Catcall: verb; " To make a whistle, shout, or comment of a sexual nature to a woman passing by."
I have been on my college campus for three years now, and just recently, I’ve had to deal with more catcalling than I have before. It didn’t seem to matter too much what I was wearing either. As I was walking somewhere on campus, some men decided to yell at me to get my “fat ass” back there to them. They wanted me to come to them. Besides feeling very embarrassed, I also felt angered.
At one point or another, pretty much every female will experience catcalling in their lifetime. Catcalling happens in everyday places. It happens at school, in the workplace, on the city bus, etc. Places that you would think you would be safe from something like this.
Why did they think I would come back to them? Has that ever worked before? Catcalling is not cute. It makes women feel disrespected, and it degrades them. No one wants to feel that way. Catcalling needs to end. We need to take a stand. Catcalling isn’t cute, nor is it OK.
Some thoughts on catcalling:
“It makes me feel like I don’t matter. Like the only thing worth anything about me is my body.” - Kate Willis
“It makes me feel like I’m nothing better than a piece of meat and that my body is the only impression that society looks at now. If you’re feeling yourself and your outfit and you’re walking down a busy street or downtown, women have grown up to expect some type of male reaction, regardless if it is wanted or not.” - Dominique Oroszi
“It makes me upset, frustrated, and sad for humanity.” - Daniel Parsons
“If you don’t want your mother or sister to hear it, don’t say it.” - Darla Max
“I feel that catcalling isn’t the correct way to get a girl’s attention. If anything, it makes most of us feel very uncomfortable. Catcalling is contributing to a society where men think they have the right to say inappropriate, sexual things to women that they don’t even know. I’m sure most men who catcall would be bitter if they knew someone was catcalling their sisters, mothers, or girlfriends.” - Emily O’Flynn
These thoughts on catcalling show how people feel about the topic, but what is being done to prevent it or stop it completely? Catcalling angers me and I speak up against catcalling.
