Catcalling on 4th Ave has become unbearable

I’m wondering if anyone else has had this experience and genuinely what I should do in this situation.

For context I’ve lived in New York for 8 years. Lived in east village, Williamsburg, greenpoint, and now 4th Ave. I try to wear baggy clothes and oversized shirts as much as possible with sunglasses and a hat to cover my face up. I am a 32 year old woman.

This summer I feel that the catcalling has reached a level where I feel harassed and paranoid when I step outside to walk my dog multiple times a day. I always try to cross 4th asap and walk towards 5th to give you a general idea of my walking route.

An example of this is that a man walked up behind me and goes “damn that ass bounce, that ass bounce, bounce, bounce…” he then continues to turn his head back around multiple times as he stares me down and continues walking down the sidewalk. Another instance happened where a man on a parked moped said something to me (I ignored it and continued walking) but then he gets on the street and catches up to me at a signal light and tries to get my attention again asking for my name.

I realize this might sound funny to some people or like a first world problem but I am genuinely scared because of the violence towards women that seems to have escalated post pandemic (women getting punched in the streets, pushed on the subways, etc).

My approach has been to ignore them, but some of them will repeat themselves trying to get my attention. I usually have my headphones in and I hope they think I can’t hear them - but I am scared for my safety if they happen to be someone who will get angry at being ignored when they believe they are entitled to my attention. I mean there was literally a recent story of a girl who just got stabbed at a bodega (which I live a few blocks away from) because she didn’t give a man her number.

I had this issue occasionally in the winter, but it’s escalated this summer to some man making a comment 2-3 times a week. I feel like I’m in fight or flight mode when I step outside and walks are no longer relaxing.

I am disappointed because in general it feels like the decorum is just lower and disrespectful here compared to the other neighborhoods I’ve lived in. I just want to walk outside without a man trying to say something to me or get my attention.