Cat Calling - How Do Women Feel About It?

[GymLadTim]

By cat calling I mean when people (usually always men) shout sexually suggestive or aggressive comments at women in public.

Has this ever happened to you and if so how did you feel.

A couple of days ago I witnessed an incident. A young lady only in her early twenties was standing outside a pub smoking - she was wearing a uniform and was a member of bar staff in the pub I think. There was a window cleaner (late 40's)probably old enough to be her Dad up a ladder cleaning the windows of the pub next door.

The window cleaner shouted a sexual comment to the young lady. I won't repeat it because of Answerbank rules but it was along the lines of how he liked her legs and wanted to use them as a scarf.

The young lady looked very uncomfortable. I was very shocked I thought this king of sexist nonsense ended in the 90's. I asked her if she was okay - actually I was ready to give him a right mouthful. She just laughed and said ignore him he is an idiot.

It just got me thinking - do some women actual enjoy cat calling because it makes them feel desirable. Lets face it we all want to feel sexy but what about when it goes too far?

Has it ever happened to you? What did you do?

Tim

[Mamyalynne]

Not for while but I used to largely ignore unless I had a good barbed response handy.

He was pushing his luck being up a ladder though wasn't he;-)

[GymLadTim]

Yes he was. Did you secretly like it when it happened to you or was it annoying?

[GymLadTim]

The other thing I forgot to ask was does it happen less now than it did years ago?

[pixie374]

It hasn't ended. And no, I don't think many women are desperate enough to find it flattering.

[Mamyalynne]

When I was young I think it depended on the situation whether I felt slightly flattered at all, I'm no shrinking violet.


Can't comment on the situation today.

[jourdain2]

I'm a bit old for what you describe - but I never minded being 'wolf-whistled' in the 60s, 70s and (smirks) 80s & early 90s. (Rather flattering actually!)
This new stuff sounds far nastier and I would be most unhappy about it. Quite sorry for young women these days, when you think that the aim was to stop sexist stuff. Thinking that perhaps it would have been as well to leave things as they were. It is much nastier and harder now.

[GymLadTim]

I just don't get how some men think this is okay - especially to young girls.

[GymLadTim]

Interesting, so in the 60's and 70's it was more light hearted banter and now it has got more aggressive.....

[pastafreak]

My experience is the same as jourdains. It was whistling and flirty comments, rarely anything to be offended by. And yes, sometimes I felt mildly flattered.

[pastafreak]

Times have changed, Tim..

[woofgang]

Well it happens less to me now that I am past 60 than it did when I was 18! I know that some years ago there was a campaign by building contractors to be more courteous in their behaviour; they banned loud radios, shouting and swearing and sexist behaviour. I never enjoyed it, secretly or otherwise and I either ignored it or didn't tolerate it.

[GymLadTim]

What did you do when you didn't tolerate it? Did you tell them to F off?

[pixie374]

In a group of women, it is just mildly annoying and desperate. On your own, it is a bit scary. So it probably depends a bit on context.

[woofgang]

no I never swore...what I did or said depended on the circumstances.

[pastafreak]

Always best to ignore if it's intimidating. No point in swearing as that is a challenge that can intensify the situation.

[MallyJ]

It happened to me a few times ... and included some quite unpleasant sexual suggestions.....I just felt sorry for the men involved as I thought at the time how badly brought up they were and how totally immature their behaviour was. Occasionally I would loudly ask them what they had asked me to do...generally they moved away fairly quickly....

[NellieMay]

Quite honestly, I have witnessed a lot of women cat calling young men these days! Times have changed. It never bothered me when I was young and feisty and got cat calls. It was flattering and did no harm.

[andres]

It was always looked on as a compliment when I was young many years ago No aggression or sexy comments just a plain wolf whistle. I think most women just gave the whistlers a wave and went on their way. Nowadays the whistling and calling out to young women has become very aggressive and sexual. I feel sorry for the young girls of today. Respect towards them seems to have gone .

[ummmm]

It works both ways. Older women drooling over young'ish fit men.

Me...I would have just stuck my middle finger up.

[wolf63]

It used to be intimidating when passing a building site when I was in my late teens. But most girls are quite able to look after themselves.

I remember my mum telling me to whack any bloke that annoyed or upset me with my handbag, she also told me to keep a brick in my bag. I think/hope that she was joking.
:-)