Cat-Calling: Offensive or a Compliment?

On my walk to work today, I was cat-called, which I find immensely offensive.  When I got to work, my co-workers and I had a discussion about cat-calling.  One of my co-workers stated that some women think cat-calls are compliments.  I was completely blown away by this revelation. 

Do you think cat-calling is offensive or a compliment?  What is your definition of cat-calling?

As I stated, I find it truly offensive.  I define cat-calling as unsolicited comments or sounds that are sexual in nature made by strangers. 

In my case, a man in a parked car opened up the passenger side window, leaned over the passenger seat, and shouted "hey sexy" at me.  I continued walking and he drove his car along side the sidewalk while continuously shouting and whistling at me.  He continued for about a block at which point I went into my office.

Usually, I would say offensive, but 'sexy' is certainly not a bad thing to have yelled at you! (;

well thats just creepy in general. i'd be freaked out by someone following me for a block just to whistle and yell.

i guess its nice to hear but...thats not really the type of guy i like to attract so i dont personally like it or take anything they say seriously.

i wouldn't go so far as to say its "offensive" as much as just immature and annoying. 

Creepy. I'm a pretty reserved girl so I don't like being eyed-over, and being told "Hello" in that tone of voice. Sends chills down my spine.

Ambivalent. I wear noise cancelling headphones so I wouldn't hear it even if it occurred.

If anyone does that "following you in the car" deal again, make a show of pulling out a pen and writing down their number plate. Then get on your cell phone. They'll bugger off quick smart. 

Offensive. I would never consider even a friendly relationship to someone who does that (to anyone). If there's alcohol involved, excusable; if it's a joke it can MAYBE be explained... and if the person somehow really TRULY did not know what he/she was doing was bad manners, then I would not write them off just yet.

I don't want compliments from people I don't even know. Don't compliment me if you aren't even going to have a conversation with me.

And god... "I think you're beautiful" is SO old. I know it's not exactly a cat call, but can't anyone think of anything original, ever? >< 

Offensive.  I get hit on and whistled at every time I go to the club and at least two days a week elsewhere.  I don't tolerate it and I will hit back.

Alex's friends have learned this the hard way.

My cats don't answer but they don't seem to mind

For me I wouldn't say it's offensive, 'hey fatty' is offensive. Their intent isn't to offend you, for whatever reason they just feel the need to tell you they think you look good in an immature way -_-

Definately offensive. I work at a high end country club that is owned by the biggerst furniture manufacuter on the east coast. So when we have furniture market (2x/year), the cat calling gets really repulsive. Last market,  i was cat called all week, along with grabbing my ass, and trying touch my boobs, and being offered money for sex. And what did my managers say to all that? They laughed. I can't say anything defensive to these guys, because they are "important clients" so I just have to grin and bear it. Stupid furniture market.

grabbing, touching, soliciting...yes that is offensive, but not the same as being whistled at by a guy driving by.

The guy was middle aged (probably mid 40s).  If he was younger, I might be willing to let him off the hook and say that he was just being immature.  But he's a grown adult!  For work, I have to go into a juvenile hall about once a week.  I'm willing to say that some of the remarks from those kids are because they're immature.  

I just don't buy it that adult men are intending these cat-calls as compliments, especially when that use that tone.  Would they really want another man doing this to their mothers or daughters or wives or sisters?

p0nda: I LOVE your idea!  I will definitely try that the next time something like this happens.  I have a camera phone so I'm wondering if it would freak out the guys if I took pictures of them and their license plates, too.  

CD: Normally, I would completely strike back.  Unfortunately, I was running late for work and really not in the mood for this.   

totally offensive, and more than a little threatening.  it's a demonstration of male entitlement.

I find it as a compliment (though, not something i would do). Actually happened to me today while walking home from class o.O At least they arent yelling insults or something more annoying.

Its like someone driving past you and shouting "your hat looks good on you!" ....really hard to be offended by that.

what exactly happened to you, lorik? You have to be specific because I'm getting the feeling that not everyone qualifies the same types of behavior as cat calling.

It's NOT like someone shouting "your hat looks good on you" because that's more of a compliment to your fashion sense. it's not translated into "I was thinking that I would like to *&#& you right now."

As pg said, it's definitely male entitlement. It's also a way to show off-- ie, "I'm not afraid of you; I can look at your body and judge it and say whatever I want about it." It's treating women like a sex object. 

Cat calling is offensive. It is degrading. It is debasing to women. It is all about a man exercising his "right" to treat women as sex objects and not as human beings.

I have had a couple of strangers give me completely unsolicited compliments that were not cat calls. It was a boost to the ego. The compliments were not loud or embarassing.  An example, a stranger in line in front of me was just looking around, turned to me and said you have very pretty eyes. He didn't try to push himself on me, wasn't loud, didn't try to embarrass me, etc. He waved goodbye after his turn in line. It was sweet and thoughtful.

I have had more than a couple of strangers call things and/or make noises from their vehicles or work stations as I was walking along the street. These were not compliments. They were expressing their desire to F*** me in public. That was treating me as just a sex object.

When I ignore their calls, I've also had them call out, "Hey, you think you're too good for me?" I either continue to ignore them or call back out, "Yes, I know I'm too good for you." It depends on the mood I'm in at the time and the situation.

denotes a lack of finesse, that said, there are worse things

I was thinking it's a display of dominance, no matter who does the cat-calling.  And yes, somewhat rude & crude.

But I think the writing down of the license plate and snapping pics with a camera phone would re-assert an appropriate power balance.

I was once the victim of a stalker who approached me on the street out of the blue one day.  The stalking went on for months.  I had to get the police involved and luckily I lived in a small enough town that the police were very available to help me.  It turned out that the man in question had a violent past and had been released from a mental hospital only weeks before he started stalking me.  The night that we had a "confrontation" - he had cut my phone line and so, possibly, intended me harm.  I'm very grateful that the police were so good at their jobs (protecting and serving).

So I think it's wise to exercise all caution in these instances.  You can't tell who is crazy just by looking at them.  Well, maybe sometimes you can, but not always.  :)

depends on the cat you're trying to call really, some are really hard on the ears while others have a welcoming "come hither" meow

aocean - I think people can be immature no matter the age, it's just more pathetic the older they are.

moonikins - A couple years ago I had some guy try to talk to me, but I kept walking, then I hear "fatass" - which I wasn't, but I guess they just want a reaction.

Meow.

Sorry, couldn't help it.

It has been a long time since anybody cat-called me, back in my younger, thinner, more good looking days.  But I do find it offensive, I don't like it. 

One time, as I was walking on the sidewalk close to my university, I had a guy pull up next to me in his car and ask if I needed a ride.  Politely I declined with a "no thank you" then when I looked in the car at him I noticed that he had his weener out and was flipping it back and forth.  I about barfed, I gasped and turned away in shock, I heard his car then drive away tires squeeling.  I am not sure why that guy did that, but I sure didn't like it.  I am still like...ewww, who wants to see that nasty old thing.