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Original poster

To think that wolf whistling wasn't such a bad thing?

813 replies

NovemberMorn · 26/01/2025 13:41

Joanna Lumley has just given an interview in which she says..."I never minded wolf whistling, I always thought it was tremendous".

She also said... "I think we were a little bit tougher then. Somebody put their hand on your leg, you didn’t feel affronted and report it. You’d give them a slap.”

Do you think she is right?

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Kebabbky · 26/01/2025 13:55

No she isn’t right as far as I’m concerned. I would have considered myself tough in every other way but I use to hate having to walk past a building site or workmen in the street because of the wolf whistling and sexist banter that went with it.

Hercules12 · 26/01/2025 13:55

Hated it as a teenager/young woman. How on earth is it flattering?

TickingAlongNicely · 26/01/2025 13:54

Having thenickname "Tits" was definitely not one of thong that put me off pursuing engineering after University...

randomchap · 26/01/2025 13:53

This sort of thing just encourages dickheads to think it's acceptable.

RosesAndHellebores · 26/01/2025 13:52

I agree with Joanna Lumley. Women learnt how to handle themselves in a non threatening way. I found it flattering 45 years ago. After two whistles it turned into a cheery wave and a “have a good day darlin”.

ShagratandGorbag4ever · 26/01/2025 13:52

I don't agree with her, but then, I'm not a second rate actress and not dependent on male approval either professionally or personally.

Hammondquestion · 26/01/2025 13:51

Quite. I loved being groped, having my bum pinched, being sexually harassed in the street and objectified. Life was so much better when perverts were making derogatory comments on my appearance.

AlbertCamusflage · 26/01/2025 13:49

I disagree that "wolf whistling wasn't such a bad thing". It was part of the atmosphere of possession and entitlement that afflicted women who walked down any street. It was usually intended to wrongfoot and embarrass young women, not as a compliment

BUT I still reeeaaallly wish I could wolf whistle. I tried to learn , in my youth, but couldn't get hold of the knack. It seemed to be something - like cycling without holding the handlebars - that required testicles.

Tempted to learn the knack now and set up empowering women-only classes in wolf whistling while hands-free cycling.

thepariscrimefiles · 26/01/2025 13:46

Nope. Builders on building sites used to wolf whistle at school girls on their way to school. How on earth would that be OK?

verycloakanddaggers · 26/01/2025 13:46

Oh this old bollocks again, 'the world was much better when sexual harassment was acceptable'.

NormaleKartoffeln · 26/01/2025 13:43

No, I detested it.

Hoppinggreen · 26/01/2025 13:43

No I do not

FourEyesGood · 26/01/2025 13:43

YABU. Men need to stop objectifying women. Neither a wolf whistle nor an unwanted leg touch is OK.

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