This is who you are when you’re catcalling

The next time you find yourself in conversation with someone who simply can not wrap their mind around why street harassment is a problem, and your words are failing to convince them that yelling at women on the street is disrespectful and makes those women feel unsafe, show them this Buzz60 video and ask, “Ok, but do you really want to be this guy?” 

Where to begin? First, let’s note that this man starts out apparently believing the interview is about best practices for catcalling, and he shares some of his, which include clicking noises and whistling. The interviewer then asks, “How would you call a dog?” to which the man responds by whistling and adding, “Same way.”

This does not cause a moment of reflection. He sees absolutely no problem here. He laughs it off.

Then, he puts his techniques into action. He actually starts catcalling women while being filmed. And says, “Even when it’s far away, it’s even better, because they’re not that scared, you gotta have a little distance.”

He can recognize that women are scared, and instead of NOT DOING THE THING THAT’S SCARING THEM, he simply does it from farther away.

Next, he says, “I do a lot of ‘sweethearts’ — does that work?” He’s asking. He’s asking the interviewer if it works. On the most practical level, he has no idea if what he’s doing even works toward his stated goal, yet he persists.

Then the light bulb moment — he realizes that this is not an interview about how best to catcall women but rather about how much women dislike catcalling, to which he replies, “Get the fuck outta here, I don’t believe…” He’s just been told that women don’t like it and he’s in such a state of disbelief and anger that he couldn’t even finish his sentences.

“We’re just acknowledging that you did a good thing today, getting up out of bed,” he offers as his justification. Yes. Congratulations on getting out of bed. Here’s a whistle, sweetheart.

Then he yells at a woman walking past, who doesn’t respond, and he determines that she must have had headphones in and couldn’t hear him.

So again, if explaining why women should not be subjected to comments from strangers on the street about their appearance is proving difficult, just turn on this video and say: “This. This is who you are when you catcall. This guy. Do. Not. Be. This. Guy.”

Transcript:

Host: ‘No catcalling’ signs like this one are popping up all over New York City. They were put there by an apparel company. Let’s see what New Yorkers have to say about it. So what are your thoughts on catcalling?

Woman: It’s disgusting

Man: Yeah, it’s pretty shitty. You shouldn’t do that to somebody.

Host: And how did that make you feel?

Woman: Very uncomfortable.

Other woman: Horrible. Horrible. It makes me feel horrible.

Host: That was the original idea for the video, until I met this guy, who…man…doesn’t get it.

Catcaller: Sometimes, you know, you gotta call a girl. You know. [clicking sounds] [whistle]

Host: How would you call a dog?

Catcaller: Same way.

Host: So how do you think catcalling makes the person feel?

Catcaller: It feels good. Watch. See if we see a nice girl…I can’t even find a nice girl that I’m attracted to.

Host: Dating.

Catcaller: Yeah, dating. [clicks and waves at passing woman.]

Host: Oh my god.

Catcaller: Even when it’s far away, it’s even better, because they’re not that scared, you gotta have a little distance. I do a lot of ‘sweethearts’ — does that work?

Host: I don’t know, you tell me. I’ve never done that. Literally, not once has that even occurred to me to do.

Catcaller: Wait a sec…Are you reporting is that girls don’t like this?

Host: They don’t like catcalling. 

Catcaller: Get the fuck outta here, I don’t believe…come on. We’re just acknowledging that you did a good thing today, getting up out of bed. Oh, sweetheart! [clicks and whistles at passing woman] Yo! See, she don’t even know. She’s probably got headphones on.

Host: Another day ruined.