Not the Object of Your Affection

This morning, after a particularly difficult-for-no-good-reason run, I was fininshing my cool-down (which is really just walking for a few minutes until I get home) when a man drove past and whistled at me.  For the sake of the story, I will disclose that he was a fat, middle-aged man driving a rather large silver pick-up truck.  However, homeboy could have been Ryan Gosling and my reaction would have been the same.  I quickly turned around, stopped in the middle of the road and yelled, "Really?!   You want to start with me at 7:00 in the morning?  Really?!"  While it was actually 6:45, the time, like his appearance, had nothing to do with it.  As he slowed down, eyeing me in his mirrors, likely trying to figure out if I was about to chase after him, I continued to give him a death stare and then focused in as though I was memorizing his license plate despite not really being able to see it.  My hope is that he spends the entire day worried that the lady who yelled at him will somehow find him and destroy him. 

This is not the first time this has happened to me but it still fills me with rage.  I am dragging my ass out of bed at 5:30 in the morning to run, not to be sexualized and objectified!  Further, I never want to be sexualized and objectified while going about my business, running or otherwise.  I really don't understand how some men still think that whistling or calling out to women is an appropriate behavior.  Obviously some part of them knows it is wrong, otherwise it wouldn't be limited to when they are in the safety of their car or when I am sans a male companion.  Not once have I been whistled at while with a guy, be it my husband, brother, dad, or friend.  However, get me out alone mid-run all sweaty and red-faced, looking like a total mess, and the animals turn loose!  Do I need to starting running with a blow-up man doll?

And I know there are women who welcome this kind of barbaric behavior because it makes them feel good.  And I feel sorry for them.  And I know that there are men who will say to just ignore it or it isn't meant to be harmful or threatening.  And to this I say, Really?!  You really want to start with me?  Really?!