I was walking down the main strip of the mall. I spent a day babysitting and working out. Needless to say I felt and looked sweaty and gross. Despite that, these men were whistling and making obscene comments directed at me. I was wearing my soccer shorts and an old T-shirt.
I shouldn't have to say what I was wearing, but in today's society, it seems like the first question would be if I was provoking it or asking for it. My answer is no. I did not choose to wear my baggy old t-shirt and soccer shorts to be objectified.
To the men who cat-call: Why are you reducing me to a whistle or an inappropriate comment?
You're saying that I am attractive based strictly off of my physical appearance. Instead of approaching me and telling me you find me pretty, you are choosing to whistle. Which coincidentally is the same thing that animals are trained to respond to.
However, as a woman, I've been trained and conditioned to respond to that whistle with a polite smile and a nod that signifies a "thank you." If I walk away, I am classified as a prude, but if I turn around and ask you to stop then I am a b****. Then when women don’t get catcalled, they are left to wonder what is wrong with them and why these men will catcall other ladies, but not them. Women cannot win in the catcalling circumstance. It's time for it to end.
For your information, while you have been whistling at every pair of legs that have crossed your path, I was busy. I have won three national titles, I am a full-time student with a part-time job, I get great grades, and I want to someday be an elementary school teacher. There are many admirable qualities of mine that you cannot see from my outward appearance. But you aren't whistling for those. When did my body become more impressive than my brain? Why does my v-neck t-shirt get more attention than my graduation gown and cords? How is my thin waist better than my fat scholarship?
I am more than a body. Contrary to what you may believe, I didn't get dressed up to please you or to be your eye candy. I make my decisions for me and I will never allow some stranger I've never met to make me feel otherwise.
What do you expect my response to be? I'm not going to turn around and swoon over the gentleman that you are portraying to be. I'm not going to marry you based off of the way you whistled when I walked by or by the obscene remarks you shouted.
I'm not flattered when you catcall me. I'm embarrassed. I feel like an object. Worse, you're making me feel that I am just a woman. Just something you can exert power over. While you're hoping my self-esteem is low enough that I will recognize the privilege of someone acknowledging me, I'll remind you that I am just a woman. A woman who will no longer stand for being objectified by chauvinist pigs like yourself.
