If you were ever catcalled by a woman, what were the circumstances and what was your response?

r/

My 17 y/o son was catcalled three separate times this week while we were on vacation. Nothing explicit or gross, but definitely clear catcalls. We laughed it off, but got to thinking, “this isn’t common, is it? Should he be upset?”

Edit: to be clear, he wasn’t offended. I wasn’t offended. It’s a double standard, yes, but let’s call it what it is.

Comments

  1. 0ut_0f_st0ck Avatar

    Regularly, just go running without a shirt on. The “whooo”, “run big boy!” Calls never stop

  2. cynic09 Avatar

    I was passing a bus stop (walking) opposite of the road on my way home and a group did it. Didn’t bother me as I’m not a woman who finds every reasons to be angry at everything.

    Said thanks. Went about my way.

  3. MarshalLawTalkingGuy Avatar

    I tried posting this question to ask women, but it was removed for a variety of reasons. The mod even said “women aren’t really known for catcalling people”…sure.

    Edit: the mods just let the post through. No one has ever catcalled anyone and it’s getting downvoted to oblivion. But it’s there.

  4. DistinctReception344 Avatar

    Going on a run. Every time I’ve been catcalled (probably 3 or 4 times total) it’s either been a car horns blaring followed by unrecognizable words as they drove by. Or “wooohoo nice” while running on a beach.

  5. unknown_anaconda Avatar

    Common? No, but not unheard of. Should he be upset? That’s for him to decide, but I’d be more flattered than anything. It has been more than a few years for me but I just smiled, waved, and said “Sorry, I’m taken!”

  6. Mister-ellaneous Avatar

    By the beach a few times, during a triathlon but that was a friend.

  7. luckystrike_bh Avatar

    I was running once and a woman yeled “Hey, nice ass!” I hope she said that and not “Hey, you need to get an ass!” I have been hitting the legs a lot in the gym so maybe the former?

  8. Lost_Now_Found Avatar

    My favorite was I was riding my new Harley Road Glide and a cute little blonde screamed “Give me a ride and I will ride your face”, she was probably drunk but I got a good chuckle out of the deal. If I was in my 20s I would have probably took her up on the offer lol.

    I made the mistake of helping my buddy at his college bar and I downright got molested that night by women. Women are 100% as bad as men are, especially when booze is involved and you’re wearing a cowboy hat lol.

  9. RyouIshtar Avatar

    if you let them know he’s a minor they may second think ever doing it again

  10. Disastrous-Essay-253 Avatar

    I don’t catcall to them but sure as heck if they are running, shirt off and look good I’m 👀 for a long time, and my thoughts 💭 … the thoughts that go through my mind, can not be said out loud lol! But I have 23 year old son, so I really don’t check out younger guys around that age or even slightly above. It just reminds me of my son and I can’t lol.

  11. SpilledItEverywhere Avatar

    I get catcalled when im out on rides. Shit makes my day ngl

  12. Delli-paper Avatar

    A few times. A drunk girl slapped my ass once when I was on guard duty at work. Older women sometimes would do it when I rode my bike.

  13. StreetSea9588 Avatar

    I’m not horrible looking, I hit the gym 6 days a week and a woman hasn’t openly hit on me since 2009.

    I have no idea where all these dudes in this thread who can’t go for a run without being catcalled and chased by women live, but I suspect it’s not the real world. 🌎

    I live in a city of 5 million. I pass at least 10 dudes running every morning and another 10-15 every evening. I’ve never seen one catcalled.

  14. Hamlet7768 Avatar

    I was leaving the mall on a weekday, so basically nobody there. I was about to get in my car when I heard a woman yell, “DADDY!” I stopped and looked over, because who says that in the middle of a parking lot? The same voice then yelled, “You look so fucking sexy right now!” Couldn’t even tell you what she looked like–there were two or three clustered around the car. They got in right after.

    I was utterly befuddled as to why they found a skinny dude wearing khakis, a short sleeve shirt and tie, and a hat so appealing.

  15. tubarizzle Avatar

    Its happened a couple times. Usually while I’m working. I just smile and wave.

  16. Random-Guy-715 Avatar

    I was at a benefit golf outing. At the time, I was active duty national guard (not recruiting), and there for “work” (pretty sure that was improper, but that’s aside the point). In uniform.

    A slightly intoxicated older (I’m in my 20’s, she had to be 50’s, pushing 60) woman grabbed my ass when walking by. Then a minute or two later attempted to grab a handful of beans and Frank which I was able to swat her hand away.

    It’s always been my policy that I don’t hit a women first (generally, with some exceptions that goes for men too; fights are rarely worth the hassle and risk)- I will not initiate a violent encounter…. But in this case, she was one more sexual assault away from catching fists to face.

    Does that count? Or are we talking strictly verbal?

    It happened a few times, usually if the woman was attractive, I pursued. Otherwise I ignored it.

    One time that does stand out prominently in my mind- I was either 18 or 21 (was either right before or right after my first 3 year stint in the Army). Went to the gym and stopped at a convenience store on the way home to use the ATM. Walking out, a truck full of girls in the back went apeshit toward me. The driver (I assume one of the girl’s BF) sped off when the light went green.

    That was the only time I’ve been catcalled by a whole ass group of seemingly attractive girls/women. 5-6 of them.

    I cannot even begin to tell you how much it stroked my ego.

    But, this all highlights how most of us are pretty hypocritical. If that old lady were a 22yr old, pretty girl, I’d be glad for her to grab whatever she wanted (in fact I’ve been in that situation too, and would not call that assault). That truck full of attractive girls talkin about wanting to do lewd things to me made me feel great…. But if it were a bunch of 300lb, 5’3” women with cigarettes hanging out their mouths, I’d be repulsed.

  17. numbersthen0987431 Avatar

    I always felt good when it happens.

    But it’s not a “double standard” because men are threatening to women, where women catcalling men isn’t a threat to men.

  18. schmegm Avatar

    As a lean Latino with long wavy/curly hair, it’s happened pretty often. I’m a server at a steakhouse and have had women call me papi and whatnot. There was also one time I had just finished running outside and put my backpack on but was still shirtless, some women came up to me and took a picture of me and with me lmao

    It never really bothers me and is generally pretty funny, but there have been times when they’ve just went ahead and groped me which I was definitely not down with.

  19. pokejoel Avatar

    Were you on vacation in Thailand?

  20. SexandBeer45 Avatar

    Wave and hold the phone fingers to your head. Call Me! They’ll quit.

  21. JanitorOPplznerf Avatar

    If neither of you are bothered I’d just let it go. Research shows people are happiest and healthiest long term delaying sex to mid 20s, but 17 is old enough that he can understand some of these things.

    But of course that’s largely because boys have less to lose from sex. My response might be different for a girl.

  22. desdeloseeuu2 Avatar

    Usually I get broad shoulders a few times.

  23. magniankh Avatar

    I was 18, fresh out of HS. Worked out daily. Walking down a road shirtless with all the confidence in the world. 3 girls (or women?) drove by and yelled some things to the tune of, “Yeahhhh!!” 

    I liked it. But they didn’t turn around, so that was that. 

  24. DookieDanny Avatar

    I was never cat called. Not even sure i was ever even clearly hit on- by chicks.

    One time i was hit on by a chick, which i was so excited, but then she said its for her friend over there, who was a dude. I was still flattered but thats the closest i can remember.

    My guess is ur son has some serious looks and swagger.

  25. Canadairy Avatar

    Yeah. When I used to go out to the bars I’d get catcalled, and occasionally groped, by strange women.  Some women really go for the cowboy look.

  26. ContinousSelfDevelop Avatar

    Was walking with my brother when I got a drive by one where she shouted,” God damn you are looking good, can you be my daddy?” He didn’t believe stuff like that actually happened to me until he saw that.

  27. BigGold3317 Avatar

    sent my gf to the entrance of her all-girls dorm 30-odd years ago. A bunch of them were plastered to the windows shouting out all sorts of naughty words.

    Happened everytime I come to fetch her too. there’s a guest waiting room and a few of them would just go in, pass me by and then run away giggling.

  28. Masakari5700 Avatar

    I would assume it was either a troll/dare by friends or directed to someone else and move on with my day

  29. brooksie1131 Avatar

    When I was around that age I got catcalled by some older women. Granted older in comparison to 17. I think they were mid 30s. And yes they clearly had been drinking. 

  30. actualhumannotspider Avatar

    Yep, in college when running shirtless. Fairly common from both men and women, lol. The group of people and their choice of words influenced whether I thought it was sincere or not.

    I usually just laughed. If it seemed sincere I was usually flattered.

    In general, I think it can feel quite different for men than for women.

  31. rugbyfan72 Avatar

    Back in the ’90’s running without a shirt on and women driving by would catcall or honk all the time. I thought it was funny and thought of it as a confidence booster. I can see why women don’t like it though. I don’t look like that anymore so wouldn’t run without a shirt anymore. Now I would just hear dry heaves. LOL.

  32. Disgruntled_Oldguy Avatar

    Riding my road bike; stopped at light.  Black woman yells that my ass looks like 2 juicy hams.  I pulled in front of her and twerked. She honked. Good fun. 

  33. Wonky_dialup Avatar

    Worked a 24 hour shift at a factory as a teenager. There was an all female team doing QC on the product floor which would catcall me all the time. My seniors would joke about how popular I was with the transexuals in that group.

    Also got cat called in empty convenience stores by the cashiers. Then they’d get flustered when I finally have to go to the counter to pay.

    The worst was when I lived in a small town. The customer’s  favourite restaurant had outdoor urinals. The waitresses would come by and loudly ask if I was masturbating. Usually yelling loud enough to startle and nearly make me miss.

    If I can get away from the situation or it’s awkward flirting it’s not so bad. Sometimes it’s meant to tease and I’m not fond of that 

  34. Age-Zealousideal Avatar

    I was catcalled once in my younger days. She was drunk.

  35. theSilentNerd Avatar

    I was putting weights on my leg press machine at the gym.
    A woman passed by and said “slow down, you’ll be drowning in pussy”.
    I laughed and answered “thanks, I’m taken”.

  36. Marruuk Avatar

    I was with the Canadian Rangers when we were called to active duty for forest fires. This was 2017, when all of Williams Lake was evacuated in British Columbia. Even when the local threat was over, and we started moving to operations further away from the city, we were still bunked in either the city hall or an old school.

    Some of the local women were pretty aggressive.. They would come to the base and hit on troops. I would get cat called while walking off base. The brass forbid us from fraternizing with the locals.

    The rangers are not the fit young reg forces troops like the infantry and engineers I was posted with. I was a bearded, long-haired, semi-civilian who was there for local area knowledge and predator control (we were the only ones who were allowed to have rifles off base). Even so, it felt pretty good to get that kind of attention but also kind of confusing.

  37. Ill-Organization-719 Avatar

    Once a car load of girls drove by and one leaned out the window and yelled “you’re hot” at me. I felt pretty good. I didn’t really have any time to react other than look longingly as they drove away. 

  38. RedZingo Avatar

    I had an obviously drunk, much, much older woman (mid sixties probably)slap me on the ass. I yelled “What the fuck bitch!?!” and she scream/slurred “I just had to tell you: your ass is pure poetry!”. I was at the state fair with my cousin. I was 16 and he had just turned 18.

  39. Ok_Dog_4059 Avatar

    Twice, once changing my shirt on the side of the road and once rollerblading without a shirt on. Both times I just assumed they were being snarky about it and basically teasing.

  40. no-long-boards Avatar

    I make a V with my fingers and stick my tongue between them.

  41. crearios Avatar

    I got wolf whistled on my first day at university from a window in my halls but didn’t catch who did it.

    Later in a bar a woman came over and admitted it was her and her friend. I didn’t really say much about it; we just had some drinks and spoke about other stuff in the end. Dated for a couple of years after

  42. deliberatelyawesome Avatar

    I wanted to ensure it didn’t happen again so I dropped my pants.

    Good news. It still hasn’t happened again.

    In other news I didn’t know we still had men’s only prisons in this country.

  43. Ok_Acanthisitta_9369 Avatar

    I got cat-called quite a lot in my teens and early twenties. Usually while running with my shirt off.