How on earth did this two-note whistle – the first high in pitch, the second deep – come to be so charged with meaning? And how did it go from being an everyday occurrence to one that shocks?

https://media.giphy.com/media/DmE5Zj874mKl2/giphy.gif

I can't recall ever using it. Seems old-fashioned to me.

http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20180322-the-surprising-history-of-the-wolf-whistle?ocid=fbculao

Quote:

In France, right now, lawmakers are considering fining people 90 euros (£78) if they’re caught wolf-whistling as part of efforts to combat sexual harassment (how the police would implement it hasn’t quite been worked out). One British politician is similarly calling for a crackdown on it and catcalling. While if you search for wolf-whistling on Twitter, you’ll quickly find women complaining about it being done at them, highlighting the intimidation and fear it creates, an obvious example of #everydaysexism. Wolf-whistling – once thought to be heard by every woman who passed a building site – looks set to be extinct.

one member here just shouts "clit" when he wants to get a woman's attention ...

It's really all about 'follow-thru'.

If you 'wolf-whistle' and its a sincere 'icebreaker' or expression of interest, that leads on to eventual 'marriage' - then there is nothing at all wrong and its simply the best, etc.

But if you 'wolf-whistle' with no intention to 'follow thru' and be sincere, but to illicit a hopeful response to her 'putting out' like a easy slut. Then obviously, its going to be penalised when women complain.

So there is no 'black or white'.
You just have to take it for what it is and take it from there.

The law came in because of Construction guys doing the whistling, when in fact they should be 'working'.
Mind you, I remember a renovation on a Kiosk on a beach and females would purposely lay in front of the kiosk and at least 3 bared topless.
Of course, they became quite a 'distraction'.
But if I walked out there and told them to cover up or move away as they were inciting illicit 'wolf whistles' etc.
They would probably have a whinge and go organise a 'slut walk' down the mainstreet  ::)

Jasin wrote on Mar 31^st, 2018 at 2:03am:

It's really all about 'follow-thru'.

Why not just grab your crotch and shout "You want some of this?" and "follow through"?

AiA wrote on Mar 30^th, 2018 at 11:58pm:

How on earth did this two-note whistle – the first high in pitch, the second deep – come to be so charged with meaning? And how did it go from being an everyday occurrence to one that shocks? https://media.giphy.com/media/DmE5Zj874mKl2/giphy.gif I can't recall ever using it. Seems old-fashioned to me.

It probably is old fashioned now, but in the 70's and 80's it wasn't considered offensive. It was complimentary and usually occurred when you walked past a building site. I don't remember any females feeling threatened by it and mostly it gave them a laugh.

Now it's considered sexual harassment. Males can't even look at an attractive female for too long now, let alone give a whistle in appreciation.

Better to be looked up than looked over ...

The article hasn't touched on the anthropological reasons behind the wolf-whistle which is a pity as it's probably been with us in some form for millions of years.

There are two functions of a wolf-whistle. The first is to try and get random sex. If a male can impregnate a random female and not have to put any effort into raising the offspring it's a total bonus in furthering his lineage.

The chance of a construction worker getting sex as the result of wolf-whistling a random stranger is next to zero, but for the vast overwhelming majority of the existence of our species we've lived in small groups so when a male puts out this call to a passing female in that situation, it would be to a female he's familiar with and it probably paid of occasionally.

The second reason and particularly when it's done by groups of males, they're actually communicating with each other saying, hey check me out, I'm not gay.

Personally I've never wolf-whistled a stranger because I see it as demeaning for the guy doing it...look how desperate and needy I am.

When a young woman spreads her feathers and shows her wares any virile young man will want to show his approval of her beauty.

There are worse things in life……………….. :D

Don't think I've ever did a wolf whistle but I love a perve. Women are scrumdiddlyumptious. I love floral dresses.  :-*

Mr Hammer wrote on Apr 1^st, 2018 at 11:26am:

Don't think I've ever did a wolf whistle but I love a perve. Women are scrumdiddlyumptious. I love floral dresses.  :-*

You're always talking about mine, dear. You love a perve.