Slate: The Problem With That Catcalling Video

[heyjude]

My husband was so angry about this this morning!

And I agree!!

[heyjude]

I think we need to SERIOUSLY question why a preppy WHITE DUDE who was a columnist with the Washington Times is making this video that depicts only black and Latino males as Neanderthals and edited out the white ones.

[pixy0stix]

Oct 30, 2014 10:49:31 GMT -5 heyjude said:

I think we need to question why a preppy white guy who was a columnist with the Washington Times is making this video that depicts only black and Latino males as Neanderthals and edited out the white ones.

That's easy, or at least the impetus for the video: There have been several other videos and projects lately in the news exploring street harassment. It's hot right now, so of course he wanted a piece of the pie.

[heyjude]

Oct 30, 2014 10:52:47 GMT -5 pixy0stix said:

Oct 30, 2014 10:49:31 GMT -5 heyjude said:

I think we need to question why a preppy white guy who was a columnist with the Washington Times is making this video that depicts only black and Latino males as Neanderthals and edited out the white ones.

That's easy, or at least the impetus for the video: There have been several other videos and projects lately in the news exploring street harassment. It's hot right now, so of course he wanted a piece of the pie.

That doesn't explain the racial aspect.

[cville]

"A really good video about catcalling actually already exists. In Jessica’s Feminized Atmosphere, Jessica Williams of the Daily Show covers the whole range of street harassment, from construction workers (of all races) to security guards to Wall Street “douche bags” to teenagers hanging on the corner. She and a group of women lay down pins on places in New York to avoid and by the end, the entire map is covered. There are race and class issues latent in her video, too. She is black, and the women she gathers for her discussion group are all races. But you don’t leave with that icky impression of a white woman under assault by the big bad city. Plus, she has the group demonstrate the armor they wear while walking down the street, which turns into a glorious mosaic of bitch face. "



I LOVE THAT VIDEO.  I watched that segment with my husband and when she started singing You're a Grand Old Flag and skipping down the street to avoid catcalls, I was giggling (ruefully) and looked over to see him rather shell-shocked.  When it was over he was like "wow, that's really depressing.  Does that happen to you?"

I was amazed.  I'd call him a feminist, he'd call himself a feminist, but he was unaware of how pervasive the problem is and how scary it can be for women.  I was like "um, der but not when you're around."  

[Deleted]

The morning show here was talking about this video yesterday and there were tons of men calling in saying they "aren't creepy about it" and "mean it as a compliment". My husband asked me my opinion on that. I explained to him that it's not a huge leap of logic from feeling like you have the right to comment on someone's appearance to having the right to comment on their behavior when they don't react "appropriately" to feeling you have the right to physically punish them. That is why women never feel like these things are innocent fun. It's a reminder that we're looked at as an object.

Now, my husband is about as shy a man as ever made so I know he's never catcalled anyone. He wouldn't be able to make the sound come out of his mouth. But he did say he'd never thought of that and he's going to approach people who he sees doing it at work.

I was proud.

[cville]

Oct 30, 2014 11:03:54 GMT -5 @silver said:

The morning show here was talking about this video yesterday and there were tons of men calling in saying they "aren't creepy about it" and "mean it as a compliment". My husband asked me my opinion on that. I explained to him that it's not a huge leap of logic from feeling like you have the right to comment on someone's appearance to having the right to comment on their behavior when they don't react "appropriately" to feeling you have the right to physically punish them. That is why women never feel like these things are innocent fun. It's a reminder that we're looked at as an object.

Now, my husband is about as shy a man as ever made so I know he's never catcalled anyone. He wouldn't be able to make the sound come out of his mouth. But he did say he'd never thought of that and he's going to approach people who he sees doing it at work.

I was proud.

I've already ranted about this yesterday, but BULLSHIT.  If it were a mere compliment that wasn't creepy, it wouldn't be something that is ONLY done to women alone or in small groups.  You can compliment my husband in front of me.  But when you won't "hey baby, smile!" me in front of my husband that means that what you're doing is sexually aggressive.  I know.  You know.  My husband knows.  And I know you know it because you WON'T don't it in front of the person who is actually privileged enough to have sex with me.

Fuck them.

[Deleted]

Oct 30, 2014 11:06:58 GMT -5 cville said:

Oct 30, 2014 11:03:54 GMT -5 @silver said:

The morning show here was talking about this video yesterday and there were tons of men calling in saying they "aren't creepy about it" and "mean it as a compliment". My husband asked me my opinion on that. I explained to him that it's not a huge leap of logic from feeling like you have the right to comment on someone's appearance to having the right to comment on their behavior when they don't react "appropriately" to feeling you have the right to physically punish them. That is why women never feel like these things are innocent fun. It's a reminder that we're looked at as an object.

Now, my husband is about as shy a man as ever made so I know he's never catcalled anyone. He wouldn't be able to make the sound come out of his mouth. But he did say he'd never thought of that and he's going to approach people who he sees doing it at work.

I was proud.

I've already ranted about this yesterday, but BULLSHIT.  If it were a mere compliment that wasn't creepy, it wouldn't be something that is ONLY done to women alone or in small groups.  You can compliment my husband in front of me.  But when you won't "hey baby, smile!" me in front of my husband that means that what you're doing is sexually aggressive.  I know.  You know.  My husband knows.  And I know you know it because you WON'T don't it in front of the person who is actually privileged enough to have sex with me.

Fuck them.

All of this.  I sent a ranting text and called to leave the station a message to this effect.  YOU ARE BEING AGGRESSIVE AND MISOGYNISTIC.  Just because you do it was a smile doesn't make it better.

[cinnamoncox]

About 12 years ago Dh and I were at the supermarket together, but on separate aisles. A man followed me and said "you're killing me with those pants, damn woman"

I got flustered and mumbled something and scurried away. Dh could tell I was acting weird, so I told him about it in the car, and said never to speak to a woman like that, because who knows, maybe the man thought he was being complimentary, but I felt kind of sick to my stomach.
I was 23 then, but if it happened now, I'd like to think I would say something articulate and not be so caught off guard.
And now that we have daughters, I hope Dh is extra careful of it. The idea go anyone catcalling my girls, or my teen son catcalling someone gets me twitchy.

I hate all the "can't you take a compliment" shit. That dude didn't say it to me when I was on the same aisle as Dh, he waited until I was alone.

[redwino]

This pisses me off. I applauded the video because it gave me insight into something that I didn't fully understand. I noticed thy the men were mostly Black and Latino but truly chalked it up to those being the people in the area that she usually walks. I naively thought she was showing us a glimpse into her regular day. Now I feel silly for not thinking about how these things really work. Of course they deliberately chose certain neighborhoods and now we know they edited it to show certain people. The message is still a good one but it's definitely tainted now.

[kitkat1502]

Oct 30, 2014 13:02:30 GMT -5 redwino said:

Of course they deliberately chose certain neighborhoods and now we know they edited it to show certain people. The message is still a good one but it's definitely tainted now.

She definitely walked all over NYC though. She's Soho at one point and Times Square too.