Sunday, December 10, 2017

Freedom to 'wolf whistle' may be taken away in London

They're in cages for a reason
Wolf whistling is crude and things that are crude are unattractive, and things that are unattractive do not win over women and get you a date with them.

With that in mind, you might say that men who wolf whistle do so to appear confident and masculine while knowing they will not engage in an exchange of ideas with the woman whom they target with their bird call. In other words, they know the woman will just keep walking and the whistler gets 'guy creds' with his buddies for being masculine and 'cool'.

But is it a hate crime?

It may soon be if you live in foggy London town.

Wolf whistling or making sexist remarks (as determined by whoever says it's a sexist remark) on London's streets is being considered as a hate crime.

If a woman walks past a construction crew, let's say, and one of the men whistles at her, it isn't because he hates her or wants to intimidate her (unless he does, of course). It's usually a sign that he appreciates her beauty but doesn't have the courage to express it in human words. He must make bird sounds because, well, he's an idiot and he's trying to impress his buddies.

However, to say that his gesture is hateful is ridiculous.

Verbal hate crimes, when you get right down to it, are thought crimes

I'm specifically referring to hate speech for which the remedy is more speech. In the case of whistling at a woman, I am clearly not suggesting that if the whistler imposes himself on her, makes her feel threatened, that it's okay. 

So street harassment, where a woman's path is cut off, let's say, is in a different category. Or when sexually suggestive remarks are made. Or when a woman is made to feel scared. Those are totally unacceptable situations and I agree, should be considered criminal.

In London, the Metropolitan Police said they are speaking with other UK forces to determine whether it's worth cracking down on gender-based hate crimes after a pilot scheme was begun in East Midlands last year. 

The Nottinghamshire Police (having nothing to do with a sheriff, Robin Hood and his merry men) saw sexist incidents such as street harassment, verbal abuse and the taking photos without consent recorded as hate crimes, carrying tougher penalties.

So if you, like me, enjoy taking candid street photography, don't go to the UK. It's the new "Big Brother" of the West.

But once again, let me be clear: threatening behavior is not the same as merely wolf whistling at a woman. While it's rather pathetic, and I do not condone it, I do not believe that it should be considered a crime. That's an insult to hardened criminals.



No comments:

Post a Comment

UN official and Hamas supporter resigns

His book: "Lipless in Gaza" Martin Griffiths, Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator (U...