Berkley Center

Back in January, I was walking down la Avenida Independencia to my first day of class when I heard something that sounded like a hiss. “Psssssssst. Chica.” I turned around to see a couple of young men sitting on the street for their lunch break. As soon as I glanced in their direction, this group of guys proceeded to tell me how much they would like to be my boyfriend, using slightly vulgar words and mannerisms. I decided to keep walking. The men continued calling out to me until I turned the corner, where yet another man who was sitting on the street began to hiss at me as well. I was rather taken aback by my first walk to class, and wondered if I may have been wearing something that warranted such attention, but I was not.

I soon discovered that I was not the only one who received such comments; in fact, it happens to nearly all women in the Dominican Republic. This cultural phenomenon of men “cat-calling” and complimenting women on the streets is the Dominican piropo. More appropriate piropos include "“Hola, mi amor”," "“Venga aquí”," or “"Eres bonita”—," generally harmless comments praising the beauty of women who pass by. It is more common to hear piropos in urban areas than in rural ones—, perhaps because of the anonymity that large cities have to offer—, and women are less likely to receive piropos when walking with other men who may be their boyfriends or relatives. These comments are based on looks alone, and Dominican men tell it like it is, calling out “"morena"” to black women, “"china”" to Asian women, "“rubia”" to white women, or "“gordita" to women who are overweight.

Many non-Dominicans feel threatened by this practice, finding it offensive, politically incorrect, and downright annoying. I have to admit that I did too at first, and I still have trouble fully accepting it. In my time here, though, I have learned not to take the piropo comments personally, but to see them as the integral part of Dominican culture that they are. Some Dominican girls I know actually get upset about not receiving any piropos, taking it as a sign that they do not look good and that men are not interested in them. I have also spoken with Dominican girls who claim to “feel ugly” when they travel to the United States because no one calls out to them in the streets. Indeed, appearance is an important part of Dominican society—. The weather will be scorching hot, but you will not see a single Dominican wearing shorts or skirts so as not to appear informally dressed. Flip flops are taboo as well, as they also seem too casual. I personally have found that if I dress in a tank top, shorts, and flip flops, I receive less piropos, so I often do this intentionally.

Many might consider the piropo as a type of verbal objectification of women. Since my first day of class in January, I have started to occasionally hiss back when I am hissed at, which almost always gets a friendly laugh or two from the men on the street. Others say that, if anything, the pure honesty behind the piropo can be looked upon as something admirable; Dominican men have no shame in praising a beautiful woman when they see one, rather than holding these comments inward as is practiced in many other cultures. And, given that the majority of piropos are complimentary, most Dominican women have come to appreciate the positive feedback.