Would you feel threatened by someone wolf whistling at you?

[Passivhaus]

Would this scare you or intimidate you?

Threatened? No

Intimidated, objectified, insulted - yes.

It’s vile and any man who does it is a misogynistic wanker.

No. I'd be flattered.

Delighted to be the recipient of uninvited salacious male attention that 95% of women clearly feel is inappropriate, and is outright threatening in some circumstances?
Goodness me. I can't imagine needing make validation that much tbh.

Absolutely. It’s a power thing. Unpleasant.

I wish it were illegal, I always hated it. I might not feel specifically worried it will escalate at that moment if it is a busy place/time, but it is a reminder that you always have to be on your guard.

Only misogynistic twats whistle at women. Is any woman really comfortable in the presence of misogynistic twats?

Now I am 50 it obvs doesn't happen anymore, which I am delighted about. I found it emarassing at best. For me it started really early as well because by 12 I was tall and well developed. As a 12 year old I just didn't know how to handle it and I didn't feel confident to challenge it. It was horrible and very intimidating. When men do it to children who are clearly children in school uniform it should be acted upon.

Threatened no, harassed yes. It's not flattery IMO, its men intimidating women and girls.

Not during the day. It never bothered me, I quite liked it. But it would, as other posters have said, bother me at night etc.

I'd have serious concerns about their eyesight and judgement.

It would vary between irritated, uncomfortable and threatened, depending on the whistler(s) and the circumstances.

I used to find it intimidating when I was a teenager, and it contributed to me not wearing a vest t-shirt in public until I was about 22 (and more confident in myself).

It's sexual harassment and I'd be happy to see it made illegal.

Yes, it always made me jump as it shakes you out of your thoughts. It never seemed flattering as there was a prescribed reaction, which was to smile delightedly. Any distancing from this script would often result in a volley of comments, such as miserable cow, only having a laugh, smile it might never happen etc, etc.

No-one should be enforcing anyone else to behave in a certain way just to please them. It's generally done to young women and girls because they're more likely to comply. Older women are less easily intimidated. When I remember being whistled at it doesn't recall a pleasurable experience, it reminds me of being shocked, like when someone jumps out at you to scare you 'for a laugh' 🙄.

No

No I wouldn't at all, used to give me a lift back in the day. Illegal - what a load of tosh.

The biggest thing for me is that it interrupts whatever you were doing. I just want to go about my business unimpeded.

All misogyny is an attempt to stop women living their lives with autonomy. It happens in relationships a lot too. Coming up from behind to grope at the kitchen sink. Something I asked DH to stop doing was blocking my path when he wanted a hug. It sounds really mean, but I would be in the middle of doing something. I don't think many men have to put up with those physical blocks and entitlement of others to 'use' their bodies.

There are so many small things that are 'harmless' that impede us in our daily lives.

Illegal??

Happens to me daily at work. Good luck making that illegal.

How embarrassing. Why did men whistling at you like a dog in the street give you a lift? Where were you emotionally that you thought that was lifting you?

Other people are allowed to think differently you know...

In a better place than your rude, nasty and condescending comment puts me.

When I was in my teens I did. I knew I was being judged while I was out in public minding and my own business and I didn't like that.
I still see it happen to very young girls who are about 11 or 12 and that gives me the rage! How bloody dare they make a child uncomfortable in a public space.

Whistling at women in the street is rude, nasty and condescending.

DramaAlpaca ·
Intimidated or scared, probably not. Pissed off at being harrassed, yes.

Absolutely pissed off yeah. Would call him/them on it but only if it was obvious it was for me!

I’m genuinely asking. You considered public harassment from men a ‘lift’ and scorned women who would like it to be illegal to be harassed in public, calling it a ‘load of tosh.’ Don’t you feel that’s nasty and condescending? To imply that because you personally enjoyed male harassment that women are basically idiots for not wanting it?

Yup.

I remember once, mid summer about 1.30 and I walked passed a pub having building work to go to Sainsbury's local opposite, because it was a really busy road I used the pedestrian crossing and a couple of the work men whistled and cat called me, because I wanted to avoid it happening again, because I'd felt humiliated and intimated, I used the delivery entrance to leave and walked a longer route back to my car.

Which then reminds me, when I moaned to DH about it later he told me that they actually have policies on construction sites about this now. So if it happens and it's a big firm you can call their head office and the staff will be spoken to/disciplined.

He's had to speak to one of his sub contractors because of it.

So if it happens and you hate it, in that situation you can have it dealt with.

To the question, I feel intimidated if it's caught me a more heightened moment. So if I'm in a great mood and having a good day, I can ignore. If I'm not ... Intimidated.

No, I couldn't care less, and I certainly wouldn't feel threatened!!! I don't understand how some people function in life