Poppy, be Smart and quietly savour cheeky flattery while you can

Where do you stand on wolf whistling? Do you find it mildly flattering or just plain annoying?

Poppy Smart, a 23-year-old marketing co-ordinator from Worcester, took the same route to work every morning and the unwanted attention from the guys on the building site she passed became a downright nuisance. So she reported them to the police.

Was she over-reacting or is wolf whistling the kind of sexist nuisance girls just shouldn’t have to put up with any more?

There is a lot of laddish behaviour which is funny the first few times but can become really irritating and even intimidating after a time. Some guys need to learn the difference and grow up.

Most young women today that I know can handle the banter and give back as good as they get.

Growing up in the Sixties when the mini skirt made its first appearance on the street, my pals and I would have been just a bit put out if we didn’t clock up a few wolf whistles on our way to work. We saw it as part of the fun of being young and liberated.

Was it a more innocent time back then? Were we not aware of the nuisance factor or are women today a bit too sensitive about bad-boy behaviour?

Building-site banter can be offensive, it’s a group thing they encourage each other and eventually it’s tiresome. I’ve seen the same on the late-night train from Glasgow drunken lads showing off and girls pointedly staring out the window and trying to ignore them. When the comments become embarrassing, what should a girl do? Move out of her seat/call the guard? Stare at her phone and try to blank it all out?

There is an argument for saying take action and try to stamp out the harassment from lads who think it’s their right to treat women in this way. But on hen nights I’ve also seen groups of girls, several drinks down, turning the tables on men and embarrassing them with their remarks.

My own view is, if you don’t feel in danger, just ignore guys when they’re showing off with their mates. Nothing works better than a dismissive hard stare. But clearly. if you’re in a vulnerable position and unwanted attention is upsetting you then you have a right to complain.

The fact is though would we actually want a world where men can’t show their appreciation of a pretty girl?

I sometimes feel modern men have a hard time of it. They are wary about what they can say or do because it might just be misinterpreted by the sisterhood.

We need to find a balance. Threatening sexist behaviour absolutely not. A flattering comment of male appreciation accept it with grace.

So Poppy, my advice would be don’t be such a delicate flower that a cheeky wolf whistle gets you down. Enjoy it for what it is.

Trust me when you’re my age, a flattering male glance or comment will actually make your day.