Cat-Calling as Heterosexual Norm: An Ethnographic Study of Men that Cat-Call

• In Event: 090 - Section on Sociology of Sexualities Roundtable Session (one-hour).
  In Refereed Roundtable: Table 02. Sexual Violence, Harassment, and Discrimination

Abstract

Cat-calling, considered by some as street harassment, may be defined as whistling or other, sexually suggestive, sounds and utterances made by generally heterosexual men towards people perceived as women that are passing by, standing or otherwise occupying public space like the streets. When it comes to cat-calling, what is an often frustrating and pervasive street interaction for many women is considered harmless and innocent by most cat-callers and most people consider the interaction unimportant. This study captures stories of men that cat-call because data on cat-callers is lacking. I went about getting my interviews in two ways: I sat down to talk to one of the men that cat-called me on Broadway and Lafayette in New York City and I decided to spend several weeks with men hanging out in Washington Square Park (WSQ), notoriously known for their constant cat-calling. Many of the men are under the impression that cat-calling is something both genders understand in similar ways or, at least, as something heterosexual men do naturally. Further, men that cat-call can and do get sex and dating out of their attempts which is something many people do not believe takes place. There are several results indicating that race, class and gender intersect when it comes to cat-callers, women they choose to speak to and places and times they do it. Future research needs to consider different groups of men, by race or occupation as well as location.

Author

• Simone Alexandra Kolysh, City University of New York-Graduate Center