Parenting
By Jessica Greene
Updated: Oct. 6, 2017
Originally Published: Oct. 5, 2017
She captures the moment and shares the unsolicited comments made by these men.
If you’re a woman, then you’ve likely experienced it—walking down the street when some guy feels the need to shout about how attractive you look or how he can’t wait to take you home. This behavior, known as catcalling, is far from a compliment. One woman’s remarkable Instagram initiative sheds light on why this behavior is unacceptable.
Meet Mia Martin, a 20-year-old student from Amsterdam, who has come up with a creative way to confront her catcallers while educating others about the issue. She launched an Instagram account called @dearcatcallers, where for 30 days, she documented the men who yelled unsolicited comments at her throughout her daily life.
In her first post, Mia states, “This Instagram aims to raise awareness about the objectification of women in everyday situations. Since many people still don’t realize how often and in what contexts catcalling occurs, I’ll be showcasing my catcallers over the course of a month.”
Why include herself in the pictures with the men? “By taking selfies, both the objectifier and the object are presented together,” she explains. “I, as the object, stand in front of my catcallers, which flips the power dynamic that this project highlights.”
Alongside the selfies, she often shares the exact words shouted at her prior to the photo. You’ll frequently see her wearing earbuds, signaling that she’s not interested in chats with strangers. Yet, that doesn’t deter a man who assumes he has the right to her attention simply because he finds her appealing.
Discussing her selfies with the men, she told the local paper, The Daily Times, “They don’t feel suspicious at all; they think what they’re doing is completely normal.”
While it’s disheartening that Mia felt this project was necessary, her courage in confronting harassment head-on is commendable. By turning the camera on those who feel entitled to her attention, she reveals the daily struggles many women face.
The comments she receives range from “Hey beautiful, where are you headed?” to “What would you do with me, babe?” and the ever-classic, “Smile for me, would ya?”
It’s infuriating to scroll through her posts, imagining the discomfort she must have felt as she passed by groups of men yelling at her. Many of us can relate; we’ve been there too.
Mia recently concluded her project, posting a heartfelt final message. “Though my month of posts has wrapped up, it doesn’t mean catcalling has disappeared,” she writes. She plans to pass the account to other women globally, so sadly, the saga of catcalling continues, no matter where the next selfie-taker resides. “It’s clear that catcalling is still a prevalent issue that many of us are facing.”
For more insights on similar topics, check out this post on home insemination kit.
Mia’s project shines a light on a significant issue, reminding us that awareness is the first step toward change.