I absolutely do not understand catcalling. If I’m going for my morning jog in my quaint little neighborhood, do you really think honking at me at 8 o’clock in the morning is going to make me want to ride off into the sunset with you? Do you think that jeering at me will make me realize that you’re the man of my dreams and we’ll run away together? I am powerless to understanding the logic behind this all too common phenomenon.
Unfortunately, in our society, men are portrayed as the “dominant” sex. They scare women. A lot of the problem is, men don’t seem to understand just how much catcalling affects women. There is constantly a higher risk for women to be sexually assaulted than men, and taunting women heightens that fear and anxiety. A man may have nothing to fear.
Meanwhile women have to do what they can to try and protect themselves whether it’s going to the bathroom in groups or avoiding walking anywhere alone. Why do we allow women to be stunted others’ immature behavior? Though in reality there is catcalling subject to happen to both genders, men just don’t seem to get it.
Even when catcalling is explained to men in detail, they simply say that though they’ve “experienced” such harassment and were left feeling unthreatened by the situation. Men and women experience this horrid reality very differently. Can men ever truly experience what women go through? Can men ever understand he fear of walking by themselves, even in broad daylight? Can a men ever emphasize with the notion that a woman may get truly scared just seeing a friendly guy stroll past when she’s alone?
A lack of understanding and empathy does not dictate “overdramatic.” Ridiculing the situation is just the beginning of why catcalling is a major problem. In actuality, the dictionary definition of catcalling is “to make a whistle, shout or comment of a sexual nature to a woman passing by.” This is happening to women so constantly that the percentage of males who experience this is so microscopic even the dictionary doesn’t even feel the need to include them. It is clearly a definition designated towards women. Too many guys just can’t comprehend it.
So why do people catcall? It appals me to think that guys actually find amusement in scaring women. Is the intention to scare? I mean, I can’t believe someone yelling comments about my body from their pickup truck’s window thinks that’s the best way to win me over. “Yes, thank you for startling me and objectifying me-I love feeling meek and defenseless!” Perhaps there is some flattery in the interaction but it is minimally received. Personally, whether someone honks, jeers or yells at me, I’m always left feeling uncomfortable and unsafe. Catcalling has no reckonable defense and should be abandoned altogether. If this is the way you’ve been trying to pick up chicks, just wanted to give you the FYI that you’ve been doing it all wrong.
