Catcalling

Tea

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A while ago me and my mom were walking down the street chatting. I was wearing a t shirt and long pant and my mom the same. We were having a log of fun, then a car drove by. They slowed down and yelled out to us. And said things like “ nice ass” and whistled at us. And my mom just said, “ that’s catcalling” and I said “ mom I’ve know what catcalling is for years”. I was 12 years old. That messed up, I shouldn’t have know what catcalling was at such a young age, I should not have been catcalling at age 12 for the first time. I never wore that shirt again and I carry pepper spay everywhere. Being a woman is hard.

Catarina

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The other day I was walking on the street and a man approached me and asked me if I had a boyfriend… I comment to my mum and sister and they said the man said that because I am pretty… I see a big problem in this situation. First I am not an object to be asked in the street if I am owned or not; Second, why would you approach a woman to ask that? If you actually would be interested in her you would start with a “hello” and maybe introduce yourself? I don’t know, but the way it came was just uncomfortable and unnecessary; Thirdly, if you mean with that pickup line that I am pretty or whatever goes in your mind, please keep it to yourself altogether; Forth, why? really, why? and what? Fifth, to the women in my life and all the others, being pretty is not an excuse to be assaulted, being pretty is not an excuse to someone to invade your private space to tell you whatever you want, being pretty is not an excuse to drop your thoughts on someone. Enough of this. I am tired of catcalling, of looks, whistles, horns and all the rest! It is been more than 10 years of listening to this kinda bullshit. Enough.

Marceline

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Explained why catcalling is fucked up and someone called me an “angry bitch” and asked if I was on my period. This was IN class.

Karlotta

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I was at the local beach swimming and because I didn’t want to change out of my bathing suit there, I rode my bike home in my bathing suit and shorts. I was driving past a creepy old man and as I was driving around the corner I heard him do that typical whistle thing and then shout at me: “you’re a hot one!”… I am 15 years old…

Emma

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I was walking through the park and noticed a figure behind a tree. At first I thought it was a couple making out but soon realised it was a man who was probably urinating or touching himself in public. He saw me and shouted at me. He said, ‘Hey beautiful. Hey sexy. Hey Sharon’. That’s not my name but he just picked a random woman’s name. I ignored him and started to walk a bit faster to get way from him. He then laughed wildly, like a Disney villain laugh, and shouted ‘Are you going to run?’. I was so concerned by him and made to feel vulnerable, but also hugely angry that he knows exactly what he is doing. He knew what he was doing was making me feel unsafe, and yet he finds this funny. It’s not funny. It took away my enjoyment from walking around the park and makes me question every time I want to go for a walk again.

Hannah Roo

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I was so angry afterwards that I don’t even remember what he said. It was the angriest I’ve felt in response to a street harassment incident. It might be because I expected myself to respond in a way that told him off, and I didn’t, so I felt like I’d failed, failed to tackle the problem and bring about change. I felt shocked, surprised, and aware of the power imbalances of a male in a car vs a woman on foot. I wanted to run after the car and tell him how annoyed I was and how inappropriate it is to harass people. The car stopped at the end of the road, providing me with the opportunity to respond if I’d been quick enough, but I felt I couldn’t, and was scared of a violent reaction from him. Playing it back in my head, I even imagined that he could have threatened me with rape if I had run after and challenged him. It also annoyed me as it happened twice, within ten seconds. Two different men in two different cars. I didn’t respond to the first incident as I wasn’t entirely sure if he was talking to me, as he could have been on the phone in his car – although I couldn’t see evidence of this. He just said ‘gorgeous’ and nothing else. After looking round to check if it was to me, I wasn’t sure, but shook my head as I walked away, just in case. I felt frustrated that a daily decision I make as a woman is to weigh up whether what am wearing will increase the likelihood of harassment. Why shouldn’t I wear shorts to the gym?

annalisa

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today I want through a public place. A man literally catcalled me. He popped his tongue in the exact same way in which I do when I’m trying to get my cat’s attention.

Elaine

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I’ve had a great many experiences with being catcalled, most of them occurring when I was only 14, due to my ‘womanly’ looks/body. When I was 14 I was sexually assaulted in my home, less than a year later I was assaulted again, and when I was 16 I was raped by my 19 year old boyfriend, he convinced me that It was okay, we were in a relationship so he was allowed to do so. It was months later when I said something too someone. I have never gone to the police, or officially reported any of these instances, even though one of these men continued to attend the same school. I have grown so much since these incidents (I’m 18 now) and am now the person to stand up if someone says “he’s touching me”. And I always will.

Anon

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I was out taking a walk today during my break in between zoom meetings. I looked over my shoulder & a gentleman was following me. Followed me for about half a block before I stopped & asked him what I could do for him. He told me that he saw me walking and knew he was destined to marry me. This man definitely had some mental health issues–he said an angel in the form of a fly told him this. But he proceeded to engage me in a 10+ min dialogue about how attractive my body, specifically my breasts were. I told him I would not marry him & needed to leave, but he kept engaging me. Finally, I walked away only to have him follow me two blocks to my house. I had to get my property manager (who lives next door) to speak with him to get him to leave the premises. I did not want to call the police because of the fact that this man was black, an immigrant, houseless, & experiencing mental illness. Patriarchy’s effects are super intersectional, and it was important for me to take into account his context in my response to him. He eventually left & did not see what apartment house I live in, thankfully. Such a jarring experience–I have never been followed before. I tried not to panic & was holding back tears. I feel very resolved & safe now but wanted to share this experience. Thank you for the important work Every Day Sexism does!!

Pippa

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Got catcalled cycling home by some men in a car, shouting something about being someone’s sister ‘is that your sister’. I didn’t understand the statement but it was clearly a man trying to exert power over me and make me feel uncomfortable.