Philippines: Activists fight to change culture of harassment

Al Jazeera English

4 Sept 202002:27

Summary

TLDRJournalist Shai Lagarde addresses gender-related issues in the Philippines, advocating against harassment and victim blaming. Despite having high-ranking female officials, the country still has no divorce recognition and a low age of sexual consent. The 'I am a girl' movement, inspired by #MeToo, fights against a culture that includes rape occurring hourly and a conservative church opposing women's rights. Activists face challenges from officials, including President Duterte's rape jokes, and push for legislative changes to criminalize sexual intercourse with minors and combat sexual harassment.

Takeaways

🗣️ Shai Lagarde is a journalist advocating against harassment and victim blaming towards women and young girls in the Philippines.
🚶‍♂️ She experienced harassment personally when a man followed her home and made vulgar advances.
🌐 Women in the Philippines have joined a local version of the global #MeToo movement, highlighting the issue of sexual harassment.
🏢 Despite having a high number of female executives and two female presidents, the Philippines still has no legal recognition of divorce and a low age of sexual consent at 12.
📜 A bill has been filed in Congress to criminalize sexual intercourse with minors under 16, even with their consent.
🚨 Government data indicates that at least one woman or child is raped every hour in the Philippines, often from impoverished backgrounds and afraid to report it.
⛪️ The influence of a conservative church is seen as a barrier to women's rights, including reproductive health and rights.
👨‍💼 Government officials, including President Rodrigo Duterte, have been criticized for their attitudes towards women, with Duterte joking about rape in public speeches.
🏛️ Activists call for continued legislative action and oversight to address sexual harassment, which they see as a byproduct of a broader rape culture.
💪 Shai Lagarde is determined to continue her fight for change despite recognizing the challenges she faces.

Q & A

Who is Shai Lagarde and what is her focus?
-Shai Lagarde is a journalist who focuses on gender-related issues, particularly speaking against a culture of harassment and victim blaming towards women and young girls.
What is the significance of the Filipino version of the global 'MeToo' movement?
-The Filipino version of the 'MeToo' movement, 'I Am A Girl', was created to address the issue of sexual harassment and to encourage women to speak out against it, following a controversial Facebook message from a police station advising women to dress modestly to avoid harassment.
Why is the Philippines the only country globally where divorce is not recognized?
-The Philippines has a predominantly conservative culture, heavily influenced by the Catholic Church, which opposes divorce, leading to the country's unique position of not recognizing divorce.
What is the current legal age of sexual consent in the Philippines?
-The current age of sexual consent in the Philippines is 12 years old, which is one of the lowest in the world.
What bill has been filed in the Philippines to address sexual intercourse with minors?
-A bill has been filed in the Philippines to criminalize sexual intercourse between an adult and a minor aged 16 years old and below, even if the child gave consent to the act.
How prevalent is rape in the Philippines according to government data?
-Government data from the Philippines indicates that at least one woman or child is raped every hour, with most victims coming from impoverished communities.
What is the role of the Catholic Church in influencing women's rights in the Philippines?
-The Catholic Church in the Philippines plays a significant role in influencing women's rights, often opposing advocacies such as sexually reproductive health and rights, which has led to a slow progress in enacting laws related to these issues.
How has President Rodrigo Duterte's behavior impacted the issue of sexual harassment?
-President Rodrigo Duterte has been criticized for joking about raping women in his public speeches, which activists say contributes to a culture of normalization of sexual harassment and violence against women.
What is the 'Safe Spaces or Bowl Busters Act' and why was it enacted?
-The 'Safe Spaces or Bowl Busters Act' is a recent law in the Philippines that recognizes and prohibits sexual harassment in public spaces, making it punishable by law, in an effort to combat the widespread issue of sexual harassment.
What challenges does Shai Lagarde face in her advocacy work?
-Shai Lagarde faces challenges such as a conservative society, opposition from the influential Catholic Church, and even inappropriate comments from public figures like the President, which contribute to a difficult environment for advocating women's rights and against sexual harassment.
What is Shai Lagarde's stance on the fight against sexual harassment and victim blaming?
-Shai Lagarde is determined to continue her battle against sexual harassment and victim blaming, despite acknowledging the challenges, as she believes it is crucial for the advancement of women's rights and safety in the Philippines.

Outlines

00:00

🚨 Women's Struggle Against Harassment in the Philippines

Shai Lagarde, a journalist focusing on gender issues, has been advocating against harassment and victim blaming in schools. Despite the Philippines having a high number of female executives and two female presidents, the country still does not recognize divorce and has one of the lowest ages of sexual consent globally. The 'I Am A Girl' movement, inspired by the global #MeToo movement, emerged in response to a police station's advice to women to dress modestly to avoid harassment. A bill is being considered to criminalize sexual intercourse with minors under 16, even with consent. The prevalence of rape, with government data showing at least one case per hour, is a significant issue, particularly in impoverished communities where victims are often afraid to come forward. The influence of a conservative church and dismissive attitudes from government officials, including President Rodrigo Duterte, further complicate the fight for women's rights and against sexual harassment.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Sexual Harassment

Sexual harassment refers to unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and other verbal or physical conduct of a sexual nature that creates an intimidating, hostile, or offensive environment. In the video, Shai Lagarde speaks against a culture of harassment towards women and young girls, highlighting the issue's prevalence in society.

💡Victim Blaming

Victim blaming is the act of holding the victim of a crime or incident at fault for the wrongdoings committed against them, rather than the perpetrator. The script mentions a culture where women are often blamed for the harassment they experience, which is a key issue that the speaker and the movement are fighting against.

💡#MeToo Movement

The #MeToo movement is a social movement against sexual harassment and assault. It gained momentum in 2017 and has since spread globally, encouraging women to share their experiences and raise awareness. The script mentions a Filipino version of this movement, indicating its international impact and local adaptations.

💡Consent

Consent is an informed and voluntary agreement to participate in a particular activity, such as sexual activity. The video discusses the importance of consent, especially in the context of the Philippines where the age of sexual consent is low, and there's an ongoing effort to criminalize sexual intercourse with minors even if they give consent.

💡Impoverished Communities

Impoverished communities are areas with high poverty rates and limited resources. The script notes that most victims of sexual violence in the Philippines come from such communities, indicating a correlation between poverty and vulnerability to such crimes.

💡Legislation

Legislation refers to the process of making or enacting laws by a legislative body. The video mentions a bill filed in the Philippine Congress to criminalize sexual intercourse with minors, showing how legislation can be a tool for social change and protection of rights.

💡Cultural Conservatism

Cultural conservatism is the tendency to maintain traditional cultural practices and values. The script points out the influence of a conservative church in the Philippines that has opposed women's rights advocacies, including sexual and reproductive health, reflecting how cultural norms can impact social progress.

💡Rape Culture

Rape culture is a societal culture that normalizes or trivializes sexual assault and violence. The video discusses the existence of a 'rape culture' in the Philippines, where sexual harassment is a byproduct, indicating a broader societal issue that needs to be addressed.

💡Safe Spaces Act

The Safe Spaces Act is a law that aims to create environments free from gender-based violence and harassment. The script mentions this law as a recent legislative effort to recognize and prohibit certain behaviors, showing the government's response to the issue of sexual harassment.

💡Sexual Consent Age

Sexual consent age is the minimum age at which an individual is considered legally able to consent to participate in sexual activity. The video discusses the low age of sexual consent in the Philippines, which is a point of contention and a topic of legal reform.

💡Divorce

Divorce is the legal dissolution of a marriage. The video notes that the Philippines is the only country globally where divorce is not recognized, which can have significant implications for women's rights and personal freedom.

Highlights

Shai Lagarde, a journalist, focuses on gender-related issues and speaks against harassment and victim blaming.

Lagarde shares her personal experience of being followed and harassed by a man.

Women in the Philippines join a local version of the global #MeToo movement.

A police station's Facebook message advising women to dress modestly to avoid harassment sparked controversy.

The Philippines has one of the highest numbers of female executives but does not recognize divorce.

The age of sexual consent in the Philippines is one of the lowest in the world at 12 years old.

A bill has been filed to criminalize sexual intercourse with minors aged 16 and below, even with consent.

Government data reveals that at least one woman or child is raped every hour in the Philippines.

Most rape victims in the Philippines come from impoverished communities and are afraid to report the crime.

The influence of a conservative church is highlighted as an obstacle to women's rights advocacy.

Activists point out the long journey to enact a reproductive health law in the Philippines.

Government officials, including President Rodrigo Duterte, have been criticized for joking about rape.

Recent laws like the Safe Spaces or Bowl Busters Act are aimed at combating sexual harassment.

The need for legislative oversight on the implementation of laws to address sexual harassment is emphasized.

Shai Lagarde acknowledges the difficulty of her battle but remains determined to continue advocating for change.