College campuses are noted as a dangerous place for women. It is a known fact that one in five women on college campuses this year will be sexually assaulted, and that is not something to be taken lightly. In order to stop the trend of rape and sexual assault and send it spiraling downward, we must first do something to change rape culture. There is one major thing that men often do and don't realize how objectifying it is, and it needs to stop.
Most women have experienced it since they were practically prepubescent: cat calling. The dreaded, objectifying, awkward, rude, inevitable cat call from random men that are so beyond desperate for attention that they actually ask for it like it's appropriate has been experienced by all women. Men who are guilty of cat calling women normally think they are paying us a compliment. News flash: they're not.
Cat calls are one of the many ways men denigrate women and make themselves feel superior. You cannot ask someone for attention by calling attention to them. You cannot expect someone to be complimented by your publicly embarrassing them. When you cat call a woman, you make her feel uncomfortable and threatened. Many men mean it as a form of flattery, an attempt to make give women butterflies. It doesn't work that way.
Cat calls come in many forms, and they're all awful.
1. Whistling
Whistling is a way you communicate with someone without using words. This is a common practice when trying to get a dog's attention. Is that complimentary? I think not. This tells a woman that she's worth your attention, but not worthy enough to strike up meaningful conversation with. It's insulting to her intelligence, and it's derogatory in the sense that you are telling her you think you are smarter than she is.
Ladies, if someone whistles at you, don't give them the pleasure of feeling superior, because that is exactly what this action is, and that is exactly what the act of rape is about. While being whistled at is nothing like rape, it contributes to the culture that tells men that it's okay to treat women as inferior. Call out a man who whistles at you by asking if you look like a dog to him. Men, you can help end this by calling out any other men you see doing this; they will obviously respect what you have to say much more than they would a woman.
2. Sexual comments yelled from a distance.
Examples: "You look good in those pants!" "Damn, girl!" "Come my way!"
First of all, if any man mortifies you by yelling these things at you, you can go to any conduct board and file a Title IX charge against him. These comments are NOT compliments and are unwarranted.
Second of all, if you want to talk to a woman and compliment her, do so privately, one on one, and make your compliment less sexual and more sensitive. It'll be well received.
3. Honking your horn at a woman on the street, or yelling things like "Ow! Ow!"
This is the same thing as whistling at a woman. See number one.
There are many different ways men cat call women; these three are simply the most common kinds that I have experienced. If you're unsure if what you're doing is considered cat calling, ask yourself if you would want someone talking to your girlfriend, sister, or mother that way.
Learn to respect women as autonomous, equal people in society in every way. Just because you do not sexually assault women, or may even be completely disgusted by the thought of that, doesn't mean you can't contribute to the culture that makes viewing women as objects an easy thing.
Women shouldn't have to have a boyfriend or an excuse for not reciprocating a man's interest, but that is normally the case. This is because men respect other men more than they respect the woman they are "pursuing." College campuses are notorious for the objectification of women, done to make men seem superior and look cool in front of their friends, but there is nothing less cool than treating another person as less than yourself.
Call to action: do everything you can to end this part of rape culture.
