Catcalling Colletion (Part 3): Why men catcall.

 

Why engage in this behavior?

“Why engage in this behavior?” What a question! Why is it that men feel the need to engage in this sort of thing?

William Castello, a professor at St. John’s University, said low self-esteem is to blame.

“There is a competition to be boldest, strongest most macho, generally driven by rampant lack of self-esteem, disappointment and frustration with life in general,” Castello said. “It is a sign of a rough and rude upbringing, which lends itself to a competition of sorts among the groups ... kind of a ‘one-upmanship’ of who’s worse than the rest.”

According to a study of street harassment in Egypt, Lebanon, Morocco, and Palestine cited in a 2017 NPR article, men who are more educated are more likely to street harass. Researchers of the study explain that "young men with secondary-level education were more likely to sexually harass women than their older, less-educated peers". They further explain that the main reason that men street harass is to assert dominance and power. Stress from other factors puts pressure on them and might make them feel like they have no control and catcalling might be a way to make themselves believe that they have some sort of power. This could also be the reason some men get angry when they are faced with rejection. To them it feels like the power to control the situation has been snatched from him yet again.

According to Dr. Joe Herbert, a neuroscience professor at Cambridge, harassment also comes from a natural need to find a mate. Unlike animals, the human brain can cognitively recognize that power dynamics and psychological and physical manipulation can be forcefully used on other humans to coerce them into becoming mates. Due to societal structures and laws, it is more appealing to most people to use psychological methods, which leads to  different forms of harassment. According to Dr. Herbert, street harassment is another form of sexual coercion to encourage reproduction that is not widely socially acceptable (AKA Rape)

Alternatives to catcalling

Here’s a bright idea: Just don’t say anything. As a man there s no reason to feel like you owe her a compliment. You don’t have to tell her her outfit is pretty; she knows. You don’t need to point out hoe pretty her smile is; she knows. You also don’t need to grab her to talk to her; she can hear you perfectly without you having to put your dirty lips on her ear to talk. What you think about any of my attributes or characteristics is of no use to me nor is it necessary.

Yeah, you probably got a positive response in the past (That girl was probably scared for her life and being polite is always a life saver) but keep in mind that every individual is different and will likely feel and respond differently to your unasked for opinion or compliment.

In conclusion, if you think there's nothing wrong with catcalling after all you've read, I have sad news for you; YOU DON'T BELONG ON THE STREETS! Women and men alike are only ever negatively affected by this normalized culture, all the more reason to stand together to fight a common enemy.