What is the best way to respond to catcalling in street?!

[mrsmonkey14]

So this evening - walking to car park after first day in new job (where I told CEO he needed to put a woman on the all male board and he agreed - anyway I digress). Two drunk blokes shouting ‘hey baby! Come and talk to me’ etc etc. Quashed instinct to smile compliantly at them. Tried to avoid eye contact but ended up giving death stare. They turned a bit nasty (“if you’re going to look at me like that, come here and show me”), I felt threatened and legged it to car, fortunately they didn’t try to follow me.

So what is the best way to respond? Ignore completely? I don’t want to put up with that kind of shit. But equally don’t want to put myself in danger. Christ, what a choice! Any tips?

I don’t think there is a ‘best’ way.

Ultimately different reactions will make different arseholes behave differently and you can’t predict.

I try to avoid confrontation and just go quicker to a public area, not make eye contact etc... but it’s not a perfect solution.

Take out your phone and either photograph them or video them. Send report to hollaback and to the police.
Men are beginning to realize that when we take out our phone their male dominance display may get them in trouble.

There is no best way. Because whatever you do, you cannot predict their response, nor are your actions responsible for their subsequent ones.

I like to respond with "fuck off" or "fuck off, cunt". One day that may get me punched in the face. But then again, so might trying to ignore and walk away. The problem isnt my response, the problem is male entitlement and male violence. Female actions in that moment can't solve those problems.

I like to respond with "fuck off" or "fuck off, cunt". One day that may get me punched in the face. But then again, so might trying to ignore and walk away. The problem isnt my response, the problem is male entitlement and male violence. Female actions in that moment can't solve those problems.

Every single word in this paragraph.

I've taken to getting all righteously intellectual and giving them a lecture on how sexist societal roles make them feel entitled to my attention and access to me on the basis of my sex and [lenghty rant in complicated words].

It' always worked so far; I also fully expect that, eventually, I'll meet the one who'll break my jaw in response. It'll have been worth it in my book.