So, I need your help in relation to my upcoming humorous book, I Don’t Drink Alone and Other Lies. One of the lies I tell in this book is: “I can still stop traffic”. Of course, I clarify this lie with a grain of truth (as I do in all the lies I tell in the book). The truth is that I can still stop traffic at a pedestrian crossing, especially the ones with lights.
This section of my book, led to my pondering the inverse relationship between weekly wolf whistles and a woman’s age. And as the wolf whistles become less frequent do they also become complimentary?
So I’ve created two charts for visual aids in demonstrating this fact but I’d like to choose the best one to include in the book. I’ve considered including both. First, here is the excerpt from the book to give you better context.
I’ve heard the common complaint that as we women age, we become ‘invisible’. There’s no better way to test this theory than to step into the middle of the street while cars are coming. I won’t personally test this theory but I’m convinced that we fifty-somethings aren’t as invisible as we think. And even if we are, is that so bad?
Cast your memory back to your second decade on earth. Recall fondly the amount of attention you could garner just by walking out your door and down the sidewalk. Wolf whistles, catcalls, screeching car tires, lewd remarks out car windows…ahh, the nostalgia.
Just for the sake of clarity, the Merriam-Webster definition of wolf whistle is:
“A distinctive two-toned whistle, sounded to express the approval of another person’s appearance.”
I don’t care for that definition. Merriam-Webster is skirting the real meaning by pretending that the wolf whistle has nothing to do with gender. As if it hasn’t been directed specifically at women for the past century.
Search engine DuckDuckGo takes first place with their definition:
“A typically two-note whistle made as an often unsolicited expression of sexual attention.”
Exactly! Now we’re getting somewhere.
So now that we’re clear on what a wolf whistle is, understand that I wouldn’t really care to relive all that fuss. It’s actually kind of nice to walk out the door and have no one notice. It’s been a burden lifted to not get asked if you want certain sexual services performed on you just because you are a living, breathing female out in public. I kind of feel bad for those young ones who are exposed to all the disgusting advances they receive just by standing still and breathing in and out…
…In any case, I do have to admit that while I enjoy the silence when I go out for a walk, a catcall or the odd wolf whistle wouldn’t be so horrible. In fact, at my age, it might just be a welcome sound. It becomes more of a compliment than an insult the older we get…
One graph is a line and the other a bar style. So, what I’d like to know from you, is which graph do you find easiest to understand? Which one is an immediate “Oh, I see.” moment for you?
Which category of wolf whistle harassment do you fall into? Do you like, loathe or lament the loss of the wolf whistle?
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Ann W
January 12, 2022 at 10:41 amI do not miss the cat calls…..
But do I miss catching the eye of a handsome man. Those glances so covert, and chaste…. I did enjoy.
lisa
January 12, 2022 at 4:28 pm🙂 Smiling over here. I agree, Ann. Maybe it’s our turn to give out a few. Us humans like to be seen. Thanks for stopping over!
Pamela
December 3, 2021 at 5:13 amYour title caught my attention immediately. 🙂 (And wonderful cover!) Oh yes, I used to hate the wolf whistles. I found them rude, not complimentary. On the other hand, I didn’t mind knowing that I was being looked at with appreciation, even though I knew it was just about my body, not about ME. I also knew I should mind, but we’re all raised in the culture that our attractiveness “matters.” Now that I’m past middle age, I feel more attractive than ever. But I don’t get wolf whistles nor looks of appreciation. Go figure! 🙂
lisa
December 3, 2021 at 6:40 pm😀 Hi Pamela, oh, that’s great to know. Thank you! Me too. Felt harassed, now silence haha. You hit the nail on the head here “but we’re all raised in the culture that our attractiveness “matters.”’ there is no arguing against that. That is awesome, Pamela and I’m getting there too. It’s an irony that reveals a truth. we don’t need the whistles to know we’re beautiful inside and out. 😛 Thanks for stopping over.
Mabel Kwong
December 2, 2021 at 4:06 amGreat topic you chose to discuss and write in your upcoming book, Lisa. You certainly can see the situation both ways: less wolf whistling and you feel free but at the same time, love is such an amazing thing. Then again, I think all of us want to be loved and valued for who we are and not just our looks. I like the bar graph better. It reads better on my eyes and the title is more targeted and specific, telling me what exactly I’m getting from the chart. Good luck with the new book 😊
lisa
December 2, 2021 at 10:20 amThanks, Mabel. It is a humorous book and this is but one of the topics in the heading “Almost Crone Lies”. It’s the last chapter in the book 😀 Definitely true about the being loved for more than our looks. Of course, the wolf whistles can be at the times we feel least attractive. Go figure. Haha! Thanks for your feedback on the graph 🙂
Chrys Fey
December 1, 2021 at 3:24 pmThe bar graph is easier for me to understand and compare at a glance. Line graphs always confuse me. lol
I truly love the cover. You’re a fantastic artist.
I’m looking forward to this release. 🙂
lisa
December 1, 2021 at 3:59 pmHi Chrys, the bar graph seems to be the winner 🙂 Thank you so much! Always nice to get positive feedback <3
Tamara
November 23, 2021 at 9:04 pmha! I haven’t thought about this. Maybe it’s because I don’t get out much, and I live in a super duper hippie lesbian town so not a lot of men jeering. Also, I’m usually with Cassidy (who is over six feet tall) and/or the kids! So I don’t think I look very different from my 20s and 30s yet, but who knows.
I do know that I get sad that I no longer get carded!
lisa
November 24, 2021 at 12:20 pm🙂 Now you’ve brought up an interesting variant: geographical location. Certainly having your hubs beside you will offer a buffer from wolf whistles 😀 I doubt you’ve changed at all since your 20’s.
Yeah, nothing like getting carded for a boost! It’s been a while for me on both counts. Last time I got carded I was in my late 40’s so that was a big compliment!! Happy Thanksgiving to and yours xx
LA CONTESSA
November 22, 2021 at 9:20 amSECOND GRAPH AND I FOUND THE WOLF WHISTLING TO BE EMBARRASSING!
HAPPY NOT TO HEAR THEM FOR YEARS NOW!!!
OFF TO PREPAE THE STUFFING FOR TURKEY DAY!!
XXX
lisa
November 22, 2021 at 9:38 amGood to know. The bar graph seems to be the winner. Oh, my gosh, the worst. It was especially awful in summer months, like these guys had a right to make lewd remarks. Wolf whistles weren’t quite as embarrassing as some of the gestures and shouts. I agree. It’s really nice to walk around and have zero of that. Maybe being invisible is a good thing.
Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! I will look forward to seeing pictures of your gorgeous table on Instagram.
DGKaye
November 21, 2021 at 5:24 pmHi Lis. Is that the cover for your new book? I love it!! I’ll look forward to reading it too! And oh, definitely easier to read the bar graph. 🙂 xx
lisa
November 22, 2021 at 9:35 amYes, it is :D. Thank you, Deb. Always good to get feedback on a cover from readers before publishing! Good to know.
Balroop Singh
November 20, 2021 at 8:26 amCongratulations Lisa, your new book seems to be ready! I am looking forward to it. I would prefer the first graph, to me it presents a clearer picture. 😊
lisa
November 20, 2021 at 10:24 amThank you, Balroop! Okay, good to know about the line graph. It’s interesting to get different perspectives. If it’s a half ‘n half result, I may just include both. 🙂
Veronica Schill
November 19, 2021 at 5:49 pmBar graph was easier for me to understand at one glance .. but everyone’s visual is different..and I must confess I have had a glass or two of the red .. lol.,as for wolf whistles etc .. bern a few years but one of my last ones was a guy calling from across the street “Did it hurt? “ I look at him and he says did it hurt when you fell from heaven?” Lol .. a total line but ya know, it made me laugh out loud
lisa
November 20, 2021 at 10:23 amOh, lol, V. Well, it’s also good for me to know that being under the influence of wine did not hinder your grasp on the graph! It should be alcohol proof. 😀 LOL, perhaps he saw your halo? LOVE it. Hilarious.
Jeff
November 19, 2021 at 2:59 pmI’m not a woman and can never recall wolf-whistling for a woman with whom I didn’t already have some kind of relationship. And even then, my wolf whistle was an affront to wolves. That said, I like the first graph better. The bar graph was too busy. Now, where did you get the data?
lisa
November 19, 2021 at 3:59 pmHa! Your wolf whistle was an affront to wolves. That’s a good one, Jeff! Appreciate your feedback on the graphs. I got the data from
my own experienceNational Geographic and then decided to make the woman’s age up to 80 years old (which I am not yet 😉 ) And then make sure some of the grannies got at least one wolf whistle per week.marcia @ Menopausal Mom
November 19, 2021 at 12:47 pmI definitely stopped getting wolf whistles about 20 years ago, ha-ha.
lisa
November 19, 2021 at 3:57 pmMe, too Marcia. Ha! So, I’m thinking it might be novel now. Or maybe just as annoying as before?