Monserrat Pumarejo
Professor Megan Skelly
09/15/19
English
Why Catcalling is a Social Issue
“Hey! where are you going, can I talk to you sexy?”. This is just one prime example of the many comments women have to endure on an everyday basis. Before we can discuss the different forms of Street Harassments, it is first important to know what it is and why it’s a social issue. Street Harassment is a form of harassment, essentially sexual harassment that consist of unwanted gestures, comments and/or whistling. It is usually performed by strangers on the street, at shopping centers or on public transportation. In today’s society, we tend to normalize Street Harassment because it is something we can not always control. We can not really stop someone from being Catcalled and we can definitely not stop a person from actually doing the Catcalling. Giving someone a compliment is not a bad thing, it is just the way some men convey the message that often scares women. “You ain’t gay, you just haven’t had my d*** yet.” In this quote by The CatCalls of NYC the author Sophie tries to convey the message of how any woman can be harassed in the street. These types of comments are what make women afraid of being near a stranger. Most of the time women are actually flattered by comments but, they should never feel like they are being pressured to do something they do not feel comfortable doing. In other words Catcalling can make a woman feel degraded because of the comment being made about her appearance. The CatCalls of NYC gives a powerful tone because they’re purpose is to show the different type of derogatory terms that are thrown at women. They do this by using public chalk art, digital media and education. The author’s stance is opinionated because it seems like she has a lot to say about this issue. She has programmed anti-harassment workshops and has used her social media platform as a medium to get her message across. Often times men can make women feel overpowered this is why we rather not be alone when dealing with strangers. Have you ever noticed that women usually use the bathroom in groups? That is precisely why. Women should also be able to wear anything they want even if it is seen as “provocative” without being afraid that they are gonna be stared down or even objectified. Many women will avoid wearing certain outfits or crossing certain streets to avoid being catcalled or having attention drawn to them. In a Journal by Olatokunbo Olukemi Laniya the author writes about her own experiences with Street Harassment and how she felt because of it. “My body is no longer mine. On the street my body is theirs. I can define myself all I want, but in their eyes I am a body on the street.” (Laniya) The author’s purpose for this article is to inform people about the little changes that have been implemented to a woman everyday routine due to the Street Harassment itself. Her tone is somber while, her stance is frustrated with the situation because it is something that has happened to her constantly. Changing women’s daily routines and the way we do things may not be the best way to handle the situation however, it is often the only way besides ignoring the comments that we know how to go about it. Although, not all women are choosing to ignore it anymore, some women have found the courage to finally do something about it. In an interview, between Elizabeth Brookbank and Michelle a member of the Street Harassment Project, She uses the interview as a medium to tells us the ways in which women in New York City are confronting street harassment. Women in the Street Harassment Project have come up with cards that are given to men when they decide to Catcall or harass a women. This idea came from a lot of the smut shops that have created these types of cards with sexy images of women. The recreation of these cards themselves are an attempt to make these men realize that what they are doing is wrong and will hopefully stop them from doing it in the future. The hope is that by the time the men read the card they are too far away from the women to give a reaction, this way the problem is addressed in a way safer matter. Not only that but the Street Harassment Project Group has also created workshop committees, where they all meet up a few times a week and organize different ways that they can deal with Street Harassment. As well as informing students and young kids. Michelle’s targeted audience are men, many of which do not know the effects that Street Harassment has on women. Michelle brings to light that Catcalling can have unconscious, psychological effects on women to the point in which they will change normal routines from their everyday lives. “And when you start to do the littlest things, even wearing the over- sized coast as opposed to the one you wanted to wear, or whatever, it is really affecting you, whether you know it or not. A lot of that stems from Street Harassment, because the underlying theme of Street Harassment is violence.” (Brookbank) Proving that Street Harassment can in fact take a toll on someone’s everyday life. It will make you change the way you think and do things even if you are not purposefully acting this way. Michelle’s tone on this issue is serious and informative, she is trying to raise awareness and show the ways in which women are trying to confront this problem. Her purpose for this is to inform people about how important it is that we try and solve the social issue known as Street Harassment. She also does this so that other women will not feel alone when going through Street Harassment. This interview is a sort of outlet so that other women know this problem is universal and that they have options if they do not want to stay quiet about it. If one woman speaks up and tells her story, it will most likely give another woman a sense of confidence to speak her truth as well. This way it will be like a chain reaction and everyone could work together towards a change. The author’s stance is very passionate, she really cares about the issue she is speaking upon. This is because it has a personal effect on her as well since, She has gone through Street Harassment herself. Street Harassment does not always have to be Catcalling or done verbally, this is something that can happen in many different forms and can happen in any location. First, we have the public transportation group, this is when you are taking the bus or the train to get wherever you need to go and someone gets really close to you on purpose so they can make physical contact with you. They do it in a way that it is subtle so that not many people pay mind to it. Usually women notice when it is being done to them but, it is often times brushed off because of them being afraid of what might happen to them if they do or say something about it. Women should not have to live in fear of what could happen to them for speaking up. Another instance of Street Harassment is when you are walking alone and someone is in a car and they roll the window down to Catcall. When you ignore it they proceed in doing it then maybe even decide to follow you around. This may sound extreme but, this really happens. Countless times women have had to deal with situations like this in which, they do not feel safe to even walk alone. Lastly, there is the Aggressive Catcaller this can happen to women anywhere, including the workplace. What this means is that this person will yell a compliment at you and if you do not give a reply back they will yell an insult at you. When this is done to a person it can really affect their self esteem. It can make a woman feel small, maybe even inferior to a man. In a newspaper article by The Guardian the author explains how CatCalling and grouping can be very serious. The author’s purpose for this article is to show the amount of women that have been affected by this social issue. The news article states “Of the 1,004 girls and young women aged between 14 and 21 they surveyed, 66% had experienced unwanted sexual attention, grabbing or groping, or indecent exposure. But 42% of them didn’t tell anyone. 33% said they were “too embarrassed” to open up, 28% didn’t think they’d be taken seriously, and 14% said they had kept quiet because they felt they were to blame.” This article has a serious tone and stance because it is portraying the stats of how many women really go through Street Harassment and stay quiet. This newspaper is used as a medium to show how Catcalling can lead to a bigger issue. How should we approach Street Harassment? Well, since we can not really control when it happens or who it happens to. It can be addressed, Street Harassment needs to be acknowledged as a social issue because if this problem is recognized we are one step closer to solving it. Students and young people can make a real difference, if they are informed and educated from an early age about how it can make a woman feel, they will most likely think twice before they do or say something. Another way is by helping each other out as women when encountering any of these problems. For example, If a woman is being cat called and she is obviously uncomfortable and will not say something maybe some else can for example a bystander. It does not just have to be women that can help each other out men can too. In the interview, Michelle brings that point up. She explains how even though they have gotten some negative and angry feedback from men, not all the responses from the men have been negative. “Yeah, that is really encouraging, that all men don’t automatically think that you’re out to get every man that walks by, but that there is an element of openness in the minds of some men regarding your group” (Brookbank) There is sometimes a misconception that women are trying to attack or talk badly about all men in the streets but that is not the case. Out of all the sources I used I feel that the Street Harassment Project was the most effective because it did not only speak about what women go through but it also spoke about what they are doing to change it. Unlike the other articles the interview explained how women only want the issue to not be ignored or brushed off anymore. It seems as though they are also trying to encourage men to take part in this project as well. Michelle tells the interviewer how they have even incorporated a section for men to put their personal experiences with Street Harassment. They speak out about things they have witnessed such as, strangers or even guy friends that try to harass women and how they have put a stop to it. On the whole it is important that Catcalling is recognized as a form of Sexual Harassment. It should no longer be normalized and/or permitted because it has a huge effect on the mental state of women everywhere. Men need to understand the psychological damage women are put through because of their words and actions. It can be a really scary thing to be Catcalled because it can lead you to fear of something bigger. Even if someone is just trying to compliment you it is the way in which they do it that ultimately affects you. Women should not have to feel that they are forced to do something they do not want to do. Street Harassment can really affect a woman’s ability to trust. Imagine what it feels like to live in fear when walking down the streets alone? Or feeling like you need to be on the phone so that no one will try and Catcall you. This sounds very intense but it is what many women and girls have to go through on an everyday basis. Think about what it must feel like going through that maybe even more than once a day. Having to go another route to avoid being Catcalled is stressful and would not have to happen anymore if everyone is taught and spoken to about Street Harassment. Working together as a community and acknowledging Street Harassment as a Social problem can help to stop it from happening so often.
Work cited
“Catcalls of NYC.” Catcalls of NYC, https://www.catcallsofnyc.com/.
Shibboleth Authentication Request, https://go-gale-com.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=T002&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=SingleTab&searchType=AdvancedSearchForm¤tPosition&docId=GALE|A132679221&docType=Article&sort=Relevance&contentSegment=ZONE-MOD1&prodId=AONE&contentSet=GALE|A132679221&searchId=R5&userGroupName=cuny_ccny&inPS=true.
Shibboleth Authentication Request, https://go-gale-com.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/ps/retrieve.do?tabID=T004&resultListType=RESULT_LIST&searchResultsType=SingleTab&searchType=BasicSearchForm¤tPosition&docId=GALE|A584285008&docType=Article&sort=Relevance&contentSegment=ZONE-MOD1&prodId=AONE&contentSet=GALE|A584285008&searchId=R8&userGroupName=cuny_ccny&inPS=true.
Talking Back: Women in NYC confront street harassment. Off Our Backs. 2002;32(9/10):20. https://search-ebscohost-com.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=7435777&site=ehost-live. Accessed September 23, 2019.
Talking Back: Women in NYC confront street harassment. Off Our Backs. 2002;32(9/10):20. https://search-ebscohost-com.ccny-proxy1.libr.ccny.cuny.edu/login.aspx?direct=true&db=a9h&AN=7435777&site=ehost-live. Accessed September 23, 2019.
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