“Oi oi, beautiful!”

It’s shouted from a passing van, muttered from a nearby doorstep, or barked out of a car window. But no matter how it sounds, catcalling isn’t a compliment; it’s a constant reminder that women are viewed as public property.

Let’s be clear: catcalling is not about attraction. It’s a power play. It’s a misogynistic tactic used by men to remind women that their bodies are always up for comment, that their presence in public is never entirely their own. It reinforces a cruel, quiet rule: step outside, and you become a man’s property to desire.

Catcalling and wolf-whistling are everywhere. According to UN Women UK, research shows that over 7 in 10 women in the UK experience sexual harassment.

And over 95% of women aren’t reporting the assault as they don’t believe it will change anything.

But why is this still happening, and why are so many women still shrugging it off?

Every woman has a story, and we’re here to make them heard and tear down the systems created by men that keep women under their control.

Sadly, catcalling has become so normalised that for many women, it’s just another part of daily life; the price to pay after simply stepping outside.

But normal doesn’t mean harmless; it’s just what we’ve been taught to put up with.

A Dystopia in Disguise

Catcalling may not seem dystopian at first, but similar to many ways of oppressing women, it’s hiding in plain sight.

In Margaret Atwood’s novel The Handmaid’s Tale, women are silenced, constantly watched, and seen as objects of sexual desire.

They’re stripped of names, rights, and voices, but more disturbingly, they’re told they should feel honoured even to be looked at. Does this sound familiar to you?

That’s the same twisted logic catcalling relies on. Men believe that women should be grateful that they have been noticed.

The Handmaid’s Tale greeting “Under His Eye” is more than just a phrase; it reminds the Handmaids that they are constantly under surveillance.

The women say it to each other, but it’s for the benefit of the Commanders in power, a constant reminder that they are seen as property belonging to men.

In our society today, catcalling functions similarly. When a woman is whistled at or commented on in the street, it’s a modern reminder that her body is visible, judged, and monitored in public spaces.

Like Gilead’s watchful eye, the male gaze follows a woman wherever she goes, often unsolicited and uninvited.

Whilst we may not say “Under His Eye,” every catcall carries the same message: You’re being watched, and your presence is a man’s consumption.

The Illusion of Flattery

One of the most frustrating defences of catcalling is that it’s meant as a ‘compliment’.

That women should ‘take it as a bit of fun’ or see it as some ‘old-fashioned flirting’ like you see in your favourite movie from the 80s.

But ask any woman if she’s ever felt comfortable or empowered by being barked at by a stranger. Most will say no. Catcalling is never about admiration; it’s a constant reminder of who is in control

A 2016 YouGov poll showed that only 12% of women feel flattered by catcalling.

88% felt uncomfortable and even unsafe. The truth is, if you don’t smile back, ‘you’re a b*tch’. If you challenge it, you’re hysterical. It’s a game that a woman can never win.

What Men Say to Justify the Catcall

Of course, some men will still try to justify catcalling by blaming women themselves, claiming it’s because of ‘what we wear’, ‘how we walk’, or the “message” our clothing supposedly sends.

The tired excuse goes like this: “If she didn’t want attention, she wouldn’t dress like that.”

This way of thinking is not only outdated but also dangerous. It suggests that a woman’s outfit is an open invitation for public commentary, as if self-expression somehow voids her right to respect.

It’s absolutely disgusting that women are expected to anticipate and accept verbal assault simply for choosing to dress how they please. 

The unfortunate truth is that catcalling happens no matter what we wear, from school uniforms to crop tops to business suits. The problem isn’t the clothes, it’s the men who feel entitled to comment on women’s bodies as if it’s their right.

And until that changes, women will keep being forced to justify their choice of clothing, rather than men being held accountable for their actions.

We Deserve to Own the Streets, Not to be Controlled On Them

Catcalling forces women to perform—whether it’s smiling to stay safe or dressing to avoid attention. 

And in doing so, it chips away at our right to move freely, to exist without commentary, to just be. Every shout, whistle, and crude remark reminds us that for some, we are still not people. We are props.

So no, it’s not just a catcall. It’s a warning shot. A daily reminder of who’s still expected to own the streets.

And it’s about time we took them back.