Dear Urban Diplomat: How do I stop guys from pestering me when I’m jogging?
Dear Urban Diplomat,
I’m a 31-year-old woman, and I jog every day in and around Little Portugal. The older men in the neighbourhood feel compelled to cheer, catcall and sometimes run alongside me for short distances. It’s harmless but incredibly annoying. I’d like to arm myself with a comeback that will make it stop. What do you suggest?
—Fuming on Runs, The Annex
Let’s take these one at a time. The cheering seems innocuous and possibly quite sweet. My advice is to get over that one. The catcalls are different. Catcalling Porch Dweller—much like Whistling Construction Worker and Horny Honking Driver—is after one thing: a reaction. Don’t give him one and he’s apt to cease and desist. The running-alongside tactic is potentially a little scary, especially if you’re running at night. Don’t stop or make eye contact; just turn on your heels and rocket off in another direction, ideally toward people. You shouldn’t have trouble shaking an old man who spends his leisure time hollering at people from his porch. If you do, use it as motivation to improve your split times.
Send your questions to the Urban Diplomat at urbandiplomat@torontolife.com
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Dear Urban Diplomat,
I’m a 31-year-old woman, and I jog every day in and around Little Portugal. The older men in the neighbourhood feel compelled to cheer, catcall and sometimes run alongside me for short distances. It’s harmless but incredibly annoying. I’d like to arm myself with a comeback that will make it stop. What do you suggest?
—Fuming on Runs, The Annex
Let’s take these one at a time. The cheering seems innocuous and possibly quite sweet. My advice is to get over that one. The catcalls are different. Catcalling Porch Dweller—much like Whistling Construction Worker and Horny Honking Driver—is after one thing: a reaction. Don’t give him one and he’s apt to cease and desist. The running-alongside tactic is potentially a little scary, especially if you’re running at night. Don’t stop or make eye contact; just turn on your heels and rocket off in another direction, ideally toward people. You shouldn’t have trouble shaking an old man who spends his leisure time hollering at people from his porch. If you do, use it as motivation to improve your split times.
Send your questions to the Urban Diplomat at urbandiplomat@torontolife.com){kind=link}
my reaction was since you’re quite obviously in shape and these yobs are not, a quick mis-step under their feet might set them right.
Listen to music while you’re jogging! Then you don’t even hear them:)
If you can’t hear catcalls, you also can’t hear shouted warnings, would-be attackers, cars, approaching trains, etc.
Its called street harassment. Its not sweet and its not ok. I think your first piece of advice is a little dismissive.
this response is disgusting . women should NOT be harassed on the streets ! toronto life should be ashamed for advocating submission . this “advice” is garbage !
http://www.stopstreetharassment.org/
cheering is not harassment. Read again, perhaps more closely
If there were an easy answer to this, women everywhere would be living much safer and easier lives. Not as safe and easy as the lives of men, but still…
But wait, there IS an easy answer! Stop harassing people on the street! Not you- the people who harass you. Unfortunately, they’re not reading this, but in case one of them is… DUDE! If someone is jogging, or walking, or otherwise existing in a way that has nothing to do with them, LEAVE THEM ALONE! Women do not enter public space for your amusement. So back off, and tell your buddies to do the same.