Video Vault: Things Men Say To Men Who Say Things To Women On The Street

This morning, on Twitter, the lovely @doctornayaka dropped this little jewel in my mentions (yes, and follow me on twitter at @bgg2wl!) and, considering the litany of discussions we’ve had here about street harassment and how it affects our relationships with our bodies, I wanted to share this with you, in hopes that maybe you’ll share it with your friends and maybe spark a conversation or two about how men can play active roles in ending the longstanding tradition of treating women like pieces of meat:

My favorites:

“Sweetheart, please stop perpetuating the patriarchal dividend. It’s so over.” – I’m sorry, but this made me bust out laughing. He knows full well that if he’s of the ilk that knows what a “patriarchal dividend” is, he certainly wouldn’t be kickin’ it with someone who “perpetuates” it.

The guys on the stoop collectively groaning – considering what kind of strength there is in numbers, and considering how we’re all influenced by our friends, then the “mob mentality” could be put to good use, for once.

“Come on… right now? You gon’ do this right now?”

“Don’t do that in front of me… don’t do it at all!” – Totally made me smile. That, right there, completely made this video for me.

There is one thing I’d like to question, though.

“Does that really work for you?” – Of the entire video, I think this is probably the one question that I’d like to see discussed. What is the goal of shouting at a woman from the side? I know that some men use it as a form of bonding with one another, or they think it’s a way to compliment women, but I really wish I understood what the goal is, and whether or not catcalling helping achieve that goal.

Thoughts?