Filipinas speak up against catcallers on the streets

It happens all the time, but it's always a numbingly scary experience: being "complimented" by a total stranger, not knowing what he's actually thinking or is capable of doing.

 

"I get catcalled almost weekly," says Maxine Mae Liwanag, a former project manager at GMA. 

No way out
 

And it doesn't matter what you wear. No matter if you're all covered up or even unkempt, someone somewhere is going to throw a sly greeting your way.

 

One day, Maxine had had enough. Despite wearing a full pair of jeans, ankle-high boots, and a midlength-sleeved top—a getup that many would consider quite conservative—a complete stranger on a motorcycle leaned in and flirted with her, saying, "Miss, angkas ka na sa 'kin."

 

The experience so scared Maxine that she decided to share her story on social media:

 

 

Her Facebook post has since gone viral, with over 3,000 shares in the two short days since it was posted on September 28.

A shared unspoken fear
 

It struck a chord, echoing a very deep-seated yet largely unspoken fear: what to many men is just a harmless compliment is, for women, actually quite a harrowing experience.

 

"Men should understand na sa dami ng rape na nangyayari ngayon, laging sinasabihan kaming mga babae na maging vigilant at alerto. So kapag naramdaman namin na may isang stranger na nakapansin sa amin, matatakot kami," Maxine explains.

 

Renee Karunungan, a gender rights activist, agrees.

 

"We've all known stories about women getting raped, getting abused. And it starts with something people think is a simple compliment. For women, we do not know who will do what to us. Men may say we shouldn't generalize but because of our collective experiences, we have become fearful," Renee says.

 

"Kayong mga lalake wala kayong idea kung anong klaseng discomfort ang binibigay niyo sa aming mga babae tuwing ginagawa niyo yan. Wala kayong idea kung gaano kami napapraning," Maxine adds.

 

Like Maxine, Renee is no stranger to catcalling. Her own Facebook post on a similar experience also went viral last July, shared and liked thousands of times over:

 

Women speak up
 

Many women have since come forward, breaking their silence on the issue and echoing Maxine's and Renee's sentiments on just how unsettling and threatening catcalling can be.

 

"When a woman is walking alone and a man suddenly appears behind her following her, she will immediately have fears that the man is a rapist. The woman has no way of knowing if he is until he does, but that's a woman's way of protecting herself. We assume strange men as 'potential' rapists, so we cross the street or hurry our steps. It does not matter if not all men are rapists, because some men are," said Tessa Tot.

 

"Women are tired of being scared and helpless. These catcallings and lewd stares may lead to something worse, to something more violent, sonetimes to rape. Please do not say ni hindi alarming yung issue. Siguro para sa mga hindi nakakaranas nito, wala kayong pakialam at puso sa issue. Pero wag niyo maliitin yung karanasan nung mismong apektado nito," said Monique Laurel.

 

"It doesn't completely depend on what kind of clothing a woman wears when she gets harassed. The problem is how the majority of men behave, how and what they think about women," said Marrion Abong, a doctor who was catcalled on the street despite wearing a full doctor's uniform.

 

"Sa totoo lang, di ko rin alam kung ano nasa utak ng mga (lalakeng) yan. Instead na matuwa (ako), most of the time natatakot pa ako. Tulad ng sabi ng mga ibang nag-comment, di pare-parehas ang mga lalaki," said Maria Camille San Antonio.

 

"I feel happy that women were inspired (by our posts) to share their experiences and are finally speaking up," Maxine said after seeing how much mileage her post has received.

Some men miss the point
 

Sadly, however, some men still missed the point:

 

"Ayaw mo ma-catcall, eh ang arte-arte mo. Wag na maarte pag may pumupuri sa yo," said Louie Gobilaventura.

 

"I (even) got comments that I'm just being 'maarte' and 'could not understand compliments' or 'pag sinabihan ng panget magagalit, sabihan ng maganda magagalit pa din.' These statements from some men are the very reason why us women should say something. Hindi nila kami naiiintindihan. Hindi nila naiintindihan na nakakabastos ang ginagawa nila," Maxine reveals.

 

Nevertheless, women do recognize that not all men think this way.

Working together
 

"Dapat talaga mainsulto yung mga matitinong lalake kasi nadadamay sila. Parang sa kapulisan natin o sa mga politiko, maraming matino pero marami ring g***. Nalilipat tuloy sa mga matino ang burden of proof, na kailangan pa nilang patunayan na matino sila dahil nabahiran na sila ng repustasyon ng mga g***," Monique stressed.

 

Maxine and Renee underscore that their criticism of catcalling is not a generalization against all men. In fact, gender-sensitive men are essential to changing the patriarchal status quo.

 

"While there are men who can't understand us, I also want to let other women know that there are still a lot of men who understand us. Let's just speak up some more and support each other," Maxine concluded. — GMA News