For the past 18 months the big industrial block next to my gym has been a building site. What was once an empty paddock now contains four concrete warehouses, finished and ready for tenants. I’m sad that the build has finally come to an end because… well, to be honest, I enjoyed seeing tradies every time I arrived for an exercise class. There were hordes of them – electricians, plumbers, concreters, carpenters, landscape gardeners – all in their work shirts and boots, high vis vests and hard hats. For a year and a half I witnessed them pouring concrete, using nail guns, sitting on the kerb having smoko, pushing wheelbarrows, digging holes.
But in all that time, despite my fancy lycra pants, I did not receive a single wolf whistle.
I seem to read an article every second week that condemns catcalling. It’s a hot topic. And I’ve seen the footage of the woman who, in 2014, walked around New York for 10 hours and received 108 catcalls during her journey. Whoa. That’s a lot of sleazy men who felt entitled to make rude remarks to a total stranger. Perhaps the USA is a little different to Australia, but clearly this sort of thing is not uncommon; I’m sure plenty of women endure sexual harassment on a daily basis.
Watch what a day walking the streets of New York City is like for a woman. (Post continues after video.)
So I think what I’m going to write next will appall many women, but here goes: I long for someone to wolf whistle at me.