Make cat-calling a punishable crime!

Feb 13, 2021 Letters

DEAR EDITOR,

Kaieteur News – Cat-calling is defined by Merriam-Webster as, “a loud, sexually suggestive call or comment directed at someone publicly (as on the street).” Wikipedia describes sexual harassment as “involving the use of explicit or sexual overtones, including the unwelcome or inappropriate promise of rewards in exchange of sexual favours.” This is the daily reality of many women while walking the streets of Guyana (I am sure it happens elsewhere too). While some may find this complimenting, I in no way am comfortable with it or in agreement. For the conservative women, who just want to go about their daily activities and get their jobs done, just think of how troubling this is for them. Editor, allow me some space in your newspaper to vent a little and express my utter disgust of what seems to be the never-ending struggle for women.
“Look at you baby!” “Watch da body!” “I could imagine wha you gat down deh!” “You got a lot ah ration deh!” “If I was you man! …” and the list is never ending. For the life of me, I cannot understand how some men would think this is flattering for women! Over the years, I have struggled with being uncomfortable venturing out of my home for the sole reason of the remarks that are made by some insensitive men! I, in no way find these remarks to be complimenting! Picture minding your own business, walking into the supermarket and being followed so close that you can literally feel someone breathing down your neck! Walking casually towards the bus park and a man just walks past you and touches your rear! What is even more appalling is when they gang up on the side of the road and you have to pass them to get to your destination and not one or two but ALL of them start with their “remarks,” which undoubtedly attracts the attention of others.
Why not report it? Report it to whom? There you are standing at the junction waiting for transportation to take you home and a patrol vehicle turns in the intersection and it is loaded with policemen, then the patrol vehicle slows down and the occupants, not mere civilians but those who took the oath to serve and protect, start making “remarks” as well! Just to give you an idea of what these “men of the law” remarked, “Nice food!” “Watch da thing!” “Look at you baby!” Just think if a woman had to go to those very policemen for protection or to file a complaint of sexual harassment what would happen.
Some may laugh this off, and I know, because I have had the unfortunate experience of having recounted these experiences to others before and it was just brushed off with the utterances of, “oh men will be men,” or “maybe they like what they see,” and even once or twice being told by other men, “you will just have to learn to deal with it.” Why should I have to deal with it if some do not know how to behave? When, would women be allowed to walk the roads, go about their daily business with ease and without having to look over their shoulders? This becomes very embarrassing when you are with your child/children and one would think some men would have the decency to behave around children but it is just not so. This does not stop them; instead, they even drag the child/children into their uncouth behaviour causing further embarrassment for not only the women but also their child/children.
At this point, I am not sure where to vent and who to vent to. Is there lack in the upbringing of our boys that they fail to be “respectable men?” Are we as a society failing to instil good values in our youths? There are many answers to these questions I am certain. I am calling on the relevant authorities to look into legislation that would make the streets of Guyana safer and welcoming to women by instituting fines and penalties for those found guilty of cat-calling and sexual harassment.
I welcome the day when not just me but every woman and girl can walk the streets peacefully without being looked at as a “piece of meat”.

Yours faithfully,
I. Ram

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