Women Of Color React To That Viral Catcalling Video

Women Of Color React To That Viral Catcalling Video

Last week, Hollaback's viral catcalling video drew unprecedented attention to the issue of street harassment -- but many viewers felt that the video didn't represent their own experiences.

A response video, written and produced by Collier Meyerson for Jezebel, explore the experiences of non-white New York women with street harassment, and their reactions to the Hollaback video. In her follow-up video, Meyerson makes her aim clear -- "The point here isn't to devalue or minimize the experience of women who strongly identified with this video... it's to open the conversation."

In the piece, women explain their issues with the original catcalling video, and share the narratives they wish had been included.

"When I watched the [original catcalling] video I felt so uncomfortable, because it was such a specific dynamic," says Jenna, a participant in Meyerson's video. "It reinforces so many specific stereotypes about men -- and black men in particular. And I feel like that's kind of missing from the discussions."

Participants voiced their frustration that white men had apparently been edited out of the original catcalling video (a move Hollaback later apologized for), explaining that the edited video stereotypes men of color and suggests that harassment by white males is rare.

"This is a video that's being shown broadly, and it gives the impression that the only predators in New York are men of color," a participant named Thanu said. "And that is false."

According to Meyerson, the aim of her video is to broaden the conversation about street harassment, and make it clear that catcalling is not simply something white women suffer at the hands of men of color.

"I feel like harassment from white men has been a form of exotifying me," an unnamed participant said. "A compliment isn't simply 'you're beautiful,' it has something do with my skin color, or my name, or 'where are you from?' I find that's a form of harassment because it makes me feel like my difference is interesting to them, and that creeps me out a lot more."

Watch the full video above.

Before You Go

#ThatsWhatHeSaid

Close

What's Hot