Only one in four women cry wolf

ONLY one in four Australian women are offended by wolfwhistling in the street.

New Australian research has highlighted women’s different perceptions of what is unacceptable behaviour, depending on where they live.

Aussies are less likely to consider wolf-whistling in the street, being asked for sex at a social event and a man overstaying his welcome in their home as unacceptable behaviour than women overseas.

The study asked 1734 female undergraduate students in 12 countries about forced sexual contact, physical harm and death threats as well as being asked out as friends, receiving gifts and a stranger striking up a conversation.

The research found most fe- male undergraduates agreed on the most overt inappropriate behaviours but there was little consensus about less explicit actions.

In Australia, 64 per cent of women surveyed believed a man ‘‘visiting places because he knows you may be there” was inappropriate, compared to just 7 per cent of Italian women and 6 per cent of Egyptian women.