I lived for five years in Milwaukee, near a men’s homeless shelter. Here’s a little bit of background on me- I am a skinny white girl with a very big booty, so catcalls are nearly constant. This is my favorite story:
One day in January I was walking home, and happened to be in front of a few African American men I recognized as being residents of the shelter. One called out to me, “Hey! White girl! Anyone ever tell you you got a body of a sista’?”
Actually, yes.
So I stopped, turned around, calmly said, “Actually, yes. I have been told that before.”
The men stopped, looked at me, looked at each other, and then finally one yelled back, “Oh. Well, uh, have a happy Martin Luther King Day!”
This instance was more humorous than anything to me. I get cat called as much as any other girl. I don’t let it get to me. I think I have been conditioned to equate getting cat called with being attractive, or desirable. I make sure to always feel that I am in control of the situation. I interact with the cat callers, cat call them back, etc. I don’t EVER let them make me feel inferior or ashamed. No one can make you feel inferior without your consent…which is truly one of my favorite quotes.
– Anna W.
Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
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