You’re assuming they think at all.
lol
Somebody actually cat-calls women? Not just a stereotype from 80’s broadcasting?
If they do, I’d imagine it’s a role they think they have to play for their peers. Do they do that when they are alone?
Tbh, they catcall teenage girls far, far more than they catcall women. And yes, it happens all the time when you’re young enough.
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.
That’s why I stay fat lol
As a man, that’s been my experience.
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.
Why ? are you afraid it would be mistaken for catcalling ?
If someone said that to me I would probably assume it’s sarcasm
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.
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.
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 agree.
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.
Men absolutely still cat call.
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.
This is the correct answer. At most they do think you like it. “Its just a compliment” etc.
It’s always seemed like negative attention seeking to me. Pretty much bullying with the facade of “compliments”
