Random verbal abuse in the street

Looking different is going to attract attention. Multicoloured hair is probably more of a factor as tattoos are quite common. I expect that's all there is to it.

If that isn't the whole story, then body language is often a factor. Looking timid or scared, like prey, promotes this type of behaviour. The cues can be quite subtle. If lacking in confidence, it is easy to appear this way.

I think there are a certain group of men who feel it's their right to comment on any woman, regardlsss of how they look or the time of day. 

I was thinking about starting a thread about being shouted at in the street by random male strangers, I wondered if it was an age thing, a town thing, are there some places where you're more likely to be shouted at?

I think multi-coloured hair is quite common, as well as tattoos and clothing choices often denoting an affinity for a cultural sub group.

I'm a tall woman, that's often made me target, there seems to be a certain section of older men who take delight in calling me Sir, I give them a pitying look, as it's obvious that I'm female and they're the ones with the problem.

I've been told to 'cheer up love as it may never happen', it seems that some men believe that a womans role is to be decorative and pleasing to the male eye.

I think the worst one was angrily muttered at my daughter and i, we were walking into town one saturday morning, arm and arm, enjoying ourselves, she was about 15 at the time and me in my mid thirties and out of nowhere this bloke walking in the opposite direction along the road, say's 'why don't you put her down, you old ***' we rounded on him and gave him a piece of our minds and he staggered off appologising. Where does this sort of thing come from? What makes men feel this is OK?

I've had various sexual comments shouted at me over the years, comments on my breast size, skirt length, foot size, clothing choice.

I've even had some bloke come up behind me and try walking along behind me holing my bum cheek, I punched him in the nose and made it bleed, much to the ammusement of his friends.

When I was growing up being shouted at in the street etc were fairly normal, you just dealt with it, developed a good line in come backs, defended yourself physically when needed or you hid away and didn't go out without an escourt of a least a group of friends or a man.

TheCatWoman said:

I'm a tall woman, that's often made me target, there seems to be a certain section of older men who take delight in calling me Sir, I give them a pitying look, as it's obvious that I'm female and they're the ones with the problem.

I think a lot of people seem to think they are funny when it's a rare skill to be witty and make people laugh. When people use humour as a weapon it can be hurtful but very infrequently makes anybody genuinely laugh making it ultimately pointless and thus the person saying it insignificant too. 

I suppose the skill that would be useful for me to perfect is to realise that in the moment of this kind of interaction. 

Thanks for your comment, it helps me to make sense of things to hear others experiences.

TheCatWoman said:

I'm a tall woman, that's often made me target, there seems to be a certain section of older men who take delight in calling me Sir, I give them a pitying look, as it's obvious that I'm female and they're the ones with the problem.

I think a lot of people seem to think they are funny when it's a rare skill to be witty and make people laugh. When people use humour as a weapon it can be hurtful but very infrequently makes anybody genuinely laugh making it ultimately pointless and thus the person saying it insignificant too. 

I suppose the skill that would be useful for me to perfect is to realise that in the moment of this kind of interaction. 

Thanks for your comment, it helps me to make sense of things to hear others experiences.