You pull out your phone and pretend to be sending out an important text while speed walking as fast as you can. You do anything to avoid looking at the man yelling out derogatory words to you across the streets of the city when you are out with friends, or at the man who purposely stares at your behind while you are out shopping at the mall. When did everyday events turn into occurrences that belittle women and what they choose to wear or how they express themselves? When did our society deem it was okay for men as old as our grandfathers to look at us like they have never seen a woman before? To the men who do this I have a few words: STOP and have some RESPECT.

I am someone's daughter, I am someone's granddaughter, I am a someone's best friend, but out of everything I am, the most important is that I am a woman and I deserve respect. I refuse to let your words, whistles, and grotesque staring ruin my day and question if I shouldn't have worn the outfit I chose that morning. I wish I had the courage to yell back at you or say a witty remark back but I have decided that I will pay you no mind because you deserve none. When you do this to a woman you belittle her, you disrespect her, all just for your personal enjoyment and satisfaction. What does it get you? I know for certain I would never turn around or talk to you, so why is it necessary to call me out in public when I am running errands or out with my family? What little respect do you have to give?

It is my decision what I decide to wear and if you believe my skirt or dress were too provocative then you should think again. I can wear what I want just like you, and because my jeans are tighter than yours does not give you a right to victimize me with your harassment. Are you unaware I might have saved up for this dress or worked out in order to fit into these new jeans I am wearing? No, they are not for your visual pleasure, but because I wanted to look nice for what I came to do, whether it was a night out or just a casual outing. I can guarantee running into your disrespect was not what I had planned. What is funny is that if I choose to ignore you, the words "Slut", bitch, and other insults come flying out. You might not realize but you are not alone, I know that you must think this is right by looking at other men do it. Some are very discreet about it while others make it known, but either way is NOT right. You have a mother, a granddaughter, a niece, and maybe a daughter , all of which I am to someone. Why do you choose to treat me in a way you would not treat one of your own? I challenge you to sit back and watch as others catcall a woman in your own life and see how quickly you change your mind and blurt out the apologies to the women you made feel bad. Do yourself a favor and think next time as you are about to do it to another woman, because in our generation women are starting to stand up against this kind of behavior and we will no longer stay quiet and quickly walk away as you laugh.

The next time I am out, I will wear what I want and not worry about being yelled at or whistled at by men like yourself. I am not going to just let it go and agree with the fact that it is "normal" or because I am "pretty". Being a woman is more than having good looks, it is knowing about the respect we deserve.