Honking, hooting offended woman
This morning, as I was walking to school clad in a long, straight trench coat, hat and gloves, pants and wide-heeled loafers visible beneath the coat’s hem, I was vigorously honked at by a group of young men in a van, as it approached me on High Street from behind. I don’t know anyone who drives a white van, so I know they weren’t honking at me because they knew me. Approaching from behind, as they did, no one in this van could see my face at all. Certainly my cold-weather clothing prevented them from seeing my physique; even if they had, there would have been no excuse for their obnoxious behavior.I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve been harassed in this way, and frankly, I’m sick and tired of it. Honking and hooting at a woman who is walking down the street, or waiting at the bus stop, is NOT a compliment. Why not? Because compliments are personal. They have a personal context. I was not a person to these young men.They could not see enough of me to decide whether they thought I was attractive, and they certainly had never spoken to me or had any sort of real interaction with me. They identified me, perhaps from the few inches of blond hair showing from underneath my hat, as “female,” as “a woman.” So they took it upon themselves to let me know what? That they noticed? Thanks anyway. That they could make me feel threatened and that I had no power to stop them? Some compliment. No, I was not a person to these fellows. I was an object, a target, some “thing” to be honked at instead of some “one” with whom to interact.I think most women would agree that guys who honk and holler in this fashion are behaving like Neanderthals. It’s not flattering. It’s threatening, insulting, and offensive behavior. You know who you are: knock it off.
Sandee McGlaunGTA, English
