The first time I was technically 'catcalled' was when I was up visiting my school. I was on my way to visit the office where I work during the school year when a car drove by me. I was crossing the street in the sundress I had chosen to wear that day when the guy driving by me honked his horn and yelled "hey babe" out his window. He then proceeded to drive away like nothing had ever happened.

Prior to that, I had never been catcalled which, according to statistics, is kind of surprising. According to a 2014 study conducted by Cornell University and Hollaback!, a nonprofit organization who's mission is fighting against street harassment, found that 85 percent of women in the United States have experienced street harassment before the age of 17. That statistic is horrifying to me. It means that, while young girls are supposed to be worrying about puberty and getting an education, they also need to worry about being harassed in the street.

Some people just shrug off the negative effects that catcalling can have on women, but research suggests something very different. The same study from Hollaback! and Cornell University also concludes that different forms of street harassment such as groping and fondling, being followed by a stranger, and verbal harassment can have devastating effects on mental health and can result in depression or low self-esteem.

Being catcalled, even though it was such a brief encounter, had a profound effect on me. It made me see what other women have gone through and what women continue to go through everyday. I felt a wide range of emotions following this event. I felt angry that catcalling is still a thing that happens in the world, uneasy about the idea that he might turn around and come back for me, and unsafe even though I always feel pretty safe walking around campus.

This man basically took away, even if for a moment, my peace of mind. For just a moment he turned me into someone who feels the need to constantly turn around to make sure that no one is following her or someone who carries her keys between her fingers in case some creep tries to rob or attack her.

This is an issue that most, if not all, women will someday encounter in their lives. Whether it's yourself, a family member, a co-worker, or a close friend, you will know someone who has been catcalled; that is why we must work to stop it. We must teach our future children that they should respect both genders and that they shouldn't afraid to walk through the world being who they want to be. Everyone, no matter what your gender, deserves to walk down the street without getting sexually harassed.

If you are curious to learn more about organizations who are trying to combat this problem, here are some links: http://www.ihollaback.org/; http://www.stopstreetharassment.org/; http://www.actionaid.org/