Stop Hating on the Holla

By K

Perhaps it’s the sheer volume of people on one concrete island, or that the people are actually more attractive and put-together. Maybe more of the residents are chemically altered more often throughout the day here. Whichever the case may be, New Yorkers are not at all shy about their catcalls, or “hollas,” if you will.

Granted, I’m from the Midwest. I completely missed out on this whole experience during my teen years. Back home, it’s mostly the sketchy old men in bars hitting on you, or, once you’ve ventured to the undergrad lifestyle, the halfway-to-blackout frat boys who think perhaps their forwardness will reward them with a piece of ass. Too often, ladies, we have caved, be it for lack of self-respect or just for fun. Hey, I’m not judging. Sometimes you just need to hook up.

Some women have never learned how to take a compliment or think anything positive about themselves, I beg those women to come to New York. It’s guarantee that of the eight million people, someone finds you attractive.

It may not be who you were hoping for, or rather what you thought you were hoping for, but you’re beautiful in the eyes of some random on-looker, even in post-gym attire or on your walk of shame home.

What a phenomenal city for an attention whore! Walking to work, if you don’t hear at least twice some sort of approving comment, you’re a little disappointed. It’s not that you want to jump on that construction worker who could pass for your uncle (let’s hope not anyway), it’s more that once you start having your appearance appreciated on the regular, it’s no fun to go back.

While some may consider the holla offensive, it’s just a line you don’t have to commit to. You’re not getting a drink out of this, and you certainly don’t have to worry about how to discreetly leave the characters you encounter on the street without hurting their feelings. You have no obligation to indicate you even heard the comment.

Of course, after acclimating to the city and being noticed simply for wearing a dress instead of a suit, you learn to be unfazed by nearly everything and act accordingly. So while you’re getting your daily confidence boost, it’s more than ok.