Ignored Harrassment

Kaliana Hutiu, Writer

The worst part about leaving the house as a person, particularly female, is not whether or not you might be late for school/work or if you are going to be attacked by a butterfly, but rather the discriminating calls from that random lurker across the street. Catcalling is verbal sexual harassment which undermines the value of a person, simply because another couldn’t control themselves. C was one of the victims to catcalling.

“I was catcalled by random bystanders during a vacation with my family, some other close relatives, and family friends,” she said.

C had been out with four friends when two cyclists passed by, whistling and yelling a them to raise their shirts and expose their breasts. They had all been wearing a loose fitting shirt with shorts to combat the summer heat.

“I was a thirteen year old girl,” C said. “There was so many questions running through my head. I wasn’t sure how to react; we all just watched them disappear down the street.”

Questions remain, unfortunately:

  • Why would someone harass others in such a provocative way?
  • Who is going to take the blame?
  • How often do others get catcalled?
  • If you ever catcalled someone, what made you do it? Do you regret it?
  • How can we stop this?
  • Has a guy ever been catcalled?