“Hey Baby, Lookin’ Good!”

And Other “Creative” Catcalls.

Story by Jennifer Sandy

I was at the gym today: I hopped off the elliptical and made my way over to the ab machine with my ear buds in but no music playing. I walked past a group of guys who were curling weights in front of a mirror, and as I walked by, the eyes of a man in the group followed me.

He turned to me and said, “Hey, sexy, why don’t you come over here and get sweaty with me?” It takes a lot to stop me in my tracks, but that comment did. Because, ew. But, not thrown for too long, I used the fact that I had ear buds in my ears to pretend I didn’t hear him, and continued my work out.

Eventually, after making some comments that I didn’t hear because I was busy on the ab machine working out to Royal Teeth’s “Wild,” and after receiving a few high fives, he went back to admiring himself in the mirror.

After I was done, I went to the women’s locker room to get my gym bag. Cat Call Guy and his friends were conveniently waiting near the entrance, and were still there when I walked out. None of them said anything, but as I walked to my car, I noticed they were right behind me.

Sadly, this isn’t the first time something similar has happened to me. I’ve been followed to my car twice before. Once, by a man at the mall when I was 18, and then again in the spring of 2014 by a guy at school(the public safety officer I reported it to at my school’s police department actually had the gall to say, “Well, you’re a pretty girl. He was probably hitting on you.” As if that was an excuse. But that’s a story for another day) So, with my mace in hand, I turned around to face them. I wanted them to know that I saw them and I wasn’t going to lead them to my car, which is what I’ve read you’re supposed to do in situations like this. When I turned around, I stood there, staring them down for a split second before Cat Call Guy was like “Dudes, I think our car is this way.” And I watched them as they made their way to a car on the opposite end of the parking lot. I didn’t move until I saw them drive away and was sure they were gone.

I, like any other woman in the world, have been catcalled at, whistled at, and called really ugly names by people (men, usually) under the false pretense that they were giving me compliments. News flash: Women are not dogs. We do not appreciate being whistled at. We do not appreciate being called “sexy,” “baby girl,” or being told to “let me see what’s under that skirt of yours” by strangers when we’re walking down the street minding our own business. We want being talked to and treated like actual human beings. Novel concept, right?

Serious question: Has any guy (or girl, for that matter) who has ever saw a pretty girl walking down the street and whistled at her, or called her “sexy” or whatever new and inventive adjectives people who do things like this come up with, ever gotten any kind of a positive response? Has anyone who has cat called at someone ever had the person they were cat calling at be like “Oh my god, I’m so attracted to you. The way you whistled at me like a dog just makes me melt. Here’s my number.”?…..Anyone?….Anyone at all?

So, what’s the point? I’m going to venture to say very, very few people actually respond to being hit on in this way. If it doesn’t have the desired result of the person who’s doing it — why keep doing it?

It’s not about looks. I was dripping sweat after my work out today, my hair was a mess and I probably didn’t smell the greatest. This is about power. The power to instill fear, the power to instill humiliation, the power of reminding someone that even when they are doing something completely for themselves, like working out, they are still fair game to be judged. Reminding someone that they are not a person, but a sexual object in the eyes of some others.

It’s sickening. It’s revolting. And it’s sad that people all over the world endure it daily.

Take it from me, if you have catcalled before, the next time you get the urge to demean someone, take a look in the mirror. Attempt to strip yourself of your humanity.

Hard isn’t it? But that’s exactly what’s being done when you catcall at a stranger.

If you want to demean people, don’t. That’s just rude. If you want a date, you should try this new thing called actually talking to that person and treating them like, well, a person. Try going up to them, introducing yourself, and asking them a question about themselves.

Try it. You might like it.