I’m an exchange student from the USA currently in Ecuador, a beautiful country for its nature and culture. However, like many countries, there is also a strong “rape culture.” Spanish speakers would call the country “Machista”. Here, it is disgustingly common (and socially acceptable) for men to cat call the women and treat them like they are less than human beings.
To be honest, when I experienced a cat call for the first time here, I admit, I thought it was funny and kind of flattering. I thought, ‘Hey, they actually think I’m pretty.’ That was the last time I thought that. Every time I walk to the bus stop, I am honked at by men behind steering wheels and cars full of boys who whistle and shout things at me. The scariest is when I am just walking home at dusk with thoughts occupying my mind and all of a sudden, a deafening honk from a truck makes me jump out of my reverie and into a world where it’s funny to scare teenage girls walking by themselves. I’ve seen the faces of fully grown men, laughing to each other when they see I glance at the oncoming vehicle that beeped at me. I have learned to not look up.
I have never given the middle finger to anyone in my life, but one day, I thought it would be an interesting experiment to see someone’s reaction. As I was walking to the bus as usual, a truck with two men passed by, with the head of the passenger sticking out as he called to me. He said words like cute and pretty and I flipped him off. My heart was racing but I kept eye contact with him as his face fell into a kind of dumb stupor. The look of an excited boy who doesn’t understand why he’s gotten socks for Christmas. Later, I felt a panic. ‘What if they turn around? What if they kidnap me?’ It may have been an overreaction, but the fact that those possibilities enter my mind when I’m just walking on the sidewalk shows that this beautiful country isn’t as beautiful as it seems.
I shouldn’t have to carry a whistle in my bag. (Even though my best Ecuadorian friend tells me, even if you blew that whistle, no one would do anything. That is my culture.) I shouldn’t have to think about all the possible ways to defend myself with the rocks and shards of glass on the sidewalk.
I started a “Cat Call Count” on my computer, but lost count after I lost my spirit. I didn’t want to tally the honks and the “complements” anymore.
I know blonde people are a little scarce in this country, but it is no excuse to treat me like some zoo animal. The stares and shouts are unwanted and they don’t even notice.
– AKB
Location: Quito, Ecuador
Share your street harassment story for the blog.
Check out the new book 50 Stories about Stopping Street Harassers!
