[V]

Catcalling, based on my exposure to Latin culture, is not traditionally meant to be vulgar. If you visit the Caribbean in particular, it’s not uncommon for men and women to toss compliments to members of the opposite sex. Many times it’s not meant to be even sexual or an invitation. It tends to be a unique cultural exchange and affirmation of physical beauty. Anglo culture by comparison tends to be very reserved and rigid. How many Anglos casually address perfect strangers of a different background (socio-economic, racial, religion, etc.)? Latin culture values physical beauty, especially those of women. Also, many Latinas are encouraged to be more conscious of their bodies and sexuality. So catcalling that is not vulgar isn’t perceived as being threatening or offensive. Dispute this assertion? Look at the statistics comparing Latinas to Anglo women in positive self-image and significantly lower rates of anorexia, and differences in satisfaction with respect to intimate relations. This is not meant to excuse the “gentlemen” who bombard you with insults. In the modern-day case of Latin catcalling, it’s not meant to control women or even sexualize them. What you are experiencing is possibly unemployed poor men who feel disempowered by their exclusion from the American mainstream, asserting their only tool of empowerment (think phallic). Being a white woman represents a token in Latin culture. Middle-class and educated – you symbolize a sort of out-of-reach object, not necessarily sexual, but more in status. So the catcalling is expressed in a distorted version of a pretty common Latin form of expression.

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Name : V, Gender : M, Sexual Orientation : Straight, Race : Black/African American, Religion : Baptist, Age : 27, City : Philadelphia, State : PA, Country : United States, Occupation : IT Consulting, Education level : 4 Years of College, Social class : Middle class, 

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