But that hasn't happened to you routinely since you were about 10 years old, dozens or even hundreds of times a year - and as you noted, the guy was mentally ill, so not really responsible for his behavior. All the other men who harass and objectify women in public are responsible for theirs. That's the difference.
https://www.talkspace.com/blog/heres-street-harassment-affects-womens-mental-health-heal/
“For many of us, the very pervasiveness of street harassment normalizes it, making us feel that it is inevitable or that we must simply “grin and bear it.” For too long, popular culture and even people close to us have reiterated these negative messages by dismissing street harassment as a “compliment,” as “no big deal,” or even as something that we invite through the clothes we wear, how we look, or where we choose to walk.
But let’s make one thing clear: Street harassment is never our fault and is much more than a “minor inconvenience.” Street harassment is a global public health epidemic.
As women, many of us deal with the negative mental health impacts of street harassment on a daily basis. Yet because street harassment is normalized, we often often lack acknowledgment and support to recover from this very real trauma.”
A study published by the British Journal of Social Psychology supports the idea that catcalling can have significant effects on the mental health of victims. Counselor Lesley Thalhuber describes the effects of catcalling as detrimental to students and their learning.
Women who report being objectified on a more frequent basis report greater body shame as well as symptoms of disordered eating and depression. Experiencing the objectifying gaze also decreases math performance among women but not men.
“Although there are more “minor” instances like a whistle,” Gingrich said, “it’s also a huge issue because the catcaller could persist, follow you, and make you feel unsafe in general.”
Not only does catcalling pose a threat to women’s mental health, oftentimes it can escalate into more serious or physical altercations. Cullity describes that her experience with catcalling also escalated after ignoring her harasser.
“When I refused to respond he shoved up against me and asked me if I could Venmo him money. When I moved away he started to curse at me and follow me into my internship,”Cullity said, “I ran in and my boss locked the door. He pounded on the windows and yelled derogatory names and curse words. It was a terrifying experience.”
