Wolf-whistling and cat-calling might become crimes

[House of Tea]

A young woman in France got attacked when she retaliated at a cat caller. It is now a criminal offence to sexually harass/catcall in France. It is nothing to do with having no sense of humour, it’s about power and women being viewed as bits of meat, just there for men’s entertainment. It starts when women are very young.

Uproar in France over video of woman hit by harasser in Paris street

Video of attack on Marie Laguerre after she responded to sexual harassment goes viral

www.theguardian.com

 

[hypoharpy]

It's not just sexual jibes. I've had things like 'fat witch' called at me from a car or van many times. It's always at least 2 men - they like looking big in front on each other. I bet if you saw them on the street on their own they wouldn't say a word. Cowards.

 

[Begborrowsteal]

It's not just sexual jibes. I've had things like 'fat witch' called at me from a car or van many times. It's always at least 2 men - they like looking big in front on each other. I bet if you saw them on the street on their own they wouldn't say a word. Cowards.

Ive had it so many times, its horrible and reduced me to tears a few times.

 

[no-no]

I don’t mind a quick wolf whistle when you’re walking past somewhere. I find being told to smile worse. But certain Neanderthals in groups who get a kick out of trying to make (usually lone) women squirm are awful.

 

[MaineCoonMama]

Why is it always a car full of unattractive men judging and commenting on a woman/girls looks? Like the last woman who touched them was probably just cutting their hair anyway. Arrogant fucks.

 

[Phoenix Lazarus]

Some years ago I worked in an office block opposite a girls school. A hotel was being built beside the school. I could see from my window that every day at school home time the men up on the scaffolding would stop work and just gawp at the school girls walking past below (the girls would be totally unaware because they were in ground level).
It made me feel physically sick to think some of these men have daughters/ sisters/ wives/girlfriends. It's like it's ingrained behaviour in men.
It was such a horribly creepy thing to witness. I actually called the number of the scaffolding company (they had a banner hanging off the scaffolding) and reported it but the woman on the other end of the phone sounded non plussed. No reaction at all just said she'll pass that on. Needless to say they continued to down tools each day. My desk faced the window and so I couldnt help but see this each day. In the end it I couldn't deal with it so I requested a move to another desk.

To be fair, from what you say the men weren't actually shouting things out and the girls weren't intimidated or even aware of their scrutiny.

 

[Melian]

To be fair, from what you say the men weren't actually shouting things out and the girls weren't intimidated or even aware of their scrutiny.

That makes it ok?

 

[House of Tea]

To be fair, from what you say the men weren't actually shouting things out and the girls weren't intimidated or even aware of their scrutiny.

Grown men gawping at schoolgirls? But to be fair, they weren’t actually shouting things out. It is gross and creepy. And they should not be doing it.

 

[Begborrowsteal]

If I saw grown men gawping at school girls, I would absolutely report it to at least the company. Creepy as duck.

 

[Rodneytrotter]

Im all for this! I went to a girls school and the amount of harassment I got walking to and from school was awful.

At home time men used to slow down to drive past the school and beep and shout things.

Everyone has the right to walk from A to B without being harassed or having to take a longer route to avoid being harassed. Or having to mentally psych yourself up to walk past. Things like this can cause long term social anxiety.

Why does it always come back to 'it can happen to men too'? Why can we not just think about women for once without it coming back to the poor poor men. Or women being labelled as hysterical (ever seen a man crying at a football match ).

Sorry but this boils my blood I disclosed to my father this year that I had been sexually assaulted more than once and that there should be more support for women. he told me to get a grip as the police have more important (real) crimes to attend to.

 

[Bitofthebubbly]

To be fair, from what you say the men weren't actually shouting things out and the girls weren't intimidated or even aware of their scrutiny.

They are school children ffs, grown ass men need to keep their eyes to themselves and show some respect even from a distance.

There’s nothing fair about your comment. You’re basically saying it’s ok for men to perv on school girls as long as the girls aren’t aware of it. So creepy.

There have been issues in other countries with men sneaking into the ladies toilets and putting hidden cameras in the cubicles. By your logic of “the girls aren’t aware of it” this would be perfectly fine and dandy. Think about what you’re saying for goodness sake.

 

[LittleMy]

To be fair, from what you say the men weren't actually shouting things out and the girls weren't intimidated or even aware of their scrutiny.

I’m guessing you’re a man then. How can you not see how creepy that is?

 

[Norfolking Good]

When I was at secondary school I was a bit overweight and the amount of times I’d be in town with friends and a group of men in cars would slow down in the high st and shout fat witch or other delightful things at me was unreal. Bearing in mind we were probably 14-16 years old it gave me such a complex for years even though now in my late thirties I realise I was a size 14 at the time and that is not fat at all I was just stood with girls more petite.
I’m sure they thought they were being so funny shouting abuse at a child but it does effect you especially when you’re young.

 

[fastfairynnn]

Please for the love of god make it a crime. It's disgusting. Oftentimes it's so nuanced I imagine it will be very difficult to prove as a crime but still...something needs to change. I always think, imagine if it was a woman behaving like that towards me. I'd think she was bloody mad.

I can clearly remember being leered at by an Asian petrol station worker when I was 4. My mum was so upset, particularly as I responded positively to him. I came out saying, "I've made a new friend." She turned on me in the backseat very sternly and was like, "No, you have not." And she never took me in there again.

 

[Lalla]

The curse of being large breasted means that I have had complete strangers shouting 'get your tits out' at me since I was 12. Any time I was waiting at a bus stop when I was younger inevitably men would shout from their cars 'how much do you charge' to shouts of laughter As a teenager I never wore makeup, always dressed modestly (I was actually quite scared of men generally) and didn't look any older than my years. I remember on a trip to London my mum telling me once when we got off the tube some men were leering at me and how annoyed she was. I was 14.

I have appalling posture and round shoulders because of spending most of my life basically trying to conceal my boobs so as not to draw attention to myself.

My secondary school at the time adjourned a major A road (a bypass has since replaced it). We used to have to do cross country runs along the side of the road, in our bloody PE skirts, with van and lorry drivers constantly catcalling us and beeping their horns. Bloody horrible.

In later life, I gained weight, the catcalling stopped although not the abuse, it's now things like fat bleep/witch etc. Getting that yelled at you from a passing car in broad daylight as you're just walking down the road is disgusting.

I think laws like this are much needed. There are too many men who think they can behave as they please.

 

[Sea]

@Lalla massive hugs to you.
ETA and everyone else who has suffered, I've only read the last post.

 

[fastfairynnn]

To quote one of the ladies from the impact of sex work thread, the hatred for women is palpable in the UK

Why do they hate us so much? I'll never understand.

 

[AngryBird]

I could do a very long list - a lifetime of street harassment starting from age 11 onwards. Catcalls, bum being pinched while bending down to get things out of the car, followed through town multiple times, a creepy taxi driver propositioning me (I hid from him at night rather than go to my home) Men whispering swear words or what they'd like to do to me. I lost my school bus pass with photo ID and it ended up in a PRISON with a man writing a long letter to 14 yr old me wanting a relationship. That incident actually did get reported to Police and he got a warning. So many scary and offensive situations just going from A to B or home from school/uni/work. It means I am always watchful for safe routes, now I'm older I can take a car and I never ever walk certain places or parks alone. Women modify their behaviour all the time due to these disgusting harassing men. Having a phone and a camera would've made me feel safer back then. I reported nothing because it seemed petty or futile. It made me feel scared and sick. Other male friends never really understood? They didn't see it happening so didn't ever seem to be aware why we were wary or wanted an escort home after the pub or a gig. I hope something changes.

 

[Lalla]

Sorry to all of us who have been subjected to this (and worse) over the years. It really is awful. I really hope things can change.

 

[House of Tea]

Sorry to all of us who have been subjected to this (and worse) over the years. It really is awful. I really hope things can change.

I would say most women at some point or another have experienced this highly misogynistic behaviour. Go on the everyday sexism website. Actually don’t, it is too depressing.