Cat Call + Kate Spade Giveaway

Top: H&M; Skirt: Nordstrom Rack  - in stores (similar save, similar spend); Heels: c/o Lulu*s; Necklace: Stella and Dot

I walk to and from work, through the city and waterfront, each day and I walk around the city during the day for lunch, coffee, and office errands. Portland is a pretty clean and safe city, and I love walking - it's so nice to move your legs at the end of a very sedentary day. But the city streets are beginning to get to me. But I suppose it's not the streets, it's the men on the streets. And I'm starting to feel less comfortable and more agitated when I am walking. Definitely not the point of having a brisk walk to work in the morning.

The concept of cat calls never really bothered me - they've always seemed relatively harmless and sporadic. My friends and I in high school and early college used to laugh about them and, for a second, feel affirmed that we weren't as undesirable as our lack of dates would suggest. Maybe it's something about it happening every single day, in a very up close and personal way, that's making me feel so uncomfortable. 

Today I was followed down the block by a man that wouldn't stop talking to me about my legs. While it's nice to know that my legs (which need a shave, actually) are showstoppers to somebody, there's something very invasive about that kind of tailgating behavior. I don't feel safe being followed. I really don't want to talk to a stranger on city street about my body. And I don't think it serves any purpose, but to make me feel out of control and scared. It's also really hard to deter that kind of attention if you don't have free reign to just mace anyone that approaches you. But perhaps that's the point? To make me feel visibly uncomfortable... I can't quite figure it out - I'm not a creepy street guy following ladies around.

Do you guys live in cities or commute to work and deal with this stuff on a daily basis? What's your approach to not feeling grimy and creeped out at the end of the day? I'm sure you've all encountered it in some way - this kind of behavior is a very unfair and unfortunate side effect of being female. Your thoughts on the subject are very much appreciated. 

P.S. I am a co-sponsor of a $150 Kate Spade giveaway and some ad space (2 months Big Ben ad space from Belinda at Found Love Now What and 1 month of Flavor of the Month ad space from Catherine at Bailey Dailies). Enter below.

 Kelly - Curated by Kelly / Rachel - With Love, Rachel / Cece - Pink Sunshine / Jules - Canines & Couture

 Belinda - Found Love Now What / Kelsey - Ladies in Navy / Alesha - Lifeology / Catherine - Bailey Dailies

Kelly - Petite Ramblings / Sarah - Venus Trapped in Mars / Tara - Starletta Designs / Jackie - Jade and Oak

a Rafflecopter giveaway

For full terms and conditions, visit Jade and Oak.