Catcalling - Creepy or a compliment? CNN

[brunettegoddess]

Originally Posted by CNN

(LifeWire) -- 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.

Women take both sides

As the weather warms each spring, women -- especially in cities with active sidewalk traffic -- once again face catcalls from men. It's a situation some find unnerving and an invasion of their space, while others ignore or are even flattered by.

"I call it street abuse," says New York City filmmaker Maggie Hadleigh-West, 49. "It's unwanted attention and invasion of space."

In her 1998 documentary "War Zone," Hadleigh-West confronted catcallers and filmed their responses. Many of the men literally ran away to avoid talking to her about why they whistled or made a provocative comment. The Department of Defense has used the film since 2002 to train branches of the military about issues surrounding sexual harassment and sexism in general, she says.

"Being in a public space with a strange man who is being sexually aggressive is potentially dangerous," Hadleigh-West adds.

On the other hand, some women appreciate the attention in certain cases, like Jessica, a 31-year-old health-care educator in Los Angeles, who declined to use her last name to protect her privacy. "Yeah, it's objectifying and all, but you know, if I walked down the street and didn't have men looking me up and down and catcalling, I'd think, 'Boy I must really be getting old and dumpy'," she says.

She's gotten catcalls just walking her parents' dog in baggy sweats. "I thought it was hysterical, like, 'Boy, doesn't take much to impress you, does it?'"

But Kimberly Fairchild, 29, an assistant professor of psychology at Manhattan College in New York City, says that catcalling can take a larger emotional toll than many women realize.

"There seems to be some evidence that it increases self-objectification," says Fairchild, who surveyed a total of 550 women both online and at Rutgers University in 2006 and 2007. The women -- who ranged in age from 15 to 64 in the international online component, and from 18 to 24 in the Rutgers survey of women from central New Jersey -- were asked about their experiences with street harassment.

"[Catcalling] encourages women to look at themselves as body parts instead of as full, whole, intelligent human beings" and can cause women to fear for their safety, Fairchild says.

"When a man catcalls you, you don't know if it will end at that point, or if it could escalate to assault," she adds.

Biting back via blog

Most women tend not to respond to the hoots and hollers, according to Kearl's research. A vocal minority, however, is fighting back online, especially when name-calling progresses to lewd behavior or even physical contact.

The site HollaBackNYC.blogspot.com encourages New Yorkers to snap pictures of street harassers and then post them.

Emily May, 27, and six of her friends were inspired to create the site in 2005 after a young New York woman used her camera phone to take a photo of a man who was looking at her while touching himself on the subway. The picture led to his arrest. (Such behavior is, according to New York state law, a misdemeanor offense). The blog has spawned similar sites in other major cities such as Chicago and San Francisco.

The site is a way to encourage dialogue, says May. "I think sites like ours can help women see that they're not alone, that it happens to women in all walks of life by men in all walks of life, and that it's not okay."

Some guys just don't know

According to existing studies and her own findings, Kearl says, some men are simply ignorant about how their behavior is perceived. Kearl, who completed her thesis, "Direct Action, Education, Consciousness-Raising, Activism and the Internet: Methods for Combating Street Harassment," last year, thinks posting on Web sites like HollaBackNYC is preferable to resorting to anger and violence.

"A lot of men have no idea that women don't like being talked to in this way," she says. "It never crosses their mind, and yelling doesn't educate them. If you yell, they often don't understand why you are upset and so they take it personally."

Often, Kearl says, an assertive, clear response can illicit a kinder reaction than one expects.
"A lot of the time, I find guys will just say, 'Oh, okay, I didn't realize it made you feel that way. Thanks'."

This article was on the homepage of CNN just a moment ago. I walk to work from the train station... it's about 20 minutes each way. I usually get honked at a few times in the morning and about 6 or 7 times on my way home. I'm no drop dead gorgeous girl or head turner. I've never minded being whistled at or hearing someone say "Hey beautiful." I think that's complimentary and genuine... what I don't like are the times I've been barked at (because to me that says I'm ugly) and I hate hate hate hate getting honked at. Honking doesn't accomplish anything other than scare the shit out of me while I'm off in my own little world mentally preparing or decompressing for the day. And I can't imagine anyone ever met someone because they honked and the girl came running after the car.

[sensa516]

It almost makes me think people are far too sensitive. The exception in that article being the guy touching himself on the subway. That's a whole other issue. I don't think I've ever feared for my safety after a cat call though. Isn't acting scared just an invititation for something to happen? Every self defense class or article tells you to be aware of your surrounds and appear confident...if you don't want to be a victim don't act like one.

[Korrie]

Originally Posted by sensa516

...if you don't want to be a victim don't act like one.

Well, I don't think thats exactly fair. No one deserves to be victimized no matter how they are acting. The only way to hide your feelings of fear is to have experianced that certain situation before. If you are caught off guard, how are you supposed to project this confident attitude??

HOWEVER, I do agree that it seems people are a bit too sensitive in the matter.
Although its been a while since I've gotten a catcall...I've heard them before and never feared for my safety....but in my book, its still sexual harassment.

[maleficent]

I've never been catcalled - I've had frat boy comments telling me I'm ugly - and oh yeah - thanks for sharing your opinion... Like I don't have a mirror

It's kind of passive aggression at it's finest... These people are using anonymity to use some sort of machismo display...

Why would it be considered a compliment to have a random stranger yell out something to a person on a street... if the person truly found them intriguing or attractive, then they'd treat them with respect and go up to them and speak to them like a human being.

[sensa516]

Originally Posted by newbride02

Well, I don't think thats exactly fair. No one deserves to be victimized no matter how they are acting. The only way to hide your feelings of fear is to have experianced that certain situation before. If you are caught off guard, how are you supposed to project this confident attitude??

HOWEVER, I do agree that it seems people are a bit too sensitive in the matter.
Although its been a while since I've gotten a catcall...I've heard them before and never feared for my safety....but in my book, its still sexual harassment.

I wasn't saying it as a "it's your fault" thing. It's a mentality. I have a couple guy friends who teach self defense classes for women (cops etc) and that's one thing they say over and over again ie be aware of your surroundings, stand up straight etc it's little things you can do to make you appear confident even if you're freaking out inside The whole idea of being aware of your surroundings is the idea that you're less likely to get caught off guard. Sometimes horrible things do happen regardless if the woman took all the right steps and did all the right things but you should also use your head too.

[JDhd]

I can honestly say I've never hollered or shouted at a woman in the street, aside the fact that I'm totally unattractive and would completely creep out the target, I just think it's rude rather than flattering.

[sensa516]

Originally Posted by JDhd

I can honestly say I've never hollered or shouted at a woman in the street, aside the fact that I'm totally unattractive and would completely creep out the target, I just think it's rude rather than flattering.

no self bashing! Also, thank you for not being one of those guys

[edco76]

Its really my thing but come on. Street Abuse? Emotional Damage? Thats a stretch. My guess is that those women are jealous they're not being "street abused" Like anything you can take it to far. Sexually explicit, or threatening remarks but I would think a whistle from time time to time would make me feel a little better about myself.
Kinda reminds me of a lady I used to work with in a furniture store. She was tall, blond, and sporting D cups. Wore shirts that were either cut extra low or unbuttoned 2 extra buttons. Then she would complain all the time "that guy was creeping me out, every time I looked at him he was staring at my boobs"

[maleficent]

but I would think a whistle from time time to time would make me feel a little better about myself.

How would a whistle from someone you don't know and have never met - do anything to make you feel better about yourself?

I really do not understand that concept... If someone I know says something positive (it might happen some day) then that's ok -but a random stranger -that's just - ewww)

But then again, I'm probablyt one of those jealous types that's too ugly to get attention from anyone..

[Nightporter]

If I were ever catcalled I wouldn't be flattered, I'd think it pretty rude. When a random guy catcalls a girl they are pretty much saying 'I want your body and that's it' or 'my dude friends are around and I want them to think I'm macho'. It wouldn't break my heart, but it wouldn't make me feel better about myself either.

-N-

[Blancita]

I think whether or not your used to cat calling has a lot to do with where you live and grew up. Around my city, you start getting the cat calls when you turn around 14. No lie. Its a cultural thing too, a city thing. You dont see upper class people doing it much if at all, unless they're drunk.

But if you're getting cat calls your entire life, and then low and behold they stop all of a sudden when you gain a bunch of weight, and then they pick up again after you've dropped some pounds, well then you can use it as a measure that you're looking better again haha. That's what happened to me anyway. I stopped getting the cat calls and then when I lost around 20 lbs they resumed. So while I dont look twice at the guys who cat call and would never be interested given that they always tend to be very young (meaning jail bait) or very old (think granddaddy) or very desperate (the latter often being the case), it did give me an objective view that my looks were improving.

BTW, no self respecting really HOT guy that I've ever met over the age of 20 would ever cat call. And what the girl in the article said about getting looks in her jogging pants is so true, you can look like total crap, your absolute worst, and still get em.

[ChristyP]

I think it's a cultural thing too. The other day 2 hispanic guys were at the corner waiting to turn and I was at the corner waiting to cross. I heard something funny but I didn't understand it because they were speaking spanish.. but in a sing song sort of hey chicki chicki sort of way.. I looked right at them and sort of smirked and laughed mostly because they were much younger than I am... I should have said "Hello I'm Mrs. Robinson" lol
A few times I have received verbal face to face compliments.. I prefer those because with a cat call you're never quite sure if they are making fun of you or really think you look good. Once I was wearing a short wrap skirt and it was very windy.. I heard some guy holler.... "blow wind blow" that was funny and horrifying at the same time..

[sensa516]

Originally Posted by Blancita

I think whether or not your used to cat calling has a lot to do with where you live and grew up. Around my city, you start getting the cat calls when you turn around 14. No lie. Its a cultural thing too, a city thing. You dont see upper class people doing it much if at all, unless they're drunk.

But if you're getting cat calls your entire life, and then low and behold they stop all of a sudden when you gain a bunch of weight, and then they pick up again after you've dropped some pounds, well then you can use it as a measure that you're looking better again haha. That's what happened to me anyway. I stopped getting the cat calls and then when I lost around 20 lbs they resumed. So while I dont look twice at the guys who cat call and would never be interested given that they always tend to be very young (meaning jail bait) or very old (think granddaddy) or very desperate (the latter often being the case), it did give me an objective view that my looks were improving.

BTW, no self respecting really HOT guy that I've ever met over the age of 20 would ever cat call. And what the girl in the article said about getting looks in her jogging pants is so true, you can look like total crap, your absolute worst, and still get em.

It's so true about the city thing. I remember being 14 and would walk around with my friends and the calls would start...god we thought we were hot shit lol