tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6730657139931062421.post2340975656845652963..comments2023-05-14T03:03:09.451-05:00Comments on Female Impersonator: Walking as Rebellion? A Follow-UpAmeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10884754298018500343noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6730657139931062421.post-26175469913252965072009-08-09T17:14:02.424-05:002009-08-09T17:14:02.424-05:00I blog about a similar experience here: http://sma...I blog about a similar experience here: http://smallstroke.wordpress.com/2009/07/27/open-letter-men-gym/<br /><br />I've since started taking note of every time this happens to me at the gym, and not being shy about telling a guy to just mind his own business. Your posts here have given me the confidence that I'm doing the right thing. Thanks!Ashleyhttp://smallstroke.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6730657139931062421.post-47527906966539549352009-07-22T15:25:19.407-05:002009-07-22T15:25:19.407-05:00It's weird; I've noticed that people seem ...It's weird; I've noticed that people seem to have an almost-ingrained desire to shout/honk at pedestrians, seemingly for no reason. My friends and I are regular pedestrians for personal and financial reasons and we can't go two blocks without someone screaming something obscene or honking repetitively.<br /><br />Where my experiences depart is that I'm male, and as a result the things being shouted take on a different character. I still get a fair ammount of "suck my dick!" and "faggot!" but I think it's safe to say that our respective cat-callers have different motives (especially those bros that drove by and threw a lit firecracker at my friends and I last week), and I will note that, for me, it's a much rarer occurrence that the greetings take on a sexual or abusive turn (usually it's JUST honking.)<br /><br />Though our situations are different for a few reasons, I've recently started carrying a bicycle horn with me so I can respond to the motorists in their "native language." The sound is abrasive enough that I find it psychologically gratifying and adequately angry, yet absurd enough that I like to think it sticks in the shouters' brains long enough to make them wonder what exactly it is they're doing.Cognition Ambitionhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05097484158609810201noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6730657139931062421.post-5830060250128390012009-07-13T03:54:48.954-05:002009-07-13T03:54:48.954-05:00Great idea. I'll have a think and probably se...Great idea. I'll have a think and probably send something in.Sarangahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03545162612237984546noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6730657139931062421.post-16749527082828522212009-07-12T20:03:39.291-05:002009-07-12T20:03:39.291-05:001. Harassment as compliments <--- This absolute...1. Harassment as compliments <--- This absolutely deserves a separate blog post, especially if you'd examine it with the idea of Male Gaze in mind. I've honestly never seen it discussed seriously outside of a few occasions where it was discussed by feminists for an audience of feminists. With respect to the more broad topic of public catcalling/etc, polite compliments are definitely a far lesser evil, and maybe even relatively a "good" thing, depending on your perspective.<br /><br />There's a lot of ways to look at that particular issue.<br /><br />2. Solutions: There really isn't a good way to respond immediately, because even not responding will probably be considered a response, and getting the angry ,,|,, reaction is exactly what they want you to do. I really like the whole hollaback idea in theory, and I can see it appealing to an audience sympathetic to the feminist cause, but I personally can't imagine it having an impact on catcalling as a social phenomenon.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08305516222213331351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6730657139931062421.post-46758134076482380192009-07-12T16:34:06.819-05:002009-07-12T16:34:06.819-05:00Sadly, titling is not my forte, but I'm happy ...Sadly, titling is not my forte, but I'm happy to join you on this particular crusade.Zippahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14821858545952786165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6730657139931062421.post-47144357321796435722009-07-12T13:53:25.549-05:002009-07-12T13:53:25.549-05:00I remember when I studied abroad, we went to Bruss...I remember when I studied abroad, we went to Brussels (by far the most diverse city we visited - in every sense of the word). Afterwards, A male friend of mine, and the only black person on the trip, mentioned that he loved Brussels because of its diversity. Many of the women expressed a pretty strong dislike for it, because you couldn't walk 10 feet without catcalls - my gf got propositioned (not just yelled at) a couple times by 50 year old men on the street, and we constantly felt unsafe walking at night. Interesting how that changes your perceptions so greatly.<br /><br />He kind of blew off the comments by saying that was the culture of the immigrants, blah blah blah, but I still hate Brussels.dammit janethttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02538378534537654489noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6730657139931062421.post-20618527460103115952009-07-12T13:35:18.073-05:002009-07-12T13:35:18.073-05:00It's interesting to read this in conjunction w...It's interesting to read this in conjunction with the <a href="http://fridaythang.com/blog/2009/07/07/misogyny-and-the-male-gaze/" rel="nofollow">thoughts I've been having</a> about misogyny and the objectification of women, and how it's affected me differently pre- and mid-transition.<br /><br />The major conclusion I've come to, and it seems you're in the same place, is that 'the little things' shouldn't be allowed to slide. It's incredibly tempting to ignore minor jokes or the small issues of objectification, but I think you're right that the only way to affect change is to speak up.Rebeccahttp://fridaythang.com/blognoreply@blogger.com