• It’s the equivalent of juvenile chimps flinging shit. Some people never really got past that jungle phase.

  • A friend who gets catcalled often thinks it’s mostly men posturing for other men; they don’t usually do it when they’re alone.

    • As a woman, my experience says this is largely dependent on the culture. Go to Latin America and men cat call women even when they’re alone. Day, night, at work- doesn’t matter. If anything, I’ve never been catcalled in enclosed spaces such as public transport or elevators, but I’ve occasionally had a hand on my ass if it’s super crowded. If you ask me this totally puts them in the bully category, and bullies can also work in groups.

      In Australia I’ve only seen men catcalling women while they are drinking, and yeah they were also not drinking alone. The catcalling also feels sillier or less serious somehow, perhaps because it’s obvious they’re being drunk and stupid.

      YMMV.

      Edit: also let me add, in the first example men catcall any woman. I think any woman between the ages of 12 and 60 is a good target for catcalling, as long as they’re not morbidly obese.

      In the second example, only conventionally attractive women, often dressed somewhat suggestively, get catcalled.

      • I wasn’t really thinking about cultural differences in my comment. The friend in question is a conventionally attractive woman who lives in the USA.

  • 15 hours

    As a big burly (but cis) bloke who would be described as a “bear” in some circles, there’s nothing more fun than supporting my female friends then returning the “compliment” back to these men. It’s funny how quickly they find it repulsive and it can be quickly turned into a learning experience for them.

  • Women are simply objects in those situations. Something to be ogled at as they walk by. Men don’t care what those women think of them, they’re signaling to each other that they find that woman attractive.

  • When I see people out exercising I often get the urge to yell that they are doing a good job or looking great if I see them working hard. But I never do.

    • I’m a cis man, so maybe take this with a grain of salt, but if I get encourement from a random person like this, I absolutely kick my effort up a notch and remember it for months-years.

      I’d like think people might be able to tell the difference between “keep it up” or “you’re doing great” and a full on catcall, but I’ve never been catcalled so… ¯\(ツ)

    • 8 hours

      If someone said that to me I would probably assume it’s sarcasm

      • I’ve done it plenty of times.
        I did it to encourage people to be in good shape, because it started with people doing it to me.

      • When is catcalling catcalling. Is asking someone out catcalling?
        Is asking someone out on the street catcalling?

        • Whistles and calling out sexual things usually. Comments on a woman’s body, what they’d like to do to her, etc.

          No one is asking for dates while they’re catcalling.

  • A combination of the power of making them uncomfortable and a lack of empathy and viewing women as objects to be admired and not full people.

  • It’s basically bullying like you say. They enjoy the power they hold over a woman to be able to say degrading things about her without consequence.

  • I also think it’s infantile behaviour, crowd/group mind psychology where they collectively act worse than the individual; IMHO the bully/cat caller gets pleasure in reaffirming their role within the group and will continue to do so unless somebody from the group itself strongly challenges them (complains, warns them, etc) or something else goes badly for them from bystanders intervening.

    They pretty much don’t care about the response from the victim unless it’s “entertaining” and reenforces their clown act

    Not a psych worker, just my 2c

    BTW it reminds me of the phenomenon where a crowd freezes instead of helping an injured person, since there’s too many people and little “per capita” pressure to help a stranger in need

  • I don’t think you realize they don’t care and don’t have that social respect normal people have.

  • Do people still do that? I don’t think I’ve ever seen it IRL, but then again I don’t live somewhere that’s known for it.

  • Second option all the way. If they thought cat-calling could earn them a date they’d have realised empirically that it doesn’t

  • It’s just fun for them. There is no thinking involved, so your question is meaningless.