87% of American women (18-64) claim to have been harassed on the street by men

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

I suspect that it's not my hotness, but the fact that I probably look vulnerable, like an easy target. I'm petite and I don't look my age (I'm 27 and have yet to ever get a drink somewhere without ID, despite legal drinking age here being 19). The types of men who pull this BS? They honestly don't seem to care about hotness, they care about your ability to defend yourself. I lived with a statuesque, well built rower. She was pretty and did her hair and makeup every morning, wore tight clothes that showed off her body. She didn't get cat-called, standing at 5'11, except on a couple of occasions. Nowhere near as often as I did and she was model-hot.

It's not about gorgeousness, it's about men feeling entitled and picking 'easy targets' to express that.

Wow 27 do you feel that old..LOL joking you are a yungin

P.S. men are Pigs..Trust me

So effing gross that comments like that are allowed here.

If you don't reply to one of us, how do we know wich one you are disgusted at? I suspect it's me, but I would like to be sure

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

My mother and I, when I was around 16 or 17 , were walking down the street in downtown Ottawa. We passed a park where a lot of landscaping was being done - plenty of workers out doing various projects. It was summer, so I was just wearing a tank top and some shorts. Nothing extreme.

One guy, clearly old enough to be my father, screamed "Lady, if that's your kid, you shouldn't let your sl*t leave the house like that!" to my mom, causing one of his buddies to call me a tease.

It was disgusting and mortifying. I cried the whole way home on the bus.

All joking aside, that was very very wrong. That was insulting and degrading.

Honestly a little flirt, I have no problem with, but if you cross the line into degrading someone or making them feel threatened that's too much

[Karee 4,191]

He's not my friend anymore.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Sorry, no, I don't agree with this. I lived in a Muslim country for several years, and saw and experienced sexual harassment far worse than anything I've ever seen here at home in the USA. I've seen women in full on burqas and niqabs be verbally and physically harassed. Dress has nothing to do with it. It is about dominance, power and insecurity. The equivalent of a man holding his d%*k in his hand saying - 'see how big this is?'

Here's a BBC article about sexual harassment in Egypt, and an exherted comment:

But dressing conservatively is no longer a protection, according to Dina Farid of the campaign group Egypt's Girls are a Red Line.

She says even women who wear the full-face veil - the niqab - are being targeted.

"It does not make a difference at all. Most of Egyptian ladies are veiled [with a headscarf] and most of them have experienced sexual harassment.

"Statistics say that most of the women or girls who have been sexually harassed have been veiled or completely covered up with the niqab."

That is countries like Egypt and Saudi, in which women are often treated like possessions and have little or rights. In this country the more provocative you dress the more attention you will get. Are you telling me a woman get's a bob job, put's on skimpy skirts, low cut dresses because she does not want to get noticed? Let's be honest.

The type of men that would yell something like that generally wait until they're with a group that they know will back them up, I've found. I've never had a guy who was alone yell something inappropriate at me. Guess they need their buddies to feel brave enough.

No they are showing off to their peers and getting positive reinforcement from the yuck yuck, it has little to do with sex and more to do with low self esteem.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

Ok obviously some people have a broken sense of humor today.. Sorry if a little clowning offend anyone..I don't condone harassment

OK?

BTw

2 lawyers standing on a street corner. A really stunning beautiful woman walked by..One Lawyer looked at the other and said--I sure would like to**** her.

The other lawyer said, out of what?

[Peikko 1,575]

XD

I'm pretty sure 87% is a majority.

Seriously. Leave the girls alone.

[spookyturtle 9,466]

No they are showing off to their peers and getting positive reinforcement from the yuck yuck, it has little to do with sex and more to do with low self esteem.

Agreed. From the times I recall hearing the catcall whistles at a passing female, it has been a group of guys, not just one. And I think it was to show off too. Low self esteem and the guy has no wear to park it except his own hand.

[Peikko 1,575]

I don't think I could compliment someone as they're just walking by; but if there is a situation where two people are talking to each other, I don't see why anyone wouldn't want a compliment. And a compliment doesn't mean flirting. It is kind of sad if we're at the point in society that saying something nice is a bad thing.

Perhaps you could try saying something nice to a woman that is not based on something that is basically out of her control and say something nice about something she has attained by hard work and diligence. Compliments are great if they are merited but strangers saying you look nice is just bad manners and embarrassing. Sorry if that's now what you want to hear but you are totally wrong if you think that most women appreciate random comments that are simply based on how they look. They have no merit and they result in a society that places too high a value on the superficial. As Steven said, many, many people have beautiful 'soul's for want of a better word. Compliment everyone, regardless of their sex for that, not 'pretty girls' for giving you a sexual frisson.

[Not a Tailor 1,370]

Wow 27 do you feel that old..LOL joking you are a yungin

P.S. men are Pigs..Trust me

It's not that I feel old or think I'm old. My point is that I am perceived as being much younger and youth = vulnerability to these types of men.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

It's not that I feel old or think I'm old. My point is that I am perceived as being much younger and youth = vulnerability to these types of men.

Agree

But from an older person's viewpoint 18 and 27 are pretty close in age. At your age it's light years apart. You will understand when you get older.

Edited April 4, 2014 by The Nature Boy

[Teddy B 17,252]

In an effort to put this particular track to bed, I can see where compliments would be rude and where they would work. It comes down to context and that can't be expressed through words in the internet. Who knows what Teddy means by "classy."

For my part, I cannot think of very many instances when I would want any stranger commenting on my appearance on the street, positive or negative, but I suppose in the right context it could be okay. I am imagining a suburban street meeting a new neighbor who compliments your shoes or something. But we all know it's usually not shoes...

When you know the person, or even have just been introduced, this becomes different and compliments are more appropriate, to me. At a dinner party where people dress up? A "you look lovely tonight" can be a nice compliment when introduced. It's more "I see you put effort into your appearance for this party" instead of a "nice titties."

This is the type of compliment I am referring to, simple, classy and non-threatening. People can convey respect and class with speaking very few words. I have said to a few women in passing back in my single days, (always when I was alone because I know the group mentality can be threatening and always with a smile on my face) "you look very nice today", or "you've got a beautiful smile". Not once have I ever received a negative reaction.

Back in the day before this here internet thingy, people used to actually talk face to face. We knew how to communicate with one another in a respectful manner without the use of a keyboard. I have never seen anyone respond negatively to a sincere and respectful compliment in my life.

[B_J 2,752]

Perhaps you could try saying something nice to a woman that is not based on something that is basically out of her control and say something nice about something she has attained by hard work and diligence. Compliments are great if they are merited but strangers saying you look nice is just bad manners and embarrassing. Sorry if that's now what you want to hear but you are totally wrong if you think that most women appreciate random comments that are simply based on how they look. They have no merit and they result in a society that places too high a value on the superficial. As Steven said, many, many people have beautiful 'soul's for want of a better word. Compliment everyone, regardless of their sex for that, not 'pretty girls' for giving you a sexual frisson.

I really feel sorry for you if this is how you live your life.

First of all, there isn't much to say to a total stranger just walking down the street that is complimentary - that is not based on looks but based on her accomplishments. "Hey, way to walk down the street without tripping." So, the only compliment would be purely physical and I've already pointed out that I don't do that. However, after thinking about it, I realize something, if she is wearing the absolute coolest shoes ever, I might say to her: "Dude, those are the coolest shoes ever." And I'm pretty sure she knows that I'm not flirting-because I just called her "dude".

If I were to describe my physical appearance, I would say picture a pear with toothpicks for the arms and legs. So, I'm really not that good looking, except maybe to vegetarians; however, I have received numerous compliments on my eyes. People love the baby blue eyes. And when somebody compliments me on them, I don't assume they are flirting, or that there is some type of sexual frisson (whatever that means). I think, they like my eyes, and that's it.

It really makes me sad for you that you can't just accept an innocent compliment for what it is.

[Teddy B 17,252]

First of all, there isn't much to say to a total stranger just walking down the street that is complimentary - that is not based on looks but based on her accomplishments. "Hey, way to walk down the street without tripping."

Exactly! How do some of these people think men and women used to meet each other before the internet? It was, and I still believe is, very commonplace and widely accepted for a man to compliment a woman on her appearance as either a way to strike up a conversation or just simply as a nice compliment in passing. And nowadays it is more acceptable for a woman to compliment a man. It baffles me that some people consider an innocent compliment to be intrusive or offensive. They either have never received one, or they are miserable people to start with.

Edited April 4, 2014 by Teddy B

[Operator 1,927]

Exactly! How do some of these people think men and women used to meet each other before the internet? It was, and I still believe is, very commonplace and widely accepted for a man to compliment a woman on her appearance as either a way to strike up a conversation or just simply as a nice compliment in passing. And nowadays it is more acceptable for a woman to compliment a man. It baffles me that some people consider an innocent compliment to be intrusive or offensive. They either have never received one, or they are miserable people to start with.

Or they are too busy or have exceeded their compliment threshold.

[LibCampFireClub 635]

With all this awful harrassing going on in the world, it's amazing women are even able to find a man who hasn't been wounded during the war on men. Ban men, and collect their sperm.

http://letterstoourbrothers.wordpress.com/2014/03/27/street-harassment-statistics-what-the-studies-say/