I wish I could say that I didn’t put my headphones in with no music playing with my head down when walking alone because I didn’t want anyone to approach me. I wish I could say that I didn’t see vulgar comments made towards my own female family members by street strangers.

I wish I could say that my girlfriends and I felt safe walking in the streets at night, and our linked arms didn’t tighten when a stranger asked us a question. I wish I could say that I was never a victim of street harassment. I wish I could say that no female was a victim of street harassment, but I would be lying if I were to say any of these statements.

People, especially men, don’t realize how demeaning catcalling can be on females because they don’t get targeted as much as women. A nonprofit organization called Stop Street Harassment revealed in a 2008 study that over 99 percent of women have been catcalled or street harassed at least once in their lifetime.

Yes, you read that number correctly, 99% of women have been victims of street harassment.

I’ve been told to take “catcalling” as a compliment because they found me “attractive” enough to their “standards,” but the reality is boys, it isn’t flattering at all because what entitlement do they have to tell me to turn around and give them a smile or emphasize what they like about my body. None.They do not have a right to speak to any woman so offensively.

They can keep their comments to themselves and, for once, respect women like they would want to be respected.

Here are five specific reasons a catcall is not a compliment to help you better understand.

1. It’s disempowering

When women talk about their personal experiences of being catcalled, people often tell them they’re “overreacting” or “being dramatic”, but street harassment is real and should not be taken lightly or be silenced. Catcalls are disempowering because you're making that person feel violated, uncomfortable, or threatened.

2. It’s invasive

Catcalls don’t just happen at a “designated” time. It occurs any day of the week and any time of the day. Harassers insert themselves into the personal space of the harassed whether it be during her commute, daily jog, or as simple as brunch. This puts women on the defensive on a daily basis, which shouldn’t be the case when they’re just going out to run an errand. They have the right to feel comfortable and safe in a space where everyone else feels that way.

3. It’s scary

Catcalls don’t just stop at obnoxious whistling and prolonged stares, it sometimes goes to an extent of the catcallers following their target and actually physically or sexually attacking them. There have been many incidents where the woman refuses to acknowledge the catcalls and gets grabbed, choked, stabbed, shot, or sexually assaulted.

When you are a female yourself with this knowledge in mind, it’s hard to not get alarmed because what will stop them from making you into another statistic?

4. It’s alienating

A smile or a nod should not be interpreted as an invitation for a crude remark about the tightness of your jeans or the length of your dress. But, when it happens so frequently, it begins to seem like this basic gesture of humanity isn’t extended to you.

5. It’s dehumanizing

A catcall reveals a disregard for the woman's humanity because it instills a discomfort or irritation. It signals that the woman is nothing more than her body or the ways she chooses to dress it. Women are not just “attractive” or “shiny” walking objects that are on display for comments to be made. They are worth much more than their physiques. They are transforming. They are intelligent. They are powerful. They deserve to be better respected.

One big distinction between a compliment and harassment people need to understand is that a compliment stems off of respect and making that person feel good. It’s harassment when your aim is to make them feel intimidated or embarrassed, so catcalling is NOT a compliment because it makes the harassed feel embarrassed and uncomfortable in their own skin.

No one ever wants to hear such atrocious comments made towards them by a stranger that doesn’t even know them, so please don’t imply catcalling is along the same lines as complimenting. Women are not "public space," so don't treat like they are.