Catcalls: they’re uncomfortable, creepy, and way out of hand. What should we do to keep ourselves safe? Start by avoiding these harassment hotspots.
1. Any Kwik Trip
It’s true—Kwik Trips, and pretty much all gas stations (if you can find any others in La Crosse) are a crucial spot to steer clear of if you want to avoid strange men shouting obscenities your way. Need gas? Try the city bus instead!
2. The city bus
What’s worse than being trapped on a bus with someone who just vocally expressed their explicit mental images of you? Few things make me cringe more.
3. Downtown after 10 PM
Alcohol plus Robin Thicke equals harassment.
4. Downtown before 10 PM
I would suggest making your own burrito in the comfort of your home instead of risking the walk to Qdoba.
5. At work
It’s never a good sign when someone compliments your belt from behind.
6. Family getaways
Not even your parents can protect you from harassment on vacation.
7. The street
Whether you’re walking to campus or driving your car on a warm fall day with the windows cracked—there’s definitely a chance for harassment here. Be cautioned, ladies.
…or maybe we could teach boys that catcalling is rude, sexist, threatening, and a not-so-subtle way of asserting dominance.
Disclaimer: All of the places listed above are actual places that myself as well as treasured women in my life have been harassed. In no way am I trying to diminish or make light of such a serious issue.
While women and girls aren’t necessarily being told to stay away from certain locations to avoid catcalls, we are being told that we should take it as a compliment, brush it off, and cover up. To my delight, street harassment has been a hot topic lately in the media. Since the organization Hollaback! released their video highlighting the horrors of being a woman walking around NYC for ten hours, it seems like catcalling is being addressed all over the place. And that’s awesome. The more mainstream this information gets, the better. It’s easy to assume that street harassment only happens in big cities or after everyone has had a couple drinks, but in reality, street harassment happens all the time, even in quaint, little La Crosse. It’s time that changes.