If you’ve ever been on the receiving end of a catcall, you know all too well the unsettling crawling sensation that encroaches on your stomach and the flaring indignant feeling that accompanies these encounters. Do you keep walking? Retort with a hot-tempered remark? On the one hand, you feel the need to defend yourself and your position on the social ladder- you definitely fall above ‘sex object,' but on the other, well...let’s just say you don’t want this to be the last time you defend yourself.
When I say ‘catcall’ I don’t mean a good-willed, innocuous comment from a smiling stranger telling you, ‘you’re beautiful;’ a catcall is unwanted and overtly sexualizing or objectifying in a manner that makes you feel uncomfortable/unsafe. Driving past me down the street, for example, hand out the window banging on the car door yelling, ‘hey, sexy’ with your friends whistling in the back seat is not well-received, thank you very much. Standing in the parking lot of the gym, looking me up and down as I walk out and saying ‘lookin’ good, baby, I like those leggings’ is gross and makes me run to my car with my mom on speed dial. And also, when you shouted across the street asking for my phone number, did you really think I would come give it to you? Just trying to understand the logic here.
So, why do catcallers think what they do is okay? Perhaps they don’t think it’s okay and they do it anyway — I don’t know which is worse. It’s hard to imagine any person could justify to themselves that yelling obscenities is acceptable, but evidently, it can be done. In many cases, they do it to feel powerful, as a joke in front of friends, or even because they don’t think anyone is watching and it doesn’t matter. Guess what, it does matter and it’s no joke.
Why should my body or looks be used as a form of entertainment for you and your friends? Why should I be objectified or sexualized under any circumstance? We are more than our bodies and we deserve to be treated as such; not only by our friends, family, and associates, but by people we don’t know, as well. It’s sick that women can’t verbally defend themselves without fear of receiving physical offense in return. Because yes, it is scary. Despite the fact that your remark may simply have been an attempt to get a laugh from your friends, the person on the other end doesn’t know that. All I’m thinking is: how would little noodle-armed me protect myself from a group of guys undoubtedly able to take me out with one blow. It’s the worst possible scenario, but it’s a reality.
Catcalling is NOT a compliment. Making someone feel uncomfortable is NOT acceptable. Despite the intentions, knowingly inciting fear in another human being is despicable. So, catcallers, I’ll make my request to you more civilized than your crude remarks: please stop.
