Do not wolf-whistle at women in France because it will cost you MONEY!

The #MeToo campaign has been an extraordinary movement.  Women have come forward from all walks of life with tales of sexual harassment, molestation and abuse.  Many of the stories have shown what women have to go through, daily, in the workplace, in cafes, in nightclubs and on the streets.

Many believe that men will only change their behaviour if they start changing the small things. It is not okay to call women 'babe', it is not okay to comment on a women's appearance in a lewd or sexual way, and it is not okay to wolf-whistle.


Yes, the ordinary wolf-whistle that men think is fun, is not fun for women.  It makes them feel afraid and vulnerable.  France has taken strong action in fining men who are caught or reported  wolf-whistling at women.  Emmanuel Macron, the President of France, says it is vital that women feel comfortable and safe to be outdoors.  A wolf-whistle may be a small thing but changing behaviour starts with the small things.  Wolf-whistles make women feel unsafe and a wolf-whistle can lead to sexual harassment.

Throughout the world, women are trying to make spaces safer for women.  Since #MeToo there has been a lot of awareness of how simple things like a wolf-whistle can lead to women feeling unsafe.  and it is a form of harassment. And if men think it is okay to say certain words in 'flirtatious' ways, they somehow think it is okay to harass.  Or worse, abuse and rape.

France are fining men for wolf-whistling.  And they are looking at changing their laws.  Men who have sex with girls under the age of 18 will be held accountable.  It will be presumed that they have co-erced or raped the girl. The age of consent used to be 15; no longer.

Worldwide, we are being made aware of #MeToo.  Women are finding courage by standing together and standing up to the men who take advantage of them.  There are still awful stories that come out but hopefully, with laws like fines against wolf-whistling, things are slowly changing.