Catcall Theory

It always boggled my mind when I’d be walking down the street and boys who drive by proceed to honk and yell and me. How am I supposed to react to that? I’ve jumped out of my skin a few times it startled me so bad. One of the oddest things I’ve seen, though, was one time a guy in a dog costume (Ralph the dog style) hung his head out the window and yelled at me, “Woooooo hooooooooooo yeah baby!” Oh my. THAT was hilarious.

So what is it that makes guys think they can do this? I can’t even imagine driving by a guy on the street and yelling out the window at him. What would this accomplish? I used to wonder if it’s an extension of the “women as SEX OBJECTS” idea. It’s always struck me as being strange. I’m a person taking a walk; minding my own business… I’m NOT there for others entertainment (even though at times I may inadvertently be entertaining through my utter dorkiness).

Then one day my catcall theory was proven and the key to this mystery was uncovered!

I was out with a group of people, including my roommate. Driving to the bar that night, my roomie decided to yell at some women walking down the street from the back of the minivan we were all in. First of all, they couldn’t hear him as we were in the back of the van, no windows open. Secondly, reread: minivan. I wasn’t sure what had gotten into him because I’d never seen him so acting so vocal towards complete strangers before. Then later, we were on a rooftop patio and watching the people on the street below us. ONCE AGAIN he yelled something at a female passer-by. I shook my head and thought, “WTF is going on??? This isn’t like him at all.” Mind you, when I say he yelled ‘something’ you have to remember that he’s not a seasoned catcaller. It was something like, “Hey you, I like you!” in his oh-so-charming French accent.

Light bulb moment! It was THEN my little brain put it all together…

Earlier that day we’d been drinking at some beer gardens with the aforementioned group of people. There just happened to be a strip club right beside the beer gardens. When my roomie mentioned he’d never been to the strippers (I guess in small town France they don’t have these places), the boys in our group decided that he MUST experience this. They were in there for about half an hour or so before I went in to get them and tell them the minivan was pulling out shortly.

So it was only after going to the strippers that he became verbally aggressive towards strange women. Just think about the guys who grew up here and probably went to the peeler bars countless times in their past. Their minds are probably effed to the point where they are unable to distinguish between the strippers who are PAID to be there for male entertainment purposes ONLY, and the people walking down the street minding their own business.

I will continue to ignore the catcalls I suppose. However, if someone hucks a loonie at me, I’m gonna lose it.