Buenos Aires Wants to Outlaw Street Harassment of Women

The sidewalks of Buenos Aires are a veritable gantlet of wolf-whistles for pretty much any woman who dares to wander them in anything more form fitting than a muumuu. Rare is the woman who doesn’t brave a catcall or two while running to catch the bus. Not to mention comments on your clothing, what feelings your legs might inspire, and what specifically your “admirer” would like to do to you if you paused.

Buenos Aires has a love-hate relationship with piropos—a sort of combination pick-up line and compliment—frequently hurled by men at female passersby. Whether the comments are a colorful custom to be celebrated or a form of gender violence that should be targeted by authorities is a perennial debate. Last year the city’s mayor (and current presidential candidate), Mauricio Macri had to apologize after saying that “deep down, all women like to receive a piropo, even if it’s rude, like ‘what a nice ass you’ve got.’ ”