Rape in the Philippines: police station’s social media post sparks local version of MeToo movement
- ‘Don’t wear skimpy clothes,’ said the post, prompting a backlash of more than 50,000 tweets and the rise of a hashtag for women to unite behind
- Filipino culture makes it difficult for rape victims to speak out, but women haven’t always lived under a shadow of sexual assault, some experts say
A controversial Facebook post has sparked a Filipino version of the MeToo movement, igniting a deeply felt discussion on the nation’s so-called rape culture and inspiring more than 50,000 tweets.
“And for you girls, don’t wear skimpy clothes because if you are harassed, you would be seeking our assistance,” the Facebook message from a local police station in Quezon province, south of Manila, said. “Think about it!”
The inflammatory post, published just before the Philippines celebrated Independence Day in June, soon became the target of a backlash. It was quickly taken down, but the hashtag #HijaAko (“I am a young lady”) continues to resonate with Filipino women.
Former television personality Kat Alano, 35, also felt compelled to weigh in and point out that rape and sexual assault are not driven by so-called skimpy clothes.
“When I was raped by #rhymeswithwrong still famous celebrity who had smear campaigns to destroy my career and raped many more, I was wearing a T-shirt and jeans,” she tweeted about her experience with an unnamed Filipino celebrity. “He drugged me too, so trying to take my jeans off was difficult for him. Hard to rape an unconscious person in jeans.”
Alano says she was 19 when she was raped by the celebrity, and she has since said coming forward with the allegation ruined her career.