In these troubling times, it is by scrolling through our social media feed do we garner all sorts of information. As it is a bombardment of horrible news, much more terrible news, a positive one, adorable images of animals, and of course memes. Perhaps as a way to stray our minds from the angst brought about by our invisible enemy and quite frankly, the circus that is our government, we resort to all sorts of entertainment. From memes, videos, to various art forms to further reflect our sentiments and stance. Yet for far too many times, I have encountered rape jokes guised as ‘dark humor’ and to my surprised were supported by many. While some would dismiss it easily as “Joke lang naman e!” and dubbed as ‘harmless’, there is a greater structure at play.
In the sociopolitical context in our country, sexual remarks from the president himself invokes an even bigger consequence. Back in 2016 during the presidential campaign, his speeches were already filled with sexist remarks and rape jokes that were met with laughter from the audience. Being a public figure, it is given that he gravely influences the stance of other people and with such remarks, it enables an environment that tolerates discrimination against women and normalizes sexual harassment. Up until now, these kinds of statements are still being uttered with the same amusement from the public.
The dominant culture in our society also plays a major role in shaping our thoughts, rape culture is enabled through themes that inhibit rape, patriarchy, and misogyny. We can easily think of films or shows that glorify abuse and sexism. Rape culture also exists because of the absence of laws that protect women and their rights. In the Middle East, sexual abuse against women are at peak because people are free to do so without grave consequences to consider.
Besides from implementing laws to protect those who are in dire need of protection, education is a key in this narrative. People must be educated about sex, sexual harassment, abuse, and rape to break the misconceptions that surround these issues. Lack of education sprouts the argument of “Ginusto niya naman kasi nilabasan siya”, when in reality it is but a normal response from the body but it does not deny the non-consensual sexual act. Providing space for people who take rape lightly, hinder victims to step forward. Turning traumatic experiences into jokes, tolerate sexual abuse.
Looking at it at a broader perspective, allowing for these types of discourse is not only aimed to educate but also to destroy the shackles of stigma and taboo that only worsens the situation of victims.
The economy commonly dictates the culture of a society which in turn maintains the economic base. In our context an economy that is import dependent and export oriented, therefore our culture is composed of western influences and the eroding backwards culture that our colonizers left with us. As a result, the older generation is stuck with tradition and culture that are backwards while the younger ones are continuously being fed with decadent culture from the western scene. ‘Rape jokes’ and normalizing abuse burgeon from these corrupt and backwards mentality. Lockdowns all over the world caused by the pandemic have paved the way to domestic abuse. In Mexico, almost a thousand women were murdered while in the United Kingdom it has surged to over 66%. In the Philippines, there were recent reports of ‘sex-for-pass’ modus amongst the ranks of police. Despite laws, sexual harassment and victim-blaming is rampant with women being the subject of abuse. As long as the world capitalist system prevails, women will always be looked down upon. In order to maintain the economy that is reliant on western imported materials, our culture allows products and commodities that are cheap, unnecessary and futile. And so it breeds a culture that is of the same magnitude, plagued with sexual objectification and individualism wherein popular culture portrays women as sexual objects. It is not only a matter of male domination and women oppression, the ruling class is at the top of the chain. We must raise the bar and unite against class struggle— we must always remember who the real enemy is.