How common is catcalling? [View All]

Diary of a Catcall Hater

By Kimberly Klinger
Posted: June 21, 2007

I get harassed on an almost-daily basis. It’s crazy, unbelievable, utter crap to think that a good chunk of my time out in the world is spent dodging unwanted comments. But it’s true. To prove it, I’ve kept a log. What follows is just some of the harassment I’ve encountered within the last 6 or so months. It’s not at all comprehensive. And I’m only one woman—if all the women in this city wrote their own diaries of harassment, we’d run out of paper to print them.

Of course, I did have peaceful stretches of days where nobody bothered me, usually in winter when people are quicker to get off the streets and when we women are covering up our shameful bodies. Not that doing that really stops anyone—there are still quite a few instances of harassment in cold months. Read on and feel the love:

Nov. 7, 2006

While walking the block from home to my car, I was harassed not once, not twice, but three times. It’s dark, raining, and cold, and I’m wearing jeans, a sweater, a hat and under an umbrella. The first time is the worst. They are uncharacteristically gross; I think one guy says he has “a big one for (me).” The rest are your basic “Hey, sexy, hey, baby.”

Nov. 15, 2006

Walking to car, just a quick block. Wearing jeans, sneaks, shirt with some cleavage, sweater. Guy lunges at me. “Good morning, how are you <unintelligible comments about me and my looks>, do you need a ride?” I stop and turn around, stare directly at him and after a beat, sarcastically say, “Yeah, let me get in your car with you right now. That’s a good idea.” He says something else, which I couldn’t understand, but he also looks confused and pretty much backs off…

Also, is about my dad’s age. Gross....


http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/display.php?id=1855


The diary goes on to take note of seven months of experiences like these in which strangers leer and drool, make passes and toss off lewd comments. Being male, this is not in the realm of my experience--neither as a receiver or a perp. Though I have witnessed catcalling of women on the street, it's not all that common in my neighborhood.

So how common is it among women at DU? And among the men of DU, have you been catcalled? Is anyone willing to admit to being a perpetrator? How do you deal with it?