Definition Essay: Why Men Harass Women

Imagine being a woman in your early twenties walking to college.The building is not that that far from your current home, so you walk in order to spend less. It is about six in the afternoon in the winter and the day is already dark. You are minding your own business when you notice a man on the sidewalk. He seems significantly older and suspicious. He is looking in your direction. As you get closer, you hear him whistle. You start to think he is just calling someone else until he makes a comment on your body and looks your way. How would you react? Would you like it? Would you feel disturbed? Catcalling and other types of harassment are actually more common each day. The first time women are likely to experience it is when adolescence

The dictionary definition is “a loud, sexually suggestive call or comment directed at someone publicly (as on the street)” (“Catcall” Merriam-Webster.com) Although many say that this behavior is downright wrong, it is virtually impossible to know all of the facts without knowing what the man’s side is. It all depends on the situation a certain man is. Some men act more like teenagers in a grown man’s body and have nothing else planned for themselves.(“Why Do Men Harass Women? New Study Sheds Light On Motivations” NPR.org) Other men say that it is just for fun and entertainment and that nothing serious was intended, and therefore can be considered a game. In addition to this, several are angry at the fact that there is no way that they can achieve their goals. “These young men "have high aspirations for themselves and aren't able to meet them," ” (“Why Do Men Harass Women? New Study Sheds Light On Motivations” NPR.org) This is an understandable position anyone can experience. To feel better, though, they catcall and harass women so that they feel above them. “They feel like the world owes them.” (“Why Do Men Harass Women? New Study Sheds Light On Motivations”

Eating disorders and harassment are in fact related to a certain extent. “Harned (2000) found that sexual harassment, which is often comprised of sexually objectifying behaviors, was a significant predictor of most disordered eating symptoms, even after controlling for previous physically violent sexual experiences.” (“The Effects of Sexual Objectification on Women’s Mental Health” steinhardt.nyu.edu) Most women (even those who enjoy being sexualized) that have experienced any type of harassment has eventually developed some sort of eating disorder in an attempt to take care of their bodies. (“The Effects of Sexual Objectification on Women’s Mental Health”