To the boys who think it’s okay to catcall me,
It’s not.
On a daily basis, I have things to do, schoolwork to focus on, and goals to achieve. Especially being in college, my days are jammed packed and 99 percent of the time I feel like I’m moving non-stop in 10 different directions. At no point in my day do I want to or have the time to feel uncomfortable enough with my own body that I feel the need to hide it.
Whether it’s 2 in the afternoon when I’m wearing a cardigan and jeans or 2 a.m. when I’m in a tight skirt and tank top, by no means does my outfit of choice indicate my want or need to be verbally attacked by empty compliments and eyeballs glued to my body.
I am not an object and I want to make that statement clear. I am no inanimate Barbie doll that can be thrown around, played with, and then abandoned. I am a human being that will sure as hell stand up for myself if I feel like I am being treated unfairly and/or sexually abused. (Yes boys, you can sexually abuse someone even if you don’t touch them.)
“It’s just a compliment, relax” or “ just appreciate the attention” is the usual response I receive, but why should I? When you catcall me you are not doing it out of respect. You are not doing it because you think, “oh this will make this girl’s day” or in hopes that it’ll ignite a huge smile across my face. No, you are doing it because you simply want to get in my pants. Straight and simple.
Here’s a heads up for you boys. In no way, shape, or form will a catcall ever cause me to stop and say to myself, “I’m going to go home with this boy.” Catcalling is simply invasive, disrespectful, and threatening. In a culture that is so prominently talking about the issues on rape, you need to understand that comments and gestures that indicate your interest have me and most girls feeling frightened and beyond uncomfortable.
I and all other girls deserve more than a degrading comment about our bodies. We are worth more than just how we look and it is disgusting way to show your affection by motioning toward sexual innuendoes. If you like what you see, then I encourage you to try to get to know who we are first. There is no jumping bases in my book.
Stop the catcalling for the sake of all girls. Go back to a way of chivalry where meeting people required more than a swipe right, dates were more than just “Netflix and chill” and relationships were more than just a hook-up buddy. We need to escape this sex-filled generation we have all fell apart of where girls are just looked upon as the perfect piece to the puzzle of a one-night stand.
I am not sorry for the times I gave dirty stares, yelled back, or blatantly threw up the middle finger at you. If you treat us with respect, I can guarantee respect will be returned, but if you don’t, then don’t be surprised by our response.
Sincerely,
