Women who overreact about catcalling and think it precedes abduction or rape...

I came across this on my Facebook. I know, I know...keep the stupid shite on other social media.

However, this was so ridiculous that I needed to see if I was just being cynical about the matter.

I couldn't believe how someone could panic so much about a matter as mundane as this. Now, perhaps I don't know the young woman's entire story. Maybe she was once nearly abducted or has been sexually assaulted. Perhaps, that could explain her skittish behavior. Still, I'm not ruling out the possibility that she just thinks that most males have malevolent intentions.

For the record, I despise catcalling and I think there are much more clever ways to get a woman's attention or flirt with her. Even so, I don't view it as some abhorrent action that is on par with someone uttering a derogatory word or phrase.

quote:

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I'm sitting on a bench on my university's campus, where I feel relatively safe. A few joggers have passed by.

I left my apartment about 20 minutes ago for a bike ride. As I turned out of the parking lot of my apartment complex, a gold sedan rounding the opposite corner came to an abrupt stop.

I remained stationary atop my bike, waiting to cross the street. The driver of the gold car rolled down his window. "HEY!"

I looked the other direction and hoped he wasn't speaking to me.

"HEY! HEY!"

Yep. Definitely directed at me.

Not engaging was proving futile. He hadn't moved his car. I couldn't cross the street. If I did I felt sure he would continue shouting and likely follow me (he was going the same direction I intended to go).

"HEY!"

I took a sharp right. There was lots of shrubbery ahead, and I hoped he wouldn't turn his car around to attempt pursuit.

I peddled away, my back to him, and heard one last "HEY!"

I had no idea that 1 word, repeated 5 times, could evoke the reaction it did within me. I was glad my cap and sunglasses masked my tears.

This was not an isolated incident. For instance on Tuesday, over the course of a 30 min period, two men yelled at me from their passing vehicles as I jogged in the park; there were plenty of pedestrians around.

To men: I guarantee that 99% of all women you know have experienced something similar on at least one occasion. I dare you to ask them about it and hear what they have to say.

Everyone: So please, tell your friends, your brothers, your fathers: catcalling isn't ok. Perhaps the man in the gold car had good intentions (doubtful, but possible). To me he was a male stranger in a car, yelling at me - a small female on a bicycle. I felt threatened, and I remain shaken, but I will continue to ride my bike.

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