Y-Speak: Rape culture: Do not nurture

IN TODAY’S world where chivalry is almost dead, where women’s modesty is almost gone, people tend to pay attention to the negative side to have excuses for their wrongdoings.

Rape culture is when rape is pervasive and normalized due to societal attitudes about gender and sexuality. This is happening now. Women, whether they dress modestly or not, are being objectified by some men.

“Ayaw mabastos pero nag sho-short!”

“Okay lang yan, ginusto niya naman yan!”

“Nang-aakit na naman ang suot, kating-kati na ata.”

These are just a few statements that people throw at women who wear outfits that reveal more skin. If someone sexually harasses a woman wearing revealing clothes, people blame the victim and not the person harassing her. If you are not the typical “Maria Clara” that the society wants to see, some think that you do not deserve respect.

Judgmental eyes and mouths are everywhere in society. For me, victim blaming and shaming are intolerable. A woman should not be blamed if she is sexually harassed or raped. Her clothes shouldn’t be the measurement of her right. We are in a world where people are free to wear what they want, even if it is tempting, if a man knows how to control himself there will be no problem.

For example, in India, an eight-year-old Asifa Bano was gang-raped. She had been raped and murdered by four men. Bano comes from a Muslim background where women dress modestly. She was wearing proper Muslim attire when the incident happened.

The problem are not the victims, it is the rapists. Whether you are wearing shorts or pants, sleeveless or long sleeves, rapists will choose no one.

Showing skin does not mean you are giving consent for people to see you as a sex object.

Stop rape culture. Stop victim blaming and shaming. Do not be blinded by the true accuser. Open your eyes and shut your mouths to see the real scenario. (Brisbane Q. Titular, Father Saturnino Urios University)

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