Racked with guilt: Philippine exhibition displays clothes worn by sexual assault victims to highlight culture of victim-blaming
- The Philippines is one of the most gender-equal places in the world when it comes to economic and political opportunities
- But women are still being targeted for sexual harassment, assault and victim-shaming
A teenage student’s crisp blouse and plaid skirt uniform, a sleeveless top and brightly patterned skirt and a baby’s white bodysuit – these are among the outfits on display at an event in Metro Manila to highlight sexual violence.
The Don’t Tell Me How to Dress (DTMHTD) exhibition, which began on Friday – International Women’s Day – at a mall in Taguig City, also presents harrowing testimonies from 11 girls and women together with the clothes they were wearing when they were targeted.
Maica Teves, executive director of Spark, a women’s empowerment organisation that is one of the event’s organisers, said the survivors of sexual violence featured in the exhibition came from diverse backgrounds.
“One outfit belonged to a woman who was working as a gallery assistant – she was raped by her professor in the gallery. Another was a 15-year-old who was molested by her stepfather.
“The four-month-old infant was sleeping at home when someone inside the family compound – a suspected family member – abducted the baby. The baby was later found alone in a coconut field beside a bottle of wine, with signs of being sexually abused.”
Meanwhile, outside, 4,000 protestors took to the streets of Manila for the nation’s annual International Women’s Day march held in conjunction with DTMHTD. Protestors decried sexual violence against women, as well as the country’s president Rodrigo Duterte for his sexist remarks and alleged misogyny.
The Philippines may be one of the most gender equal places in the world when it comes to economic and political opportunities, according to a recent World Economic Forum report, but many women are still being subjected to sexual harassment and assault.