Catcalling is more than just unwanted attention. It’s a form of harassment that leaves many girls feeling unsafe, anxious, and exposed in public spaces. It teaches them from a young age to alter their behaviour and undermines their confidence and sense of freedom.
 

What is catcalling?

Catcalling is a form of public harassment. Catcalling is when someone, usually a man or boy, makes unwanted comments, whistles, or gestures toward someone. These actions are often towards a girl or woman and are sexual or inappropriate. Catcalling can leave women and girls feeling uncomfortable, scared and even unsafe.

Men and boys can also experience catcalling, although it is more common among women and girls. In a 2022 YouGov survey, 62% of women reported having been catcalled or wolf-whistled compared to 8% of men.

The difference between flattery and harassment

Flattery is when someone gives a kind compliment to make someone feel good or appreciated. Often flattery and giving someone a compliment is a way of building a relationship or trust. The motivation and intent are usually a positive one.  

However, harassment is different. It often makes people feel uncomfortable or scared. It’s not about being kind. It’s about gaining power over a person.
 

How catcalling affects girls growing up

Catcalling and public sexual harassment is holding girls back. It impacts their mental health, how they view their bodies, restricts their freedom, and makes them feel unsafe. They are tired of feeling like their bodies do not belong to them. 

Feeling unsafe in public spaces

Our State of Girls’ Rights in the UK 2024 report surveyed nearly 3,000 girls and young women aged 12 to 21 to find out what it's like to be a girl in the UK.  93% of girls and young women told us that they do not feel “completely safe” in public places.

Being catcalled can make girls feel powerless and nervous. It can impact on their daily lives by causing them to alter their route, to dress differently or alter their behaviour in order to avoid harassment. It limits their freedom.
 

The impact on mental health and confidence
 

Catcalling is not a compliment. It’s a form of harassment with serious emotional consequences.

Catcalling can significantly harm women and girls’ mental health and confidence. It can cause anxiety, hypervigilance, depression, and body image issues.   

Girls and women who are catcalled may experience low self-esteem, social withdrawal, and reduced trust in public environments. They might stop going out, lose confidence, or feel scared in public spaces. Studies show over 75% of women feel anger or anxiety after being catcalled, and nearly half feel vulnerable. Long-term, it limits freedom and reinforces gender-based power imbalances.

Girls adapting their lives to avoid harassment

When girls feel unsafe, they are forced to adapt their behaviour. For example, they may change what they wear in order to cover up their bodies in an attempt to not draw attention to themselves. They might avoid going out at night, or stay away from public places. This can lead to them missing out on time with friends and feeling isolated.
 

Is catcalling illegal in the UK?

In 2022, the UK Government announced that street sexual harassment, including catcalling, would be explicitly made a crime  punishable by up to two years in jail for public harassment. In 2023, the Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Act 2023 was passed but it is currently not yet in force due to lack of guidance for police and courts on how to utilise the new law. 
 

The deeper link between catcalling and gender-based violence

Catcalling is not a casual, harmless or flattering comment or gesture. It’s harassment. And in the UK, it’s a crime. Often rooted in power and control, it reflects underlying gender inequality and reinforces the idea that girls’ and women’s bodies are public property. This behaviour not only objectifies women and girls, but it creates fear, anxiety and even causes mental health issues. 

While catcalling may not always escalate beyond a sexual comment, it exists on the same spectrum as gender-based violence. Both stem from societal norms that tolerate or excuse the mistreatment of women. When catcalling is normalised, it desensitizes communities to more severe forms of abuse, creating a gateway to broader patterns of violence.  

Poverty makes girls more vulnerable to harassment 

Girls living in poverty are more vulnerable to harassment, due to several factors. One of these factors is economic dependence. Girls from low-income families may depend on others for money, which can make them more vulnerable. 

In low-income or rural communities, girls may miss out on an education due to caring or household responsibilities. This may then limit their ability to earn an income, making them dependent on others, financially, as well as increasing their vulnerability to harassment. 

In informal settlements or over-crowded housing, the lack of privacy and security may increase girls’ risk of being harassed. Poor lighting and infrastructure can make daily activities unsafe for girls.   
 

The role men and boys can play

Men and boys play a crucial role in helping to stop catcalling and public sexual harassment of women and girls. They should challenge harmful behaviours, speak out against harassment when they see it, and promote respect and equality.   

By using their power and their platforms, they can educate others and model respectful behaviour. By using their voices to shift social norms and attitudes, they can help create safer, more inclusive public spaces for women and girls.  

A father’s role in raising boys to respect girls 

Fathers play a key role in raising boys to respect girls. They should teach their sons about equality and challenge harmful stereotypes (such as it’s a women’s job to do the washing and cleaning). They should also encourage having open conversations about consent, and being role models to their sons.  

What to say if your friend catcalls

We are all responsible for advocating for the rights of girls and women and we should speak up when a friend catcalls. Depending on your relationship with your friend, you may want to simply be direct, or you may want to use humour to help diffuse any tension.  

An example of a direct response is: “That’s not cool. It’s not respectful and she doesn’t deserve that.”  

An example of a response with humour is: “That kind of behaviour might work in the movies but you’re not (insert an actor’s name)! This is real life and it’s not cool.”  

It might feel awkward but it’s important to let your friend know that you don’t agree with their behaviour. When bad behaviour goes unchallenged, it sends a signal that it’s ok to act that way.  

How to be an ally to girls in public spaces

Being an ally to girls in public places means being aware of your surroundings. An ally would also speak up and step in if necessary (and it's safe to do so). Interrupt the harassment with a distraction or support, such as asking them for directions or pretending to know them.   

If it’s your friend who is catcalling, call them out on it and let them know their behaviour is not appropriate or acceptable.   

You could learn more about the impact of harassment on young women and girls. We can all help shift the culture by modeling respect and calling out inappropriate behaviour. 

Safety tips for girls dealing with harassment

Here are some safety tips for girls dealing with harassment in a public place:  

• Trust your instincts. If it doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t. Don’t engage in conversation - prioritise your safety over politeness.
• Walk away. Try to walk towards a shop or a busy area.
• Call someone. Dial a friend or family member or pretend that someone is calling you. It signals that you are not alone.
• Speak up. If you are near people, such as on a bus or in a park, and it is safe to do so, say loudly and firmly, “That’s not ok. Leave me alone.” This will alert others to the situation and hopefully stop the behaviour escalating.
• Ask for help. If you feel unsafe, ask to sit or stand with someone else or go into a store and speak to a store worker or security.  
   

How bystanders can help

Bystanders can help disrupt the catcalling as well as support the person being harassed by letting them know they aren’t alone.  

If it’s safe to do so, bystanders should directly call out the harasser’s behaviour, telling them it’s unacceptable. If it’s not safe, distract the harasser by pretending you know the person being harassed or asking for directions.   

If you witness the harassment but you weren’t close enough to intervene, try to check in on the person afterwards. Ask if they’re ok or if you can help get them somewhere safe, or offer to stay with them if they’re waiting for someone.  

Why it’s never your fault  

Girls should feel safe wherever they are. Free to walk to meet their friends. Free to exercise outside. Free to wear the clothes they want to. And all without the threat of public sexual harassment.   

If you experience catcalling or harassment, it is not because of anything you have done, or said, or what you’re wearing. It is not your fault.   

How to support a friend who’s been harassed 

Supporting a friend who has been harassed involves active listening, validating their feelings and asking what they need. It’s important to let them share their story without interrupting them. Let them take their time. Listen without judgment and offer affirming language, such as “I’m sorry that happened to you. That was not ok.”   

Whatever they are feeling - guilt, shame, anger, fear -  assure them that their feelings are valid and try not to minimise what happened by saying, “it could have been worse.”  

Try to offer practical help, such as offering to go with them to report the harassment or being with them when they tell a parent. But also respect their choices if they don’t want to report it.  

Encourage them to talk to someone else, such as a counsellor or someone they trust, or to journal their feelings.   

Check in on them from time to time to ask how they are feeling and to offer help if needed. 
 

Key statistics on catcalling and public sexual harassment

Whilst the statistics are shocking, not many people speak out about catcalling and public sexual harassment. A 2021 report by UN Women United Kingdom showed that 70% of women in the UK said they had experienced sexual harassment in public but 95% of cases were not reported to the police.   

In February to March 2022, the Opinions and Lifestyle Survey (OPN) [1] asked people about their current perceptions of safety and their experiences of harassment in the last 12 months. Of those who took part, 38% of women aged 16 - 34 said they had experienced catcalling in the last 12 months.  

Our own survey in 2018 [2] of over 1,000 girls aged 14 - 21, found that 40% had experienced catcalling, wolf-whistling or sexual comments at least once a month.   

How it affects girls differently across the world

Catcalling and street harassment is not only widespread in the UK, it’s a global issue. But it can affect girls differently depending on their country’s laws, culture and social norms.  

In some cultures, speaking out about harassment may lead to the family being shamed, ostracized, or even punished.   
 

Supporting girls speaking out

Supporting girls who speak out about harassment means believing them, amplifying their voices (with their permission), and helping to create safe spaces.   
 

Catcalling FAQs  

Here are three common questions about catcalling.  

At what age do girls typically start experiencing catcalling? 

Shockingly, many girls experience catcalling during early adolescence and sometimes even before puberty. 2018 research by Plan International USA found that one in five girls in the U.S. had experienced public sexual harassment before the age of 12.   

Our own research in our 2021 What Works for Endling Public Sexual Harassment report4, 75% of young women reported experiencing a form of sexual harassment in a public space in their lifetime, while 54% of girls aged 12 to 14 years reported experiencing public sexual harassment. 

What should I do if I experience catcalling or public sexual harassment? 

If you experience catcalling or public sexual harassment it’s important to prioritse your safety. If it’s not safe to call them out on their behaviour, ignore it and walk away. Try to find a well-lit area or somewhere public, like a shop or cafe. If it helps you to feel secure, pretend that someone is calling you on your phone.  

It’s important to report what happened, as your report will help build evidence of how widespread this issue is. Take a photo or video of the person - only if it’s safe to do so. Write down the date, time, location and what was said and report it to the police and any other appropriate authorities.   

What should I do if I witness someone being catcalled? 

If it’s safe to do so, directly call out the harasser’s behaviour, telling them it’s not appropriate. If the harasser seems aggressive, or it doesn’t feel safe to call them out, then try to interrupt the situation by pretending to know the person being harassed or asking them for directions or for the time.   

If you witness the harassment but you weren’t close enough to intervene, try to check in on the person afterwards by asking if they’re ok or if you can help get them somewhere safe, or stay with them if they’re waiting for someone. 
 

References

[1] Office for National Statistics: Perceptions of personal safety and experiences of harassment, Great Britain: 16 February to 13 March 2022

[2] Sky News: Two-thirds of girls and young women sexually harassed in public