To think it ridiculous that wolf-whistling could become a criminal offence?

[Grag]

www.guardian.co.uk/society/2012/mar/08/sexist-comments-to-become-criminal-offence

This is stupid IMO. I don't want to live in a society where men are afraid to approach or talk to women for fear of being arrested.

It's good to see that plenty of Guardian readers agree that it is ridiculous.

It's scary to me that we seem to be becoming a more and more repressive country as regards to human contact and communication. I don't understand the purpose of it.

Sorry but yes, I do think the Police and courts should make time for sexual harrassment.

Delighted to hear it.

Unwanted attention makes me Very Angry. I have been informed that I ought to be grateful, that because I am "a very pretty girl" it should be expected. FGS I'm a nearly-35 year old mother of 3. Not a girl at all.

I challenge it every time, and generally get treated as a human being now. Mostly.

This law is not intended to cover wolf whistling or builders calling out as women pass by. It is intended to deal with serious issues such as forced marriage, stalking and genital mutilation

The thread title is misleading and the debate rather pointless as wolf whistling is not going to become a criminal offence in itself.

I don't understand the defence of it all.

If someone likes you, wants to make a contact then why not just smile, say 'hi', "how are you today?"

No need for lewd comments about tits and arses.

The headline seems exaggerated but if not how on earth would a wolf whistle be hunted down and the offender taken to court. The people that do it are usually up in the air on scaffold, and would surely all shrug and deny.

FWIW I don't really mind it, but on one mortifying occasion I turned round and the cheeky fucker said "nah, not you love". Now he should swing

It's insanely rude to comment on a strangers appearance. I just don't see how anyone doesn't get this.

You'd tell your child off for commenting on the size of someones ears, nose, breasts or weight. Why on earth is it ok for an adult to do so?

Wolf-whistling is clearly not going to become a criminal offence.

Can't say I would be weeping into my tea if it did though - it's not like it particularly adds anything to society or to the lives of women generally, is it?

im glad its not. Bloody newspapers sensationalising and exaggerating things is so annoying

I think it should be a criminal offence when directed towards under age girls.

My DD's, all girl school is by a regeneration area and the head has had to visit the manager to have the behaviour of grown men, not teenage/young men, towards the girls, even the first year (11 year olds) when they were doing ouside sports.

"Can't say I would be weeping into my tea if it did though - it's not like it particularly adds anything to society or to the lives of women generally, is it?"

Yes, this.

Do people seriously think it's intended as a compliment...really?

Birdsgottafly - that is seriously creepy. Yuck.

I think it sounds good.

If women (or men) like the attention then clearly they won't report it.

However it will mean that men (and it is usually men) think twice before directing obscene, offensive or sexual remarks at women and girls (and let's face it, it's usually young women and girls).

So good.

Of course it should be against the law to shout to eg a 14 year old that you want her to suck your cock etc etc

if it's not ok to shout 'suck my cock at a 14 year old' hen it's not ok to shout it at a 41 year old or an 82 year old. since when did someone's age make offensive coments less offensive?

I am much better able to deal with that sort of thing now than I was at 14. I suspect that the sort of men who do this know that, as they seem to target younger women and especially schoolgirls much more frequently. IME anyway. I think that they know that a schoolgirl is unlikely to have a "good" comeback or call the police.

I do think age is relevant anyway. Surely most people would agree that making sexually explicit comments to an underage child is worse than to an adult? That's why there are laws about eg sexual content in films for different ages.

Of course it is wrong to do this to people at any age which is where this law might help (but I doubt it).

Of course it's not ok to sout "suck my cock" at anyone, but it is clearly worse to shout it at an underage girl.

A wolf whistle isn't the same as shouting "suck my cock", but is still sexual in nature so is therefore clearly wrong when shouted at someone underage.

Whether or not a wolf whislte is wrong full stop depends, IMHO, on the context (a cheery one off or a sustained barrage clearly meant to intimidate) and the reciever. Which is why the fact this law doesn't outlaw it per se (making the thread a bit of a non starter) but does raise awareness, cover harrasment and serious issues of violence against women which is clearly a good thing.

"Of course it's not ok to sout "suck my cock" at anyone, but it is clearly worse to shout it at an underage girl"

why is it worse?

You can't see why shouting something like that at a 14 yo, a 10yo, a 7yo is worse than shouting it at a 40yo?

I don't think people should be shouting this stuff full stop, but our society in general accepts the idea that there are things that children should not be exposed to. That's why the watershed is there on the telly, that sort of thing.

"This is stupid IMO. I don't want to live in a society where men are afraid to approach or talk to women for fear of being arrested"

How does whistling at a women constitute approaching her or talking to her? Whistling is a convenient way of attracting her attention without bothering with the inconvenience of politeness and speech. It's also a pretty good way of indicating to your peers that you are red-blooded male with his libido intact (whether or not that is true). Whoop de doo

Couldn't give a stuff it's made illegal - a bit pointless while there are neanderthals around who think wolf-whistling is a reasonable way of 'talking' to women.

Wolf whistling is not intended to be covered by the law so the thread title is a inaccurate.

I dislike wolf whistling, comments etc because I am not the public property of any male who thinks he has a right to comment on my physical appearence, sexual attractiveness etc. The truth is that most of the time this behaviour is, at least in part, about showing off to their mates by perving, rather than any indication of any real interest in the woman in question. Why should a women be made to feel uncomfortable in public so some bloke can impress his mates.

why is it worse?

What SQ said

We afford extra protections to children and rightly so.

When I was young and nervous I used regularly to walk an extra mile to work to avoid a troupe of gorillas men who were working on a building site. One of their 'scouts' would catch sight of me (or any lone female) approaching and they would stop work and watch. And then the whistles and comments and laughs would start. And carry on in a barrage until I had walked past. I used to get to work blushing and nearly in tears. Undoubtedly I should have grown a thicker skin but it would have been lovely to be able to report them to the police and watch them squirm.

When I got a bit braver I'd shout back - but that added fuel to the fire.

Now I'd happily ignore them. But thankfully middle-aged women are safe.

PEOPLE REQUIRED TO GROW THE FUCK UP - SHOCKER!

Seriously. Jesus wept. I have very low self esteem, but even I can't imagine viewing crass, leering, sexual comments from strangers as a valid and reassuring source of praise.

Well exactly hopkin.

These men aren't interested in you - they are just exerting their right to sexualize you and objectify you as you go about your daily business. It is all about men being able to infringe on women's civil liberties and freedom to walk the streets as humans.

No need for lewd comments about tits and arses.

I agree, builders have suffered negative comments about their arses for too long.

MrGin - then they should pull their bloody trousers up and buy a belt!