Being a young woman in an increasingly sexualized society has always been a dangerous thing. You constantly have to ask friends to remember what you're wearing or who you were going out with and where you were going to feel safe. It is always the question of "If I wear this, are people going to stare at me?" This occurs daily on any street you go to, especially through catcalling.
A "catcall" is described by the Oxford dictionary as "a loud whistle or a comment of a sexual nature made by a man to a passing woman." This is something that has been happening for decades and centuries. It has become a commonplace discussion in media, and the topic that has been addressed recently by feminist groups saying that it is demeaning and harmful to women's self-esteem. While a lot of people will disagree with this notion, many women agree that it has made them question their worth. Others will say that being catcalled empowers them and makes them feel better about themselves. While both opinions are right, it can be generally agreed that it is an uncomfortable situation.
Recently, while I was in London, I was walking down a street trying to look for a restaurant that I wanted to go to. While walking, there was some construction happening on the side of the road that I was on. The men working there were moving a metal beam of some sort, and I looked at them to make sure that they weren't going to potentially drop it on my head. I only gave a quick glance, and as I kept walking past, I heard one of them yell out "Hello gorgeous!" When I ignored him, he yelled, "Bye then." I didn't feel comfortable as I walked away, feeling as though he was going to follow me or harass me further.
The thing that bothered me the most, however, was the fact that he assumed that my glance at him was an invitation to talk to me. While I am not one to shy away from a friendly conversation, I had the feeling from the few words he spoke to me that his intents were not completely innocent. While I could be misjudging the situation, I also had to worry because I was a young woman alone in London and had to look out for myself. A glance is not an invitation to talk to someone, let alone harass them.
Body language means a lot and must be taken into consideration. In this particular situation was hunkered down into my coat, trying to find a restaurant, and was not particularly invested in the people around me. If I wanted to talk to you, I would have seemed more open and friendly, and given you more than a passing glance. One look is not an invitation because one look at you is not going to determine my want to sleep with you (which absolutely is zero).
