Topic: Catcalling, especially in a big city like New York, is something that almost all women have experienced. Whether wearing a mini dress or a sweatshirt, catcalling is virtually unavoidable for any woman, especially those walking alone or walking at night. From personal experience, my friends’ experience, and what I have seen around the Internet: “10 Hours in of Walking in NYC as a Woman” video by Hollaback!

“What Catcalling Feels Like” video by Buzzfeed Yellow

I know my feelings on catcalling are shared by many others. In New York, it has become a fixture of everyday life, something to be expected and prepared for, both mentally and physically.

Relevance: With a recent focus on sexual assaults on campus, the reinforced idea of consent being presented in mainstream media, and the overwhelming amount of prevalence sexual assault is taking in this election cycle, there has never been a more fitting time to open up a discussion about the gateway to more serious harassment. As the feminist movement continues to grow, women are taking a stand and asserting their power over catcalling and “locker room talk”, making it clear that there is more to them than what can be seen.

Interviews: Interviews will include a “round table” style of discussion with other New York women who have experienced catcalling, specifically fellow young women Jennifer Knipp, 22, a product operations coordinator at Ralph Lauren,  and Rachel Sperrazza and Courtney Weinholtz, both 21 and Fashion Business Management students at FIT . Interviews will include specific examples that stand out to them, detailing what they were wearing at the time of said incident and how they handled the incident (ignored, responded, gestured, etc). I will also ask how catcalling makes them feel,  how they think a man should successfully approach a woman he finds attractive, why they think people catcall in the first place, and what are strategies that can be employed if catcalling escalates to being followed or threatened.