I know some of my friend's and families opinions on this, and im curious to see if the same opinion stretches nationwide or if different areas share different opinions.
To sum it up as a initial starting point, wolf whistling as defined by Wikipedia is "a two-toned sound (like 'whip-woo') commonly made using the above technique to show high interest or approval of something or someone." And it is mainly directed at young girls, although It can be directed at young men deemed attractive.
In my opinion, it is disgusting. I first began getting wolf whistled at the age of 13 when I had next to no curves, had my hair in a ugly looking bob hairstyle with a low ponytail down the back and my clothing consisted of t-shirts and jogging bottoms. Not really the sorts of things deemed attractive, but somehow it happened. It was clearly obvious that I was underage, but for some reason I was seen as being good-looking enough for a 'compliment.'
Even now, I am 16 years old and I get wolf whistled and stares from older men that often, that I have reached a point where I do not go out on my own because it makes me feel humilated and almost like the inner person that I am, has very little value to society. I feel like I am only accepted as part of society because I have curves on my body. It's not true of course, but it feels like that. I've begun to go back to wearing tops that go to the top of my collar to see if they attract less attention, and when it's bearable to do so, I wear the bulkiest hoodie I own to avoid wolf whistles to no avail. Surely in a way, it's pedophilic? I mean, we get articles popping up online talking about how younger and younger children are being drawn into the sexual world. But isn't wolf whistling a part of this too? As we are being told at young ages through wolf whistles that we look sexually appealing even though we are technically still children.
I once brought this topic up to a friend once and I told her it made me uncomfortable. She told me it's just one of those things I should get used to, but why should I? I don't want to walk down the street and feel like Im just providing a extra bit of eye candy to any man (and yes, I've never been wolf whistled by a woman) who happens to be out at the same time as me. I want to be recognised as someone who has gone out for a purpose, and just because I'm young, doesn't mean I want attention. In a way, it's slut shaming, and it's only because I'm young am I getting this attention. I'm not wearing anything revealing. Only skin I'm showing is my hands, head and ankles so surely it's a giveaway I don't want to be complimented.
I don't think myself as a feminist. I don't often speak about the men and women differences. But I think there's a extreme problem if I'm too scared to leave the house on my own in fear of these 'compliments.'