How Do You Deal With Wolf Whistlers?

[City Slicker]

I heard a study on this very thing a while back.

The findings in a nutshell were that guys did not make nearly the amount of cat calls or wolf whistles at women when the women were wearing headphones. They asked the guys that had been making the whistles at other women why they didn't hassle, whistle and cat call the women wearing headphones.

The guys said there was no point since she couldn't hear them.

They used to get my middle finger. But now I simply ignore them.

 

[Deleted member 28740]

What are wolf whistles?

Wolves howl. Ducks quack. Cats and dogs can make a lot noise. Wolf whistle, man sounding like a cat in heat sort of.

 

[moonbeam]

I hate wolf whistles. But I would take a wolf whistle over some of the verbal crap men say to me on the street. Even with my headphones on.

I just turn my music up and keep walking.

 

[Queen Boudica]

Thank God I am too old now to invoke that kind of response. I used to hate it when I was younger. I just think of them as primitive species. Like a pack of apes in a zoo. Not worth even thinking about.

 

[Changing4Best]

I live way out in the mountains, in a small town. No one around here does that, so I had forgotten how it even felt to have a guy or guys whistle at me like that. I guess if it did ever happen, I'd pray to God about my feelings and do my best in the same moment to ignore the guys whistling at me.

 

[jmni]

Some of you guys are over-reacting. If a man is insecure, and he works in some masculine field, goes to a place her perceives as masculine, or even hangs out with his friends, he will try to overcompensate by acting masculine/being macho/harassing women. These are assholes. They want to prove themselves to their friends. Clearly this deeply upsets people. But if you look at these people and size them up appropriately for example nancy-boy/dweeb/macho-nerd/twink/spineless/crazy-guy it will really help you. Men who do this are pathetic and all talk. If you ignore them, they will think you don't care at all, and be annoyed that they couldn't impress their friends/coworkers. Ear plugs might work. But more importantly, this is about them not you.

 

[Anarchy]

Hi Cool Cat,
For some reason, I always thought you were male.

@jmni has beaten me too it,

have you noticed how the whistlers normally only do it from a safe distance from you? like hiding in a group, from an upper floor, or from the other side of a fence?

Incidentally, if you are in Ireland, there is always the Irish girls version of a burka - a really oversize baggy jumper that completely hides your form, you could be anything from size six to size thirty six under one of those things, and no one would ever know.

 

[Tinyflame]

That's so funny @Anarchy . :p :bag:

Well I did have a strange experience working last night, it's dark out & I go to different places, but it's "senior-ville" & on top of that I saw no one else. Then heard a wolf whistle, creepy when you don't know where it's coming from nor who it's directed at. :( Maybe creepy knowing someone's out there but you can't see them? :( I thought today, maybe it was someone calling their dog or something (though I've never whistled for my dog that way).

 

[jmni]

@Junebug creepy. Well at least nothing happened. Perhaps it was meant for someone else.

 

[Tinyflame]

Thank you @jmni :hug: .Yes it is creepy. I mentioned it to a client & she said who she thinks it is, he lives near her, & I agree, because he followed me yesterday a block after I came out, & I've avoided him for 3 years. But he's like, 60. So I'm not worried about it now, it makes sense & I can avoid it.

 

[Friday]

Depends on where I'm at!

In the States, back when I was catting around, I used to take it as an open invitation to go proposition them. Bunch of teases. You'd think that someone freely listing your assets on the street wouldn't suddenly go all school-boy shy, and stammery, and all1950s kind of chivalrous. Which I suppose is fine if you like that kind of thing. Personally, I was looking for a nice lay, not dinner and flowers. Sigh. So disappointing. All high spirits, no follow through. Boys.

In Italy, where I was at, it was a cultural appreciation of beauty... Que Bella! Que Bello, yourself! :) Not a come on (not even a tease). I took at as a compliment, but not one with any intent behind it. I love Italians. If there's intent? They'll ask! So refreshing, people speaking their minds. Pity I was married most of the time. What was nice, though, was that there were no hard feelings.

In other places, it depended very much on learning the cultural norms. Some, it's just banter. Some it's notice of intent if you're willing. Some it's a compliment. Some it's incredibly bashful blokes who are simply clueless about women... They might want your attention, but once they have it? Are just clueless as to what to do with it.