No compliment

The district is taking part in the "No compliments" campaign. The aim is to make catcalling, i.e. verbal sexual harassment, visible and sensitise people to it. Those affected do not have to endure these experiences in silence, but can send their experiences to the district's specialised service for women and equal opportunities and raise their voices effectively.

The catcalls are published anonymously on the day of action against catcalling on the 2nd Friday in June - i.e. "chalked" on the street.

Catcalling. What is that actually?

Whistling or kissing noises, intrusive glances, insinuating remarks on the open street: these are still rather harmless examples of the rather cute term "catcalling". The term comes from the English colloquial language and means something like "cat-calling": Catcalling includes all sexually connotated behaviour or various types of sexual harassment without physical contact in public spaces.

Hey sweetie, stop for a second!

Ey, horny ass!

Wow, baby!

Catcalling has serious consequences!
"Catcalling" is mainly directed against younger women and queer people. Harassment on the street has a physical and emotional impact on those affected: They reported symptoms such as muscle tension, breathing difficulties, dizziness and nausea as well as intense fear, e.g. of being raped or not being able to protect their privacy. Catcalling leads to women and girls avoiding public spaces and no longer being able to move freely in public. Catcalling is mainly directed against younger women and queer people.

Catcalling: a social problem
44 per cent of women and 32 per cent of men have experienced such sexist attacks, according to a recent study by the Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth. The mostly non-contact, forced sexuality is not yet a criminal offence or an administrative offence in its own right. In countries such as Spain, Portugal and the Netherlands, catcalling is already a criminal offence. With the new women's safety package, Hesse wants to prosecute offences involving catcalling more effectively. The Hessian state government is committed to ensuring that such offences can also be prosecuted.

Equal Opportunities Commissioner against Catcalling

In total, more than 40 municipalities and districts nationwide are involved in the campaign. Reports are collected and documented there.