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Catcall Cattle Call
This week I had a rather unpleasant experience which has motivated me to start a little project. Before I go into the particulars of my newest enterprise, I would like to take a moment to give recognition to the man who inspired it. This guy.
As with most great ideas, this one was forged in the mighty crucible that is dialoguing with one’s fellow man. Unlike the Algonquin round table, however, my verbal jousting partner (who I like to call “The Wheelbarrow Man”) was not a great thinker along the lines of Dorothy Parker or Alexander Woolcott. This is because he lets his “other head” do the thinking. At least what came out of his mouth reflected this, anyway.
It happened on South 4th Street. Before I crossed Union, I had been cat-called twice. After I crossed Union it happened again— all in the span of 30 feet. Three times was a charm. To me it was, anyway; I suspect the above gent wished he had kept his pie hole shut.
Wheelbarrow Man: “Hey baby, I love you!” (hissing sound)
Me: Go to hell.
WM: (laughter, his cronies stop and watch)
Me: (turn around) So you think this is funny!?!
WM: (laughter)
Me: WHAT THE FUCK IS YOUR PROBLEM!?!
WM: (I take his photo, he ducks and stops laughing. Cronies still there.)
Me: How would you like it if someone spoke to your FUCKING MOTHER LIKE THAT… (expletive en Espanol)?!?
He shut the fuck up. His minions stood there aghast (as did I). Then I continued walking. Ten feet away a hipster chick on a bike shouted:
I like your hair!
And, in my nice little girl voice, I said:
Thank you.
Now this is hardly the first time I have found myself embroiled in this kind of situation. I have simply noticed that such exchanges are happening with a lot more frequency of late; this is undoubtedly a consequence of living in an area where there is a LOT of development going on. Luxury development mostly.
Which brings me to my proposition: I wonder what the would-be takers of the above development (which is located at 246 Union Avenue) would feel about buying a condo that was built by a person of this caliber? In a world where child labor is decried and drinking anything other than free trade coffee is a(n unwritten crime), why wouldn’t prospective buyers be interested in how their spacious condo (with views of Manhattan and appointed with only the finest appliances) came into being? Which brings me to my project: a map documenting development sites whose workers see fit to engage in such behavior.
Obviously such a compendium of crappy construction workers (and the developers who employ them) will be a collaborative effort. To this end, I am soliciting contributions from readers. Here are my specs:
- Take a picture of the offending person (if you feel safe doing so, obviously).
- Take a picture of the development where the aforementioned asshole works, be sure to note the address/intersection and what the gent said.
- Send them to me: missheather (at) newyorkshitty (dot) com and I will add them to the flickr group I have started for just this purpose or…
- join the aforementioned flickr group and add them yourself. (On a related note, anyone who could help me with with “geotagging” these pix will get my eternal gratitude. Right now I have a proxy map up.)
To get the ball rolling, I am going to close with two other sites whose workers cannot control their hormones.
256 Manhattan Avenue (at Powers Street)
When I walked by this site a gent hauling a wheelbarrow saw fit to shout “Hey Mami” at me. I took his picture.
Nice panties. Well, after I took his photo this man was totally undeterred. I watched as he hissed the same exact thing to every single woman who walked by, including one woman who was on the verge of tears while talking on her cell phone. I wanted to punch him in the face for that.
150 Java Street (at Manhattan Avenue)
I was headed to the grocery store when this chap (indicated by the arrow in the above photo) saw fit to yell “Hello gorgeous” at me. All I wanted was to buy some lunch, instead I was served up like a piece of meat. The more astute observers among you will notice that this building is a “Belvedere”. What you may not know about this site can be found on the Department of Building’s Building Information System. It would appear that the peeps at 150 Java Street are not the most considerate of neighbors; complaints about garbage, falling debris and illegal weekend construction are common.
It begs one to wonder if the construction practices at this site are reflective of the people who work there: TOTAL AND UTTER SHIT.
Had any of the previous men called me a “n*gger”, “faggot” or “k*ke” I have no doubt they would be fired. Why should harassing a woman on the street be any different? Just a thought.
Miss Heather
Comments
10 Comments on Catcall Cattle Call
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lisanne on
Fri, 27th Jul 2007 7:53 am
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Brooklyn Bitch on
Fri, 27th Jul 2007 8:07 am
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missheather on
Fri, 27th Jul 2007 2:40 pm
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lisanne on
Fri, 27th Jul 2007 6:47 pm
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javagirl on
Fri, 27th Jul 2007 7:30 pm
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missheather on
Fri, 27th Jul 2007 8:52 pm
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Steve of Astoria on
Fri, 27th Jul 2007 11:28 pm
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lagringa on
Sat, 28th Jul 2007 9:37 pm
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missheather on
Sun, 29th Jul 2007 4:47 am
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lisacat on
Mon, 30th Jul 2007 1:35 pm
I’m sure you’ll be getting some from me, i ‘ll be living in the middle of 2 construction zones pretty soon, just found out that they are building 9 or 10 condos on my block. But then again my super keeps telling me that they are going to tear my building down (i’ve been here 14 years) so maybe not. I may be forced to move to the north bronx pretty soon…
I used to work at a place in Queens where I was “hey mami’d” and STARED at point blank with no shame at all day by my coworkers and it was TOTALLY accepted as “cultural”. The sick thing was I got used to it in order to survive….The bosses (who were american jews) would laugh at me when i complained… i eventually quit but i think back on that and just shake my head…i also learned from that job that there alot of woman out there that don’t mind that attention and play up to it. Only if you PAY me!
I too, feel your pain. But, my troubles are not so much with developers as they are with grocers, yes, grocers! On the corner of Kingsland Ave and Beadle St, very close to my dwelling, there is a produce distribution company with many a horny employee.
I became so frustated walking by every morning, I eventually made “peace” with who, I assume is their leader. I went right up to him one morning amonst the cat-calls and said, “GOOD MORNING.” And walked away.
I must say, this was the BEST IDEA EVER. Now, I think their leader has whipped them into shape. I still get “the eye,” but, all I hear is “Good Morning Miss” from all my veggie-equipt Hispanic Hunks (well, not-so-much hunks).
In the interest of fairness, this is not exclusively a Hispanic problem. That said, I am constantly amazed by the Hispanic chaps who assume that if you’re white you do not speak/understand Spanish. Some of us do.
Sure, I won’t land a job at the U.N. as a translator anytime soon, but I can volley some serious profanity if properly motivated (a product of growing up the southwest, kids). That hissing noise <b>makes me see red.</b> What the fuck is up with that?
Could someone please explain to me the significance of this sound? Since when did the audio that usually accompanies a silent but deadly become sexual?
You would spontaniously combust if you ever walked down west 39th street between 7th and 8th avenues…it’s the hissing capital of the city (garment center pushrack guys) or perhaps america.
I live on the abovementioned block with the new Belvedere construction and I have to walk past the building all the time. I was walking my dog past the place the other day and one of the construction workers said “that is one lucky dog.” Not the worst thing he could say…but…ecchhhhh.
If only I’d had my camera to snap a pic of him to share with you…maybe next time. I love that you’re doing this!
Lisanne: Been there, done that. My last “real” job was at 6th Ave and 40th Street, but I often had to venture into the “no (good) man’s land” you speak of. Yeah, it’s gross.
Javagirl: Thanks. I am very sorry you live on this block. Why should you have to change your routine (if you will) to avoid this kind of abuse? And that’s exactly what the behavior you described is: ABUSE.
Has anyone ever witnessed oh-so-smooth street talkers refer to a woman as mommy, and coincidentally that woman is either pregnant or walking with a stroller. It so much worse when a person can’t defend themselves because of the aggravation or risk of upsetting their baby. Those are the worse cases I’ve ever seen.
Regarding the hissing, purring, or sounds d’uh amour. I’ve been told that when calling over a cat/kitten/pooshua, a special mating call has been developed after years of thorough research. Apparently either a woman will turn immediately to lustfully seek out the source of this magical hissing or an alley cat will try to hump their leg. Of either possibilities, the latter I hope is closer to the truth.
Whatever happened to tipping a hat, smiling, or a simple greeting…
Actually, someone already beat you to this. There’s a great website called Hollaback NYC that documents assholes who catcall and harass women. Check it out, and send your photos!
Love your blog, too. 
Cheers!
La Gringa
I am *quite* aware of HollabackNYC, I have contributed to them pretty frequently. That said, the intent of this project is a little different (and has a decided real estate bent). Call it a fact-finding/map making mission.
This Scarano pos building ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/lisacat/388165402/ ) is on Richardson St. where Monitor ends. It’s also kitty-corner to the entrance of St. Cecilia’s Catholic School. When the building was just going up, the workers would leer from the upper floors and make those animal noises at the girls in their uniforms. It was perverse and disgusting. These were not Britney Spears wannabes but K-12 kids trying to get to class or go home. This is also the site where I got some photos of the workers throwing trash with abandon from the windows to the dumpster below ( http://www.flickr.com/photos/lisacat/532273580/in/pool-355488@N24/ ) and where they maintained the sidewalk like this… http://www.flickr.com/photos/lisacat/530117394/in/pool-355488@N24/
I think I’m done for now…
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