I endured this constantly when I lived back in the Detroit area. I couldn't go out of the house without it happening, and I hated it, just hated it. It made me feel vulnerable and like an object, as if the only thing I was good for was my looks. Sometimes I would be followed and that was really scary.
Luckily since I've moved to a really small town, it hasn't happened. I've never witnessed any catcalling here. I think it's because everybody knows everybody, for one thing. For another thing, men here are really different, from a much more reserved set of ethnicities with quite conservative and respectful social cultures. Since I've been here (18 years now) only a handful of men have even flirted with me. One did it in the presence of my husband, but he was drunk (the flirter, not my husband).
It is really nice to be able to take a walk and only have people wave in a friendly manner. It's actually taken me years to even look at people driving in passing cars because I was so used to ignoring them in order to not draw attention. You know, like how as a kid you used to hide the vegetables you didn't like under your plate? If you don't see them, they don't see you. Or, at least, you hope :-).
Luckily since I've moved to a really small town, it hasn't happened. I've never witnessed any catcalling here. I think it's because everybody knows everybody, for one thing. For another thing, men here are really different, from a much more reserved set of ethnicities with quite conservative and respectful social cultures. Since I've been here (18 years now) only a handful of men have even flirted with me. One did it in the presence of my husband, but he was drunk (the flirter, not my husband).
It is really nice to be able to take a walk and only have people wave in a friendly manner. It's actually taken me years to even look at people driving in passing cars because I was so used to ignoring them in order to not draw attention. You know, like how as a kid you used to hide the vegetables you didn't like under your plate? If you don't see them, they don't see you. Or, at least, you hope :-).