked two deep dents into his car door. It was very stupid; he might have gotten out and attacked me, but it was immensely satisfying to watch him accelerate the heck outta there.

 

[praying]

Back years ago I was walking along one day and the car coming upon me slowed waaaaay down and I heard the call along with a *kissy* sound. Then the hilarious thing happened! As the car got along side of me he could see I was about 8 months pregnant and he nailed it, lol! Still cracks me up!

What does that mean?

 

[praying]

Oh, I did understand that you meant "some men".
I can take offence from a lot of things, too. I just have experienced it to cause me negative emotions. I don´t like to be in negative emotional states. It doesn´t feel good. So while I surely can, I won´t.
What I meant to say was that I don´t tend to take offense when others do something that strikes me as creepy.

Offense probably is not the right word, put-off might be better. It also depends on the situation, if you are alone, it is dark, is the street crowded etc. For me it isn’t really a matter of a negative emotional state but a concern of safety. Men do not have that vulnerability at the level women do. As an example people ask me about my headphones (why not noise canceling or earbuds) and my answer is, as a woman I would not feel comfortable not being able to hear at some level what is going on around me.

There is also the issue with cat calling of when women do not respond (in the form of any sort of acknowledgement of the person(s)) and then you hear snide comments or names being called; usually the b word. Why am I a female dog because I do not care to acknowledge your childish off putting behavior?