street outreach for patriarchy!

Today I was hollered at twice. The first time was in early afternoon in midtown Manhattan. I was walking down the street and I saw a man with a clipboard in the middle of the street. I would not have stopped, but he asked, "Do you have time to sign a petition to raise the minimum wage to $10?"

I've always got time to sign a petition (unless it's for some crazy, scary cause).  I turned around, ready to sign and hear an explanation of the campaign. It went something like this:

"Ooh! You are beautiful! You are enough eye candy to make a man a diabetic!" 

Oy.

Although I didn't appreciate Mr. ACORN's come-ons (yes, that ACORN), I said, "Thank you," and went on to listen to his appeal. Sometimes, I just say thanks in order to acknowledge the incident and move forward; it is a preemptive measure to diffuse any aggression from a snubbed catcaller. For me, this reaction is part defense mechanism and part compliance --- an instinct from years and years of being taught how to be a please-and-thank-you, proper señorita. Does anyone else do this? Say "thank you" when really you're not thankful at all? 

I signed the petition, declined to make a contribution, and was ready to be on my way.

"I knew I should ask you to stop," he said. "I could tell you'd care. And I asked you to stop because I'm very attracted to you. I can tell you like to smile. I like to smile too. Are you single? Maybe I can help you?"

Oy (again). Help me with what? Also, petitioning and catcalling make for a problematic mix.

"I'm not single," I answered. "Have a nice day."

Usually, I don't answer questions of this sort. Whether I am single, married, dating, or in an open relationship does not matter. It is not any more appropriate to holler at a single woman than it is a married woman or a woman in a relationship. Moreover, lingering behind this whole "single" question is the question of property... As in, Do you already belong to some other dude? Cause I believe in property rights! THIS IS AMERICA! WE BELIEVE IN PROPERTY RIGHTS! 

As for the second catcall of the day...