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Wolf whistling, ok. Or offensive. Thoughts!

(255 Posts)
TrendyNannie6 Tue 18-Feb-20 22:03:01

What do gransnetters think of this

TerriBull Wed 19-Feb-20 11:07:07

To all those 12 and 13 year old girls who moan and groan about having men shouting, whistling and the odd lewd comment, woman up angry or maybe that should be "child up"

Nortsat46 Wed 19-Feb-20 11:08:24

I agree Summerlove, for women who are saying it made them uncomfortable (including me) being told to ‘get over it’, isn’t helpful. Surely we can have a contrary opinion without devaluing someone else’s experience.

Yennifer Wed 19-Feb-20 11:10:55

Oh that was a long time ago! I didn't like it though, always made me jump x

clareken Wed 19-Feb-20 11:10:59

My mum got wolf whistled at, as she walked through a London train station. She said she found it very funny, and especially the whistler's face when she turned around, because she was 8 months pregnant. She always carried all her baby weight at the front, and from behind you couldn't tell. He apologised profusely, but mum laughed and said that he had made her day.

Annaram1 Wed 19-Feb-20 11:11:21

I must say I didn't mind at all being wolf whistled at. The last whistle I got was 30 years ago at the age of 57. I did appreciate that. It made my day...

CarrieAnn Wed 19-Feb-20 11:11:29

Loved getting wolf whistled,it made my day.Oh that I looked that good now

Yennifer Wed 19-Feb-20 11:16:53

I expect its called wolf whistling because men generally didn't do it unless they were in a pack and it was a bit more like letting each other know there was prey nearby than sending a message to the woman x

tickingbird Wed 19-Feb-20 11:20:51

Greymar

No I certainly do not condone child grooming; online or anywhere else for that matter!

Calendargirl Wed 19-Feb-20 11:22:37

Times have changed. I was quite flattered when I got whistled at, I wore shirt skirts and had good legs. It was in the Twiggy era, I never had much bust, was always conscious of my flattish chest but by the time I was 17 or so, my look was ‘in’. If you didn’t get whistled at, it was a bit disappointing. I would flounce by, but with extra spring in my step.
Long time ago, different times.

inishowen Wed 19-Feb-20 11:25:23

I got plenty as a teenager but felt so embarrassed walking past a group of males. At one time I worked in an office belonging to a factory. Sometimes I had to walk through the factory to speak to the boss. The filthy language aimed at me was disgusting. I had to leave that job.

HannahLoisLuke Wed 19-Feb-20 11:34:20

The problem I think is that when you're young enough to attract a whistle you feel embarrassed and uncomfortable about it.
Once you're old enough to accept it as a compliment you don't get them anymore!

Reminds me of my very feisty sister, who, walking to visit my mum one day was whistled and cat called from a building site
So much that she retorted " OK, if you can catch it you can have it" then ran like hell and got to mum's house and slammed the door.
She wasn't followed, I think the whistlers were gobsmacked.
We're still astounded that she acted in such a risky manner. ?

TerriBull Wed 19-Feb-20 11:37:35

I accept that some people enjoyed being wolf whistled at, what I find harder to accept is the blythe dismissal of uncomfortable and often adolescent experiences with the "some will always find something to complain about" type of remark.

Glambat Wed 19-Feb-20 11:41:25

Oh Dear....seems a pretty contentious topic.....personally I never minded, but the last time it happened to me is lost in the mists of time !!!

Yennifer Wed 19-Feb-20 11:43:35

It shouldn't be contentious. Other people feeling differently about something doesn't make someone else "wrong" for the way they feel x

Phloembundle Wed 19-Feb-20 11:49:30

I never found them offensive compared to some of the things I was subjected to by men in my youth.

Dianehillbilly1957 Wed 19-Feb-20 11:49:55

I wish!!?

gustheguidedog Wed 19-Feb-20 12:13:10

Message deleted by Gransnet. Here's a link to our Talk Guidelines.

Baggs Wed 19-Feb-20 12:18:27

galaxy: They would run a mile.

grin grin

rosenoir Wed 19-Feb-20 12:23:24

I remember as teen and early twenties avoiding walking past workmen sometimes going far out of my way, now I dont know why I did, embarrassment I suppose.

Baggs Wed 19-Feb-20 12:29:33

Re whistling generally, there is a young(ish) man who comes to do repairs where I work. He's a really good, helpful workman. He whistles while he goes out to get tools from his van. It's lovely.

We lived down a quiet farm lane when I started at secondary school. My mum knew when I was coming down the lane because I used to whistle my way home once I'd got off the bus. #memories

grandtanteJE65 Wed 19-Feb-20 12:35:38

I always felt complimented when lads wolf-whistled at me and as long as the comment made wasn't rude, I didn' t mind a builder passing a remark either.

Did that make me a very vain young woman.

There used to be a joke about a British lady who complained to a gendarme in Paris that a man had made a flirtatious remark. He replied, "Madame, you will be sorry the day no-one any longer does so."

Greymar Wed 19-Feb-20 12:37:50

I have reported your disgusting post gus. Go and play elsewhere please. Oh and men can get breast cancer.

tickingbird Wed 19-Feb-20 12:43:50

Greymar you’ve fed the troll - far better to just ignore.

anxiousgran Wed 19-Feb-20 13:11:09

I used to enjoy wolf whistles. I wouldn’t have enjoyed catcalls but I can’t remember that happening. Perhaps I just ignored it.
Many years ago I wolf whistled a man who I saw out running wearing purple silky running shorts, and was very attractive. I was in the car with window open. I don’t know why I did it but he looked very pleased and I saw him give a cheery wave in the wing mirror.

I haven’t heard any wolf whistles to anyone for a long time. I thought it had gone out of fashion.

JenniferEccles Wed 19-Feb-20 13:15:04

I did laugh at your comment Cambia when you said that as a teen if you didn’t get whistled at you would walk past again!!?