I was walking to the gym this afternoon minding my own business, listening to a podcast and enjoying the sunshine as I made my way along the high street. A man driving a van turned onto the high street, leaning out his window as he whistled two separate times. Caught off guard, I immediately put up my defenses and whipped my head towards the man with a look that said “DO NOT Whistle At Me.” He looked startled, as if he was expecting a response with less venom, and then he drove away. I carried on my way towards the gym, trying to make sense of the situation and refusing to allow myself to feel guilty.

I go to the gym three times a week. I wear colorful full-length leggings, running shoes, a black top, a grey jacket, and sometimes a coat if it’s too cold or rainy. When I am dressed like this I am not asking for compliments from men leaning out of their car windows as they hold up traffic. I shouldn’t be shamed into feeling like I have done something wrong for covering myself nearly head to toe in appropriate attire and making my way to the gym. I wondered if I would have been cat-called if I had worn my coat, and then I wondered if the cat-calling would increase towards the warmer months when women cannot hide behind bulky coats to make themselves feel safe walking along the high street.

Cat-calling from strangers is never called for and never acceptable, no matter the circumstances. This instance was just one of many I’ve had in my lifetime, and how sad is it to think that it will likely not be the last one? Clearly there are people who still have not received the message that women do not want to be complimented on the street. How is whistling to get a woman’s attention still a thing that men deem acceptable to practice in this day and age?