I was walking around the mall the other day and got cat called twice. Mind you, I was wearing jeans and a tanktop(no cleavage). I got two responses: “Damn, girl!” or “Wow!” I find that it’s older men, un-educated men and men in low socio-economic that partake in catcalling. Now I don’t really get why men feel the need to express these thoughts out loud. I see really cute guys all the time and do not express these thoughts to them. How awkward would that be? Why do men do it then? Is it attention? Ego? Do they really think women will smile and initiate conversation and exchange numbers? Some guys say that women should take cat-calling as flattering and as a compliment. I’m not so sure about that… It does not empower women-mentally, emotionally, or spiritually. Getting cat called is not sexy or a fun time. It makes me feel dirty. It is very predator like and so creepy. I’m no prude, but what makes you think it’s okay to talk to women this way? Men feel entitled and think they are in power by stripping a little bit of ours away. That is not okay. Men say these things for a reason. It’s all about sexual attraction. Women who might be insecure about their bodies might like the attention while others who are confident in their bodies will know better. Cat-calling is an example of normalizing sexualization in our culture. It actually encourages sexual harassment and promotes rape culture. It degrades women from a human being to a sex object. Something you can just pick up from the street. It is un-wanted attention. If it is un-wanted, why do they think we like being cat-called? Sometimes there are no spoken comments. Sometimes cat-calling comes in forms of honking at at a girl or whistling at them. It is un-wanted attention. We do not need your validation to tell us we are pretty. We already know that. You emphasizing/commenting on our beauty just makes you disgusting. Sometimes men lack the emotional side and just act out on their sexual instincts. But cat-calling is not the answer. There always better ways. If you want my attention or even get a girl, for that matter, don’t cat call. Be normal. Grow up and be a man. If you are genuinely interested, be respectful and polite. Smile and strike up a conversation.
I have been dealing with cat-calls since I was a teen. It’s not cute. I will not get over it. Guys will never understand what we go through. They do not realize how their behavior and words affect us.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/stefanie-williams/no-dudes-catcalling-isnt-flattering_b_5691949.html
http://www.forharriet.com/2016/01/the-politics-of-being-ugly-in-between.html#axzz4NI7iefBj