Loose Women host Carol McGiffin has been slammed for saying those opposed to cat-calling are just being ‘overly sensitive’ on today’s show.
Following reports that street harassment has increased during lockdown, the panel discussed whether they would be offended if someone shouted something sexually suggestive at them on the street.
The broadcaster, 60, from London, said that it ‘wouldn’t offend her at all’ if she were to be cat called, and said that the outrage directed at women being wolf-whistled is ‘out of control’.
Viewers disagreed with her comments, arguing that for young women it can be a ‘terrifying and sickening’ experience, and raged that she and the rest of the panel should ‘raise their standards’ if they feel ‘validation from some random bloke’.
Loose Women host Carol McGiffin (pictured) has been slammed for saying those opposed to cat-calling are just being ‘overly sensitive’
The broadcaster, 60, from London, told that it ‘wouldn’t offend her at all’ if she were to be cat called and host Kéllé Bryan (pictured right) agreed men shouting at her on the street makes her feel ‘sexy and confident’
Speaking about whether street harassment should be made a hate crime, Carol said: ‘A hate crime? Seriously?
‘I just give up. It doesn’t offend me at all. It wouldn’t if it ever happened, a chance would be a fine thing.’
She went on to say that she ‘doesn’t buy’ that men have been wolf-whistling women more during lockdown, but said if it were to happen to her, she would ‘love it’.
‘To imply it’s happening now more after lockdown,’ said Carol, ‘All these men who haven’t seen women for so long that they can’t help themselves, I just don’t buy it.
Viewers disagreed with her comments, arguing that for young women it can be a ‘ terrifying and sickening’ experience
‘I think it’s so out of control. People are so overly offended by everything. I was never offended when it happened and I would love it to happen now, really.’
Viewers quickly took to Twitter to share their views, with many urging the show not to ‘spread the idea’ that catcalling is acceptable, especially because it is often directed at younger women.
One fumed: ‘The women on @loosewomen need to raise their standards! How can you LOVE being shouted at by a stranger?!’
‘Please don’t spread the idea that’s it’s okay to catcall and wolf whistle, wrote another. ‘For most people it’s terrifying and sickening. Especially when you’re young. As a 14-year-old it made me too scared to go out sometimes. It’s a directly threatening thing for men to do.’
However fellow panelist Jane Moore (pictured right) went on to argue that while she personally may not be offended by cat calling, it has to do with the age of the person
Carol said that she ‘doesn’t buy’ that men have been wold-whistling women more during lockdown, but said if it were to happen to her she would ‘love it’
A third fumed: ‘ A panel of middle age women actually saying that being wolf whistled/ cat called is a compliment and a confidence boost. It is disgusting and is harassment, I have never once enjoyed the experience.’
Co-host Kéllé Bryan agreed with Carol that men shouting at her on the street makes her feel ‘sexy and confident’.
She said: ‘When I walk down the street, if I get a wolf whistle or a honk, it makes me feel better and more confident.
‘I got to 40 and became a mum and you feel you’re not attractive anymore and you lose that femininity or feeling sexy, so I love it.’
Viewers quickly took to Twitter to share their views, with many urging the show not to ‘spread the idea’ that cat calling is okay, especially as it is often directed at younger women
However fellow panelist Jane Moore went on to argue that while she personally may not be offended by cat calling, it has more to do with the age of the person being targeted as well as the ‘tone’ of the comments.
She said: ‘Does it have something to do with our age? I think about my daughters, the younger that you are.
‘It’s all about tone. If you’re 17-years old and there’s six blokes and the tone isn’t great then that can be intimidating.’
Viewers continued to rage at the comments, with one writing: ‘If you need validation from some random bloke whistling at you then you need to have a word with yourself.’
Another agree: ‘It’s not flattering, it’s not a compliment. It’s sexual harassment. We should be able to walk along the street without feeling intimidated. I’m sorry Loose Women, but you just have completely missed the point.’
A third wrote: ‘Here we go, young people are overly sensitive. No, times have moved on and we’ve moved on.’