In case any DUers don't understand why most women HATE to be catcalled,

[pnwmom]

and don't consider it a compliment, but an intrusion, maybe these photos will help you understand.

ON EDIT: These catcalls start as soon as a girl hits puberty -- so by age 12 or even sooner. And yet the men somehow think their noises and leers and invitations are welcome.

https://www.boredpanda.com/catcalling-selfies-project-dearcatcallers/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=BPFacebook

[LisaM]

1. Good for her.

It really puts it in perspective.

[LuckyCharms]

2. Compelling photos.

As a man, I have no idea why men do this. To what end?

They must be doing it as some kind of ritual to impress their men friends, because there is probably not one woman in history who was receptive to this kind of shit.

[Hekate]

8. Dominance

[LuckyCharms]

11. The thing is...

I've seen videos where women pretend to be receptive to catcalls in order to turn the tables on the men. In nearly every case, the men start stuttering and can't handle it. So yes, I agree the men are displaying dominance, but when they are called out on it, they are reduced to nothing and their insecurity presents itself.

[Hekate]

18. We are taught from an early age to never talk to strangers -- because rape

We are taught to never engage, to keep moving, to ignore the insult and intrusion -- because rape.

You get that? It's always, always there, that subliminal message of assault. The little assault (invasion of personal space in public) that could possibly lead to the purse snatching and/or the big assault.

The culture encourages it, allows it. If I turn and confront, I take the chance that the perp won't stutter and collapse, but instead will escalate.

So this young woman undertook her "study" -- and she gets a lot of assault threats online.

[LuckyCharms]

20. I do not encourage engagement with catcalling men.

I'm stressing that catcalling men are insecure and insecurity can lead to danger.

[Hekate]

21. Okay, got that

[pnwmom]

27. And this young woman had at least one friend accompanying her, as a witness.

It's scarier when you're alone.

[Dustlawyer]

37. I think that is one reason. Another is the men know the woman is out of their league but

they catcall to try and show they aren't intimidated. They are intimidated. The third reason is many of these men are truly ignorant and desperate. They keep trying this with every woman they consider beautiful in the hope that sheer volume will work in their favor.

I think it is usually the intimidation factor which is why the women that initially play along are able to have them turn into stuttering idiots with a sudden sharp retort. The men didn't expect to receive a positive reaction and don''t know what to do or say when they suddenly think they have one. They are used to being ignored or get a negative reaction to which they can them tell themselves or their buddies that "she is a stuck up b....!"

The men are insecure!

[ProudLib72]

3. Not to belittle or turn the tables or...

I've had women catcall me, and I'm a guy. Yeah, I didn't like it. It's intimidating, especially when there is a group. What the hell are you supposed to do, stop and tell them how much of a compliment it is?

[LuckyCharms]

4. Happened to me once in my life.

It's belittling.

And to think there are women working in NYC for example that have to go through this dozens of times each and every day.

[pnwmom]

7. That's right. They have to walk to work through a gauntlet. n/t

[LuckyCharms]

9. I've watched catcalling videos on youtube.

I think it is a huge problem. These people are just trying to get to work. If I put myself in a woman's shoes, I find it difficult to imagine how to cope with something like that. It's harassment...repetitive harassment.

[pnwmom]

5. Then you'll understand how unwelcome it is. And I'm sure you realize it's much more common

for women -- and girls as young as 10 or 11 -- to be the objects of this "attention."

[ProudLib72]

10. Yes, and like LuckyCharms said

It doesn't happen frequently to guys. The thought of getting on a constant basis is sickening.

[nycbos]

6. As a male I would hope that basic human decency would tell someone that it is wrong.

[christx30]

22. As a male, I've never understood catcalling.

Who in their right mind would think it's a good idea. Who would think that there's a chance, however small, it would lead to sex?
The most I might do is to nod to someone as I'm passing them, to let them know I see them and won't bump into them. But I'll keep to myself. If my path means I'll be following a woman alone at night, I'll walk around the block the long way to avoid her. If a woman sits next to me on the bus, I'll push myself against the window to put as much space between us as possible, no matter how uncomfortable I am. No accidental touches. I'd find it creepy if I were in her place, so I'm not doing it.

[pnwmom]

43. Thanks for your awareness and acting on it positively. n/t

[enough]

12. It doesn't look as if any of these men learned anything from this.

They all look as if they think she's taking their pictures because she likes them.

[raging moderate]

30. Thank you.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!

[50 Shades Of Blue]

13. She's a brave woman.

The worst thing about being catcalled is the uncertainty of what might follow.

[Beringia]

14. Powerful message

[WhiskeyGrinder]

15. "If women on the street said I looked nice, it'd make my day!"

[Bernardo de La Paz]

16. +1. I was going to post it. Thank you for doing so. . . . nt

[yuiyoshida]

17. I used to have that happen to me and my friends

mostly on Market Street in San Francisco (tenderloin), never in Chinatown... they know about saving face there. I would ask them questions in Japanese and they would be like, "Hey baby lets go eat sushi, I'm buying.."

When I spoke to them in Japanese they would shrug their shoulders and say stuff like...
"Fuck, go back to CHINA, Bitch"

and give up.

[BigmanPigman]

19. I learned back in college in NYC to walk straight past them

without expression and that is when I hear "smile" instead. Why the fuck should I smile. I decided when I hear that to just continue walking with my middle finger clearly displayed. That seems to do the trick.

[smirkymonkey]

23. I have always learned to be nice and deferernt so as not to arouse any anger in the

catcallers, but the anger grew in me. I hated having to be that way just so I wouldn't have to deal with rudeness or violence. It's such a fine line to walk. You feel so vulnerable, yet you don't dare show them how much you resent them for fear of being harmed.

[pnwmom]

24. Right. Women and girls in that position are vulnerable, whether they know it or not. n/t

[Lazy Daisy]

38. It doesn't end there

Being in a customer service position makes it worse. Any time you're a woman dealing with the public you will hear "smile, you're prettier when you smile" and the rest of the BS. You can't do or say anything except take the unwanted "attention" for fear of losing your job.

[pnwmom]

40. Or maybe any kind of job.

I knew a legal assistant who said her boss would ask her to spin in a circle when she was wearing a new outfit.

Ugh.

[NastyRiffraff]

25. When I was 9 years old

I was walking down the street and passed some men working on the road. One of them approached me and said (loudly) "Call me when you're 16." I remember taking off in a run, frightened, even though I didn't clearly understand why he said that.

[pnwmom]

26. Disgusting! I remember being a 6th grader walking in my suburban neighborhood,

having to pass some men who were taking a break from remodeling a house.

Suddenly they had surrounded me, and were saying crazy things, following me down the sidewalk.

I was only 12, and it was scary, and they all thought it was funny.

[raging moderate]

31. Once, at age 13, I had my breast grabbed.

On the street, by a strange man. It was terrifying. I had nightmares for a long time.

[pnwmom]

32. Yes! That was sexual assault and of course it was terrifying.

I'm sorry that happened to you.

[procon]

28. Ugh... I feel like I need to shower.

A lot of those men have wedding rings on, presumably they have children, even daughters who will be walking past other men acting the same way.

[Doreen]

29. I remember one night a friend of mine and I were walking to her

apartment from mine. Being Saturday night the streets were busy and we were safe but this truck pulled into an empty parking lot and these fat about 40 year old rednecks asked if they could ask a question. We went over thinking they may be new to the area and lost. Instead they asked if we wanted to get into the truck. My friend and I were about 22 then but we asked the guys how old we looked.They said that we looked like we were 13. My friend said nothing. I told them they are sick child molesters and we walked off. There was nothing they could do because way to many people were on the street. Back then our small town was full of cruisers on Friday and Saturday. For me that is the only time I ever got close to a cat call. I just assume it is because I am not that pretty. When I was a girl I was to skinny. Now that I am a woman I am fat.

[Hekate]

33. Your looks have little to do with it really. My mom got propositioned once when she was very...

...pregnant. Early 1950s, the jerk just opened his car door and made a lewd suggestion about what a good time they could have. In 1978 I was pushing my daughter in the stroller and waddling along about 8 months pregnant when this guy passed me and grabbed my butt. Really, what the hell?

[pnwmom]

36. I agree. Just like men rape without regard to appearance, they make catcalls.

It's a power thing.

[Doreen]

42. You have a very good point.

[kimbutgar]

34. When I was working downtown SF in 74 I used to run quickly pass where the construction workers were

It was horrible I used to jog quickly pass. It made me so uncomfortable.

Nowadays I don’t worry because I’m at the age construction workers don’t look!

[bluepen]

35. As Jerry Seinfeld noted, it doesnt work.

[IronLionZion]

39. Why do these guys smile for selfies?

They seem to have no shame about it.

I never understood the appeal of catcalling. It must be working out for them, or why keep doing it? Do it 99 times and the 100th woman gives them her number or something like that?

[pnwmom]

41. When they do it with their buddies it's a bonding opportunity.

I'm not sure what they get out of it when they're alone. Maybe they like to make women uncomfortable.

[MineralMan]

44. I have never been able to understand such behavior.

I can't even imagine doing such a thing. Ugh!

[Chalco]

45. I was so happy when I turned 40

The catcalling stopped!

[Maraya1969]

46. I wonder if it is illegal to turn around and aim a big black pen at them and pretend it is a gun

I'd love to see their asses flying away

[ryan_cats]

47. This is some

This is some serious harassment. How do these losers get away without a beating?

[pnwmom]

48. Who's going to beat them? Not the young woman just trying to go where she's going. n/t