The Law Commission has announced it will review acts of misogyny meaning that cat-calling and wolf-whistling could soon become a hate crime in Britain.
Cat-calling makes plenty of people feel uncomfortable and uneasy, although some might argue it is a compliment.
MP Stella Creasy has been campaigning for verbal abuse to be punishable in the same way as religious hate crimes.
Advert
Verbal abuse will include cat-calling, which is defined as whistling or yelling at a person in a 'sexually suggestive manner'.
The move was announced during a debate about upskirting and whether or not that should be a criminal offence.
MP Stella called for a full review while speaking in Parliament on the Voyeurism (Offences) Bill on Wednesday, and it was later granted.
Advert
Announcing the news on Twitter Stella said: "Government agrees to fund a law commission review into all hate crime including misogyny and look at new and existing offences - finally we are sending a message misogyny isn't just a part of life we put up with but something men and women together commit to tackling.
"Thank you to everyone who helped us make the case to their MP!"
The full review will look at whether misogyny should become a hate crime - some serious misogynistic acts can be punished under other acts such as intimidation or harassment.
Advert
Stella has previously been threatened with rape and violence on social media, and said women are often made to feel as though their actions lead to attacks.
She said: "Crimes like upskirting don't happen in a vacuum.
"They happen in a world where we don't see violence against women as a priority for action; where we tell young women to not walk around late at night as a way of staying safe, rather than those who hassle them that their behaviour is unacceptable."
Advert
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said of Ms Creasy's amendment: "We already have robust legislation that can be used to protect women from a range of crimes.
"We are determined to see the upskirting bill passed as soon as possible, to better protect victims and bring offenders to justice."
Featured Image Credit: PA Images