Wolf whistling, ok. Or offensive. Thoughts!

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.

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

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.

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 or maybe that should be "child up"

I attended a school that enforced quite a strict uniform code and to get to my school, I had to pass a Firestation and several building sites....this was the early 70's.
I was a very well developed 12/13 year old, so physically 5"6in tall and even at that age quite "busty".
I and several friends would be subjected to wolf whistles, shouts of a very sexual nature and varied comments about our chest size, etc on a daily basis.
I absolutely hated it and would plan various routes to avoid places I knew it would happen.
As a young, developing woman....it created a lot of issues in my mind about my body.

Wolf whistles used to be good for the ego, and were harmless fun

For some perhaps. Certainly for the men it was fun.

Many women are saying it made them uncomfortable and unsafe.

Why are those experiences devalued?

Bluebells. I agree with you and others that say there's no harm I being wolf whistled at. When I was young I did have a few over the tears and always treated it as a bit of fun. Far too much PC going on these days
And yes I daresay some will find it offensive but some would find a bed of roses offensive because they don't like the smell if roses. Why do we always have to pander to the few? There's always some people who find some things offensive.

seems I didn't edit imagine be laddish so bad I named them twice!

Sadly, whistling of any sort is a thing of the past. Wolf whistles used to be good for the ego, and were harmless fun.

As for other types of whistling, how often do we hear a tune being whistled?

Same here BlueBelle!

A wolf whistle used to be a gentle bit of lighthearted fun, quite flattering and never meant more than that. Seems it changed over the years and `I agree that when accompanied by lewd remarks/gestures might be very upsetting for some people. It's the people (on both sides) who have changed not the whistle.

I think what this thread has thrown up there is clearly a divide on how well all view this. Some have enjoyed that form of attention that's their prerogative we are all different. I'm going to stick my head above the parapet and say that maybe you have to be a woman to appreciate just how unwelcome such situations can be imagine be, although my husband definitely got that when the subject came up, particularly as a father and grandfather of girls, he certainly saw the crassness of men who were prone to wolf whistle and cat call at random women, although we both agree with young men it's all about bravado. We also agree that prosecuting such men is a step too far for what is essentially in most cases banal laddish laddish behaviour.

However, I would reiterate, like others, all that stared quite early for me, 12 maybe, yes it was the time of of the mini skirt and I remember walking home from a friends and becoming aware of being whistled and shouted at and then the car slowing right down and crawling along the pavement behind me for a short while before it sped up again, that feeling of alarm stayed with me, I didn't want that attention and at that age it was unnerving. Later on as a young woman, I felt annoyed at being objectified, exasperated when I was walking along alone with my thoughts minding my own business and never flattered, unwelcome inanities from strangers, why would I have been! not the same as office banter which I often did enjoy with male colleagues who I got on with.

I have heard that it happens in reverse and young men in the workplace have been on the receiving end of female sexist comments. Also unacceptable imo.

I dont get wolf whistles any more and if I did I would think they need glasses. But in my day they were always regarded as a compliment, not a 'i want sex with you'. Yes it is a shame.

When I was young it was common and it was actually a thing to smile over and I and my female friends used to see it as a compliment. It made you feel attractive. We would always ignore it though, we never responded except with a giggle among ourselves. But I realise times and attitudes have changed. A few years ago I was out with my daughter, who was in her 20s. A couple of guys went by in a car and wolf whistled at her, and shouted "Hello gorgeous!" She did not like it and said they were arseholes. So there's the difference, and I do get it. However, last summer I came out of my house to go out somewhere (in a shirt and jeans) and a bin man that I passed said to me "You look very nice today my dear." I smiled and said "thank you". At 62, it actually made my day! :-)

As young nurses in the early 70s we used to get a lot of attention especially being in uniform with the large capes,but like Call the midwife. Didn't particularly mind the wolf whistles but if someone on a building site said anything offensive their mates would shut them down. Think they had respect for nurses.
But after the late shifts we had problems with men flashing and doing worse as we would walk from the hospital to the nurses home. After a 10 hour shift it really was the last thing you needed to see. Wasn't particularly scared more irritated. The police didn't seem too concerned and just suggested walking the long route to avoid trouble. We couldn't be bothered and just chatted to each other about the horrors of the day. My friend had a wonderful tale of a male catheterization that went wrong ,think that spoiled their moment !

So awful but I like it.

If I didn’t get a wolf whistle as a teenager, I used to walk past again!

If and when I got one back in the day it put a smile on my face. In our world of to PC let’s keep a few things from being banned. As Denise van Outen said it puts a spring in her step.

A friend of mine was going through a bad time. She was wolf whistled by a group of workmen, which raised her spirits until she heard on say “Blimey, you ain’t fussy mate”

Back in the day I used to quite like it, to be honest.
But they don't exist any more, do they? Isn't it against the
'health and safety' rules these days?

@Grandad1943 I wouldn't call 2007 "a different era" but alright

Why are they called wolf whistles?

Offensive maybe isn't the right word, it makes a lot of people feel unsafe and uncomfortable. I remember running all the way home down the back alleys of the houses after I ignored some boys wolfwhistling at me from their car and they proceeded to drive down the road alongside me. I was only 13. If other people enjoy it that's up to them and I certainly don't judge them for it, but for me personally it's never sat right when I'm on the recieving end.

BTW - I do laugh it off when it happens, but it just does shout out that somebody feels a right to comment very publicly about ones appearance. - No different really to shouting out 'Wey hey a (put your own word - black girl, fatty, blondie)'. Very rude.

I miss the office banter we used to have with the men! Now I guess it would be illegal and we would all be up the road!