The Social Issue of Catcalling

 

Women being harassed on a city street

Everybody must face different challenges in their daily lives such as going to work or school, going shopping, or taking care of family. But there are some challenges that only women must face which are unacceptable and revolting. One such challenge is that of catcalling; usually involving a loud whistle or comment of a sexual nature made by a man or group of men to a passing woman. In some instances, catcalling involves honking car horns at passing women, flashing vulgar gestures, self-exposure to a woman, and even inappropriate grabbing. Women across the globe unfortunately must deal with the act of catcalling non-consensually. People may believe that catcalling is harmless and is a part of freedom of speech so it should not be a problem that it occurs. This argument is invalid because there are studies that show the behavior of catcalling can lead to more violent crimes against women such as sexual assault. Another reason why this should not matter is for the same reasoning why people should not say racial slurs or derogatory language in general. The reasoning for this is obvious because you should not want to make people feel unsafe or fearful just for being themselves.

In this article from the BBC, they speak about how her 12-year-old daughter faced harassment being called a “slut” and being physically harmed in the process. Incidences like this show that even from a very young age kids learn to inflict fear upon others and learn derogatory language that they may not understand the full implications of what they are saying and how it can harm others. This should be something that schools should be required to focus on. Teaching students why they should treat women specifically with respect is something that is greatly lacking in the current United States education system. There are always talks and guest speakers in schools that talk about how bullying is bad and how racism is bad but there is never anything talking about sexual assault or sexual harassment at all. Sexual harassment and assault are two very important topics that need to be addressed at a young age before it is too late to shape the student’s ideologies when they already do not believe it to be important.

Women should not have to feel unsafe when in public spaces but that is the reality we are living in today. Harassment runs unchecked in public spaces and the prevention of this will lead to a healthier society overall.  Women should not have to live in fear because unchecked harassment. One woman who was questioned at the Staten Island Ferry shared their experiences with catcalling stating:

 

“Just walking to school or to the store, some guys try to talk to me, like, ‘Oh, how old are you? What’s your name? You look so pretty,’ and when you deny them, they start calling you out and get angry,” said one young woman, May, just 13. “I get scared because they are a lot older than me. It makes me feel uncomfortable. I don’t even like to walk out because guys ask me weird questions. It’s just very uncomfortable.”

 

The fact that sexual harassment begins for women at such an early age should be a wakeup call for people who do not believe it to be a big issue.

 

Maya Tutton, 22, says that her first experience of street harassment was when she was still at school, recalling: "I remember one particular incident when I was 14 and several men pulled up next to me with two friends and they made some of the most sexually threatening comments I had heard in my life.”

"And I remember just being so scared and never feeling the same way in public spaces again."

 

These cases are a highlight into the reality of the world we live in. Women and young women alike must face constant harassment in their daily lives. This should be deemed as unacceptable and there should be federal laws put into place that require schools to speak about these topics to educate students and bring awareness to this social issue to everyone. Talking about this issue will help solve it showing people that it is not okay to act this way and to treat others in this manner.

 

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