Watch: Catcallers try to explain why they harass women

After a years of experiencing street harassment–and often confronting her catcallers–a Minneapolis woman named Lindsey came up with Cards Against Harassment–little cards that you can silently hand out to explain to harassers why getting unsolicited attention from random strangers whenever you step outside your house is not actually that fun. 

While clearly not appropriate for every situation, the cards are a cool way of turning the spotlight around on the harassers–and a few of them may even learn something. Lindsey, who explains that she’s “genuinely interested in what place this is coming from,” has started filming the ensuing conversations. The men have lots of justifications–from the biblical to the sartorial–but there’s one common thread. “The theme I hear the most often is that they truly, genuinely think it’s a compliment, and they are shocked,” Lindsey tells Buzzfeed. “If that is true, then simply telling people it’s not a compliment may go a long way.”

Check out–and download–the cards and view more videos here.

Related:
Two thirds of women in the US have been street harassed
How women in Brazil are fighting back against street harassment
Do you know the laws that cover street harassment in your state?

Maya Dusenbery is an Executive Director of Feministing.