It's no secret that catcalling is a thing that happens, but I don’t think people understand how often it does. While walking in New York, a female can barely get two blocks without someone having something disgusting to say to us. I know this happens everywhere, and not just in New York, but back home I have a car, so it didn't happen as often because I wasn't walking everywhere. One of the worst parts is when I mention it to men I know. They think I am over exaggerating how frequently this happens. So to help spread awareness, here is a quick look into the day of a woman walking through NYC.
Picture this: you wake up feeling amazing, you don’t know why but you do. You actually get up when your first alarm goes off so you have time to put a little extra work into your look. After you do your hair and makeup, you decide to wear a skirt and long sleeve crop top. You look at yourself in the mirror and you look #Flawless. You grab your keys, phone and bag and you're out the door. It's a beautiful day and you have plenty of time, so you decide to walk. You are walking, basking in the sunlight, feeling like a million bucks, and then you hear a voice that says: "Damn baby, I like the way you walk." You think, OK that was unnecessary but you ignore it and keep going.
You are at the next block waiting for a chance to cross. All of a sudden, a man walks up to you and says: "Hey there sexy, you get all dressed up for me?" then he winks at you and bites his lip. You give him a tight smile and cross as soon as you can and pick up your pace. As you are walking there is a constant onslaught of inappropriate comments and rude gestures directed at you. You think is my outfit inappropriate? What am I doing wrong to draw this attention? Maybe I shouldn't dress up anymore. You get to your destination and see your friend, who is in sweats, a hoodie with holes, she is clearly very sick, and just threw her hair up in a messy bun. When she sees you, she immediately starts complaining about the disgusting comments she got walking that morning. A man even followed her on his bike for two blocks trying to get her to talk to him. Now both your mornings were ruined because some pigs decided it was a good idea to say inappropriate things to you.
You brush it off and go on with your day. Once classes are over you decide that you’re going to take the train home because you don’t want to have to deal with the catcalling again. As you walk to the train station, you are checking your emails on your phone while passing a guard at Lincoln Center, and he says: "You calling me beautiful?" You look at him and roll your eyes and keep walking and he yells after you: "Damn I'm just trying to make you smile, no need to get an attitude." That really makes you mad, but you keep walking because you've heard too many stories of women being attacked for snapping back at their catcallers. You get on the train and get a bunch of winks, eyes that are clearly undressing you, and people "accidently" brushing you. When you get off, you’re happy because you’re almost home. Then a man sees you and says: "Hey there sexy wanna give me a smile?" You say no and start walking, and he shouts after you: "Whatever bitch you’re ugly anyways." You get home in a horrible mood because a bunch of boys, not men, decided that they have a right to comment on your body. They tell you it’s a compliment and you should take them with gratitude. You know better. It is harassment that you have to deal with daily.
It is nice to get a compliment when it is genuine, but when there are clearly dirty thoughts behind the compliment and you enter my personal space, it is not OK. This is a daily occurrence for women. Sometimes there are more sometimes there are less but if I am out on the street I know someone will say or do something to make me feel uncomfortable. I know it is not a reflection of me but a reflection of who that person is and yet sometimes I still find myself questioning my hair, make-up or clothing choice as if any of that is an invitation for someone to comment on me. This is a serious problem that people need to open there eyes to because a woman shouldn't have to walk with pepper spray, a knife or a man to feel safe.
