wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

Comments

• [1] M. L. from Brooklyn August 24, 2007 - 10:52AM

  I was walking down 42nd, 41st St. once in Midtown Manhattan. Three men, maybe taking a break from work, were sitting in the loading dock of a building, observing passersby. They were "judging" all the women who walked by, holding up numbers written on cardboard. I was so bothered by what they were doing that I stopped and asked them what they were doing. I kept the tone light, the men seemed a little embarrassed, and they subsequently judged my personality a "10."

  I still feel humiliated by what happened and wish I could have called them out on their behavior instead of treating it like a big joke. Maybe if I got the same attention for my intelligence or talents or accomplishments, I wouldn't have minded. But when guys judge me on the street, I feel objectified--my self-esteem reduced solely to my sex.

  
  
• [2] jb from manhattan August 24, 2007 - 10:52AM

  i am a man... but i have to agree that this is a ridiculous problem

  The caller on the air right now is ignorant and is adding fuel to the fire. Men stare and say rude things, which many women will take as a threat, regardless of i a women is wearing a swimsuit or a potato-sack dress.

  my main comment is that this is a problem being proliferated by mostly black men, and a an urban culture (especially in New York) that is completely disrespectful. My wife, and I have both lived in several other cities and never seen this to this extent.

  no matter where my wife goes, even at work, she is constantly under fire from (especially black men) who are so rude to say whatever the hell they want to say to anyone. she notes almost every man passing her on the street at starring at her crotch.

  my wife is of an african descent and i am mostly european/white... you can imagine this makes it even worse, and we even get this when we are together. I stare them in the face as we walk by and they just look completely clueless to what they are doing like it is their right and they have nothing better to do or say.

  
  
• [3] Amy from midtown August 24, 2007 - 10:52AM

  Cat calling is the most frustrating part of being an attractive woman in the city!!

  If i am going on a date, and i am dressing a certain way for THAT date and THAT person. becuase its the nature of manhattan, i can't help who else sees me or ASSUMES i want attention.

  I've thought about leaving manhattan solely because I could no longer handle the men in this city.

  
  
• [4] Brian from Crown Heights, Brooklyn August 24, 2007 - 10:54AM

  Cat-calling makes me embarrassed to be a man. I've never heard a cat-call that seemed respectful in any way to the women it was directed at. Aggressive, ridiculous, unacceptable.

  
  
• [5] Paul Treacy from Manhattan August 24, 2007 - 10:56AM

  My wife was walking home from work recently and was cat called. She was somewhat taken aback and quite unsettled by it.

  I think, quite frankly, that it's pathetic, immature and predatorial behavior. How would these idiots like it if their little sisters or spouses were treated like this?

  It makes me furious and embarrassed for my gender.

  
  
• [6] Taryn Nihei from Jersey City, NJ August 24, 2007 - 10:57AM

  I agree with your panelists. I am concerned by a comment made by your previous caller 'Shane' who said "obviously she is looking for attention". Why do we focus so much on how women dress to read into the sort of attention she is seeking? More importantly, how does that entitle a man -- a complete stranger -- to make lewd comments towards a woman on the street?

  On an extreme level, I recall the movie 'The Accused' with Jodie Foster, based on a real incident. When this case came to court, the argument in defense of the accused was 'she was dressed for it'. How does anyone's attire entitle anyone to invade anyone's space?

  
  
• [7] Robert from NYC August 24, 2007 - 10:58AM

  I like the approach Anne Bancroft took in "A Torch Song Trilogy" when she got really disgusting cat calls from construction workers on a site she was passing. Rent the movie and see it, to describe it would do it no justice. But this is a serious problem and couldn't even imagine how any woman feels who undergoes this horrible experience.

  
  
• [8] Ann Romanovsky from NJ August 24, 2007 - 11:01AM

  The response by Shane abut women dressing provocatively "looking for attention" is an excuse. Males cat call women constantly without regard to clothing. It's done to intimidate, demean and bully. There is no excuse for it.

  
  
• [9] TM August 24, 2007 - 11:01AM

  What makes me laugh hysterically is the men who defend this behavior, particularly by talking as if saying "Mami mami mami mm mm mm" or "Ooh Baby I'd smack dat" is no different from saying "Good morning, Ma'am, you are looking particularly lovely today." They not the same, and claiming that is disingenuous. If the second is what you want to say, then say that instead of "Oooh Mami."

  The other excuse that cracks me up is that women are somehow asking for this, especially through their dress.

  The first time I ever got catcalled, I was eleven years old and wearing sweats-- and I wasn't particularly "over-developed" for eleven. How "hot and ready for it" could I have possibly looked at eleven in sweats? For the past thirty years, I have been catcalled in sweats, in scrubs, in suits, in shorts, and covered from my neck to my toes. It doesan't matter, and most women I know will confirm this.

  
  
• [10] b from nyc August 24, 2007 - 11:02AM

  cat calls are just part of living in a big city

  there are too many people cramped together and they start to act weird

  this is also an individual problem - the same men that cat-call are the same men that have no manners - certainly no personal control

  at the same time - if you were skimpy clothes you should expect it

  this is never going to go away - this is a matter of culture and class

  some people just don't have it

  
  
• [11] b from nyc August 24, 2007 - 11:08AM

  how can you not think that showing extreme cleavage is not going to attract negative attention - i have a large bust and i learned at a young age that you must be aware of your appearance

  if you dress provocatively then you will get attention - that is a fact

  you can not choose who is attracted to you - you can't just expect the people you want to like you to respond, you will always get some undesired responses

  let's not be naive - how you dress is important

  it is how you represent yourself

  
  
• [12] Denice from Brooklyn August 24, 2007 - 11:11AM

  This is a topic that makes me livid. I've spoken at length with my boyfriend about this everyday harassment that women experience but I think it's difficult for men to understand the depth of shame, embarrassment, and disgust women feel when faced with these encounters.

  Just yesterday a truck driver was trying to get the attention of either me or the other two 20-somethings walking together down Vanderbilt Ave in Brooklyn. None of us turned to see who he was talking to and the two girls walking just behind me began to discuss his unwanted advances.

  There was a split second in which I was going to turn and speak to less likely incidents like that would be if women could muster a united response, like if the three of us had turned around and let him know what we really thought of his "people skills". But the moment passed and I let it go. I'm glad to hear there are other women who feel the same way I do and next time I hope to have the nerve to start a dialog around this enraging behavior.