Unmentioned in most of the complaints about cat-calling is the race and social class of the cat-callers.
Just like crime, if something "bad" happens and race isn't mentioned, the perp is black. I've seen a few essays complaining about it which have mentioned that black and Hispanic men are almost always the ones doing the cat-calling, and even when it's a white man, it's always working-class men (except when it's actual frat boys - at the frat house).
So the real complaint about cat-calling isn't that the women are being objectified, it's that they're being objectified by the wrong men.
Theory: Young women hate cat calls because it is a reminder that men only want them for their youthful beauty. Subconsciously, they know they will lose this some day. The cat call is a constant nagging that they should do something with their life besides coast (gym, learning a skill, etc). A girl who is secure in her future self, does not need to fear the cat call and is free to enjoy it or laugh it off.
I greatly enjoy watching (especially older) women struggle with overhead luggage and glare at me for not helping. For the ones with the temerity to ask for/demand help, I always reply, "You've come a long way, baby." The older ones truly do get that insult.
I figure it's payback for the 10,000 times I was called a male chauvinist pig when I was growing up.
3 comments:
Unmentioned in most of the complaints about cat-calling is the race and social class of the cat-callers.
Just like crime, if something "bad" happens and race isn't mentioned, the perp is black. I've seen a few essays complaining about it which have mentioned that black and Hispanic men are almost always the ones doing the cat-calling, and even when it's a white man, it's always working-class men (except when it's actual frat boys - at the frat house).
So the real complaint about cat-calling isn't that the women are being objectified, it's that they're being objectified by the wrong men.
(WV: "chivalry"!)
Theory: Young women hate cat calls because it is a reminder that men only want them for their youthful beauty. Subconsciously, they know they will lose this some day. The cat call is a constant nagging that they should do something with their life besides coast (gym, learning a skill, etc). A girl who is secure in her future self, does not need to fear the cat call and is free to enjoy it or laugh it off.
Loved the article!
I greatly enjoy watching (especially older) women struggle with overhead luggage and glare at me for not helping. For the ones with the temerity to ask for/demand help, I always reply, "You've come a long way, baby." The older ones truly do get that insult.
I figure it's payback for the 10,000 times I was called a male chauvinist pig when I was growing up.
Payback is a bitch.
Post a Comment