More than words: Why catcalling isn’t a compliment

What is Catcalling?

Catcalling, a common form of street harassment, involves unsolicited comments, whistles, or gestures often directed at women and girls. Although sometimes labeled as “harmless” or “just a compliment,” catcalling can feel invasive, uncomfortable, and intimidating. This article explores why catcalling isn’t just casual behavior but a reflection of deeper social issues impacting public safety, gender equality, and mental health.

What Does Catcalling Look Like?

Catcalling includes a range of behaviours: whistling, honking, comments about appearance, and suggestive or lewd gestures. It’s often spontaneous, and typically happens in public places where the person doing the catcalling assumes power over their target. For many, catcalling reinforces a feeling of discomfort and lack of control, affecting how safe they feel in public.

The Roots of Catcalling

Catcalling has origins in outdated gender roles and societal norms. Sociologists have studied how public harassment like catcalling reinforces traditional power dynamics, with men asserting dominance in public spaces. This isn’t just a random interaction—it’s a pattern shaped by cultural attitudes that normalise seeing women as objects of public commentary, reinforcing harmful gender biases.

The Psychological Impact of Catcalling

While some dismiss catcalling as “no big deal,” research shows that street harassment has lasting effects on mental health. Repeated, unsolicited comments and interactions can cause anxiety, stress, and even long-term emotional trauma. Those targeted often feel a loss of freedom in public spaces, experiencing heightened levels of stress and even avoiding certain areas to feel safe.

Why is Catcalling Harmful to Women?

Catcalling disproportionately affects women, making them feel unsafe or on guard in public spaces. Though anyone can experience street harassment, studies show that women report higher levels of discomfort and emotional distress in response. This reflects a broader issue of gender inequality, where public spaces are less welcoming for women due to harassment. For women and girls, catcalling often reinforces a sense of vulnerability and inequality in daily life.

Is Catcalling Illegal?

Legal approaches to catcalling vary by country. In some places, like France, anti-street harassment laws impose fines for catcalling, recognising it as gender-based violence. In the United States, laws on catcalling are less clear, and the lack of specific policies often allows verbal harassment to go unchecked. This limited accountability for street harassment highlights the need for clearer laws to make public spaces safer for everyone.

The Bigger Picture of Street Harassment

Catcalling and similar behaviours are more than a series of comments; they’re rooted in outdated views of gender and power. As society becomes more aware of these issues, movements against street harassment are growing, advocating for change, respect, and accountability in public spaces. The fight against catcalling is part of a larger push to make streets, parks, and other public spaces safer and more inclusive for all.

Why Catcalling Matters to HASSL’s Mission

At HASSL, we’re on a mission to make public spaces safer by shifting the responsibility for safety onto society, not individuals. Catcalling and public harassment create barriers to feeling secure in public, and addressing these issues is essential to our work. We believe public safety is a shared responsibility, and our initiatives work to break down the harmful norms that make harassment feel “normal.” By raising awareness, encouraging change, and fostering a community that stands against street harassment, we’re making public spaces safer, one step at a time.