By ALEXIS CAREY
Is it just us or is the most common reaction to stories of women being harassed on the street, this one:
“Yes, but what was she wearing?”
It seems that there’s an implication that women only get harassed when they wear revealing clothing, and that therefore, women must deserve this kind of harassment.
Katy Heng was sick of this reaction. So sick of it, in fact, that she created the ‘But What Was She Wearing: Stop the Cat Call’ Tumblr page, which is dedicated to “documenting what street harassment actually looks like”.
Here are some examples from the ‘But What Was She Wearing: Stop the Cat Call’ Tumblr page.
The page invites women who have been victims of harassment to upload photos of what they were wearing at the time. And it has destroyed the myth that these women are harassed for wearing “revealing” clothing such as miniskirts and stilettos. Instead, it has clearly shown that women are routinely catcalled regardless of their outfits.
The page has attracted countless submissions, ranging from schoolgirls in uniform to women in dress-up clothing, baggy gym clothes and everyday street wear.
There are even photos of a doctor dressed in scrubs and a woman dressed in a prairie-girl outfit – which shows that pretty much any female, regardless of their appearance, is considered “fair game” by catcalling cretins.
This women was catcalled in her work scrubs.
It is so sad that this Tumblr page has to exist. But it’s also so important that it does. Because victim-blaming and slut-shaming (which is exactly what is happening every time we question a victim’s clothing and behaviour, rather than criticising the perpetrator) has to end.
Over the years I have been catcalled in my school uniform as a (very young, decidedly unsexy) teenager. I have been catcalled in sweaty gym clothes. And I’ve been catcalled in pretty ordinary, run-of-the-mill jeans-and-top combos. It’s not a pleasant experience. In fact, it is awkward, embarrassing and sometimes, downright scary.
Because here’s the thing: catcalling is not always about complimenting a woman and showing appreciation for her body and appearance, as so many claim. In many cases, it is more about humiliating a victim and exerting power over them. And that is definitely not ok.
So was this woman, in her theme park work uniform.
Women don’t deserve to have obscenities yelled at them as they are walking down the street, going about their business. And they certainly don’t deserve the implication that they somehow brought the abuse on themselves because of their clothing choices.
That’s why pages like these are so, so important. Because it’s high time the blame shifted away from the victims and on to the people who really deserve it – the culprits.
Have you ever been catcalled or harassed in the street?
Here are some more examples from the ‘But What Was She Wearing: Stop the Cat Call’ Tumblr page.
Top Comments
I have thousands of potential favorites to choose from but I think the one that stands out most in my mind was on my honeymoon, walking down a street in LA (sans husband), when a group of Jersey Shore guys in a van pull up beside me and one yells "excuse me ma'am, but with all due respect, I would LOVE to eat your vagina"
Hahaha I would have the hugest laugh of someone said that too me! I don't think my husband would see the funny side of it though.
I did burst out laughing, I couldn't help it!
I was walking in Melbourne CBD recently one friday afternoon and one creep was obviously looking to start his weekend with some fun. He came out of nowhere and started walking beside me, chatting me up and within a minute was asking me to bed.
Unexepected and unwanted company was odd especially since i was in my gym gear so just goes to show that dress code doesnt necessarily have anything to do with women being approached.
He continued following me around the streets trying to convince me to go bed with him or to go have a drink with him at least. It took a while for him to take 'no' for an answer and to get rid of him.
But the notion that women 'ask for it' isnt always right at all.
There are men out there that do these sort of things for all sorts of reasons.
I certainly wasnt asking for anything dressed in sloppy gym wear, i was just walking down the street minding my own business with my ipod plugged in.
I couldnt even hear him at first bc i had my music loud. He waved me down and i just initially thought he would be asking for directions or something & then he started sweet talkin and told me he liked my smile and all this rubbish.
Bizzare behaviour but women need to be careful b/c you never know when someone might approach you.vGuys dont just sneak up on you on dark streets at night:
What happened to me happened in broad daylight with people around at peak hour approx 5.30pm and he didnt seem to care that he was drawing attention to himself either which is crazy, someone could have reported him.
There's wierdos everywhere!