When I was a young teenager, I used to blush at catcalls. My friends and I would be walking down the street and when a car full of teenage boys honked and whistled at us, it would give my self-esteem that little boost that my 15-year-old self was constantly craving. However, as I got older, my feelings about catcalling drastically changed. Catcalls did not just come from high schools boys but from much older men. The comments yelled at me made me cross the street, type 911 into my phone just in case, and constantly check over my shoulder to see if I was being followed. Catcalls are not compliments, and they are not harmless. Catcalls are a form of sexual harassment, and it's time men and women alike demand respect on the streets.
Catcalls are a small part of a much bigger culture. This is the culture that degrades women, places values solely on appearance, and does not hold a large population of men responsible for their actions, no matter how small that action may seem. Many of the men I have spoken to on the subject don't think catcalls are a very big deal. After all, they believe they are "complimenting" a woman, and words are just words, right? However, just about any woman can tell you a time when catcalling (or, better named, street harassment) has caused her to feel deeply unsafe. If the words someone is saying to you make you question your personal safety, it is not a compliment. Excuse my capitalization, but this concept should be grasped by now.
Street harassment does not exclusively target women. Street harassment does not pertain to one single gender or sexual orientation. It's something everyone has been affected by, on one side or the other. It seems so basic that we need to remind people not to say unwarranted comments, especially sexually vulgar ones, to strangers on the sidewalk. Harassment is not something that is left up to interpretation. If you are subjecting another person to unwanted remarks or actions, you are harassing them.
Men, just... do better. I don't intend to be rude by saying that, but this is an area in which male action is needed. Don't harass women, even if you personally do not think it's sexual harassment. It is. Don't let your friends do it, and if you see a woman being harassed on the streets, stand up for her. Women, if you are being harassed on the streets, know you do not have to brush it off. You are allowed to yell, or direct a police officer their way. Maybe if we all rose up against catcalling, it would not be as present as it is today. Maybe then, and I don't mean to get my hopes up here, but just maybe women could walk down the street in the evening without 911 on speed dial. That being said ladies, do not ever put yourself in an unsafe position in order to put a catcaller in their place, especially when alone at night. And the fact that this even needs to be said... well, that says the most of all.
