Why is someone acknowledging that a woman is pretty and saying so considered cat calling? I full on get “yo girl you fine as fuck” is messed up to say but people are taking someone simply saying “youre pretty” is offensive nowadays.

Because, as almost any woman could tell you, “you’re pretty” or “hey how are you” from a strange man you’re passing almost ALWAYS is the start of an interaction that devolves into them telling you how sexy you are or something. That is why there’s been such a visceral reaction to this video from many woman - because so many of us have these experiences and KNOW where the conversation would have gone had that woman responded to those men. Is it fair to assume that about every one of those men? No, but it also isn’t fair that those men decided that woman’s body is public property worthy of commenting on without her doing absolutely anything to illicit those comments. 

I want to point out here, many of those men that said something like “you’re pretty” got really pissed off when she didn’t respond. That should clue you in on those men’s intentions - it wasn’t about making someone’s day better by paying them a compliment, because if it was they would have been content whether she reacted or not. It was purely about getting power over a woman and her attention. How DARE that woman not respond to them? Pay attention to them? Doesn’t she KNOW she’s supposed to be grateful for any man - even if it’s a strange man she doesn’t know at all - validating her?

Honestly, I really don’t think a man that’s never experienced cat calling can ever understand how these kind of seemingly innocuous comments can cause SO much anxiety. I’m not even being hyperbolic when I say watching this video legitimately stressed me out. It reminded me of all the times I’ve been in situations like that - faced with a strange man that’s decided he DESERVES my attention . A man that could easily overpower me if he decided he was pissed off at me ignoring him. Men grabbing my arm asking me how I’m doing. Men touching the small of my back and whispering in my ear how good I look today. Men threatening me and demanding my attention simply because I am a woman. It’s absolutely terrifying. 

And now the woman in the video is getting rape threats. https://twitter.com/iHollaback/status/527155349036740609

Reblog again for comments and tape threats.

What the actual fuck.

this literally made me begin to have a panic attack hahahhaaha awful