to find excuses to walk past the builders working down the road because i'm secretly flattered by them whistling at me?

[mumofbumblebea]

and they are not even good looking?
I have self-esteem issues, don't I?

Oh of course I'm jealous

I used to get lots of toots and whistles. Not so much now. Can't decide if it's because I'm no longer a young svelte thing or whether political correctness has well and truly kicked in.

I agonise over stuff like this. I totally agree with the idea that it can be intimidating, women as objects etc...

... but on the flip side, I'm feeling tired and frumpy and blah at the moment and yesterday in store and elderly gentleman serenaded me (quote: "I always sing to beautiful ladies") and dear god did it make me feel like life might be worth living after all!

the building site I pass every day is in the grounds of Ds's nursery school so I don't think they'd dare say much, but we have to walk right underneath it every day...it's hard enough getting dressed to fit in with the yummy mummies without having to worry about the builders as well in this heat!

Aye. It was vile and offensive when I was in my 20s.

These days it makes my day :)

Although surely no judge in the land can touch me for murdering anybody who utters the words 'cheer up love, it might never happen'.

Maisy - It's in the code of practice for workers on sites run by the larger companies that they can't harass passing females, along with the health and safety stuff, and apparently they have to sign to say they accept this.

Suppose they could be sacked if anyone complained, and they aren't going to take the risk when construction jobs are thin on the ground.

I'm sure they are still stunned by your pulchritudinousness, though

I think YABU, as I hate that kind of attention.

Was useful to me once though. When I first started going out with DH I got dressed for work and put on a skirt I usually wore with tights as it was quite short. It was a warm day so I asked DH (then DP, obv) if it was too short and he said, oh no, I like it etc.

Anyway, approaching work I went past a building site and the builders actually put down their spades and tools etc and started nudging each other and basically all stood in a line and gawped at me as I went past.

I went straight into the nearest Tesco and bought some tights

And I've never asked for DH's opinion on skirt length again.

How often do you see women smile when this happens - particularly young women?

All the time... most women dont take offence at a wolf whistle..

You see when I'm with my small children and get whistled at it really doesn't make me smile - it doesn't flatter me or make me think 'oooh I must look hot today'

And I guess I'm not the only one who thinks that hence it being banned on many building sites.

I do find it utterly bizarre that women find it flattering I really do. I mean I think its far nicer if another woman says 'oh you look nice today' than some random bloke whistling at me.

Honestly I do think that is really sad op, you do realise that they will whistle and beep at ANYONE, it's no reflection on how good looking you are.

And some of us don't appreciate being whistled/beeped/stared at just for being female.

So yes yabu.

Wow. I hate getting comments. I cannot imagine for the life of me wanting to go out of my way to pass a building site in order to get comments/whistles.

With MrsCampbellBlack and lalaland3008 on this one. Not jealous, not past it, just don't get why I would be expected to feel grateful/happy/special because a complete stranger decides to impose that sort of 'attention' on me when I don't want it or seek it.

And I so agree with MrsCampbell, it is completely possible to show someone some attention or pay a compliment without shouting and whistling. A bit of banter at the checkout in the supermarket is fine but don't shout at me just because I have a fanny, definitely not a compliment.

Someone tooted me the other day in a van but i bet when they came past they did this face when they realised i look like a wrinkly Keith Richards in a blonde wig from the front.

I sniggered to myself.

So you're a 1661, bringback

Completely torn about this one...

I'm an architect and visit building sites on a frequent basis.

I have been whistled / cheered / leered at when arriving or passing a site and it's quite funny to see the reaction as I start to put on safety hat, reflective vest, wellies etc.

Yes it can be intimidating when one is young and the 'whistler' is old / ugly / fat / aggressive.

Hate being whistled at....I don't know why. I think it just makes me feel a bit...like it's pointless. I'm not going to see them again- why are they letting me know this?>
Yes, overanalysis, here I come...

I like smiles, why can't we have smiles!

It's not a good thing to get whistled at. It's sexually controlling. I hope you can find other ways to feel attractive that are not based on the entitled noises of aggressive, sexist strangers.

YANBU op if that is what makes your day

I always walk the opposite way to a building, try my best to sneak passed unnoticed. I HATE any attention from groups of men.

The other day I was paying for some shopping in tesco and a 20 something lad served me (a mere child [embarrassed]) - he winked at me and gave me a handful of extra vouchers

I blushed and hurried off. My first bit of action in years [sad old cow emoticon]

Well, I mean, I don't know. Last week I was riding my bike on the sidewalk and a boy in his early twenties or so was walking by me and we had a smiley eye contact thing going on, and when I went past he whistled. He's around my age, I don't care about that. But I hate walking by a row of cars and getting "attention". I don't like there's a code kind of thing about it, that it's known. I don't know this code, I feel like I'm still a kid. If it wasn't a "thing", then it'd look so out of place, out of the blue like that.

I secretly like being whistled at...happens more in good weather of course!

It happens enough to me without taking special journeys though

Enjoy. But don't be too obvious!

I never get whistled at.