“The clothes we choose to wear — and how we choose to wear them — send out messages that reveal many aspects of personality and emotional health.” The New York Times stated in an article. Based on an article by Cameleon, more than 70% of sexually abused children are between 10 and 18 years old. Among those victims, 20% are under 6 years old. Cases of child sexual abuse are one of the most common issues that the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD). But many still believe that women are the ones who are responsible for why they got sexual abuse. A lot of people in society say that women are sexualized because of how they dress, women wore revealing clothes that’s why they attract the offenders. Noeline Blackwell said in an article that “There is an assumption – not borne out by any evidence – that the way a woman dresses is likely to lead to rape or sexual assault. We know that people are raped wearing a variety of clothing. The idea that a woman who goes out scantily clad will be pounced on is the most common myth across generations. They could be in their jeans, school uniform, or pajamas. We blame [victims] and we ask them what they could have done to prevent it. Maybe it is as old as time. In the Bible, the first thing Adam said to God was, ‘Women tempted me’.” But a lot of cases proves that victims aren’t the one to blame. A woman whose body is fully covered was raped while walking on the street. A kid who was silently sleeping was raped while sleeping. A member of the LGBT community was raped and murdered. How we present ourselves to the community, the clothes that we wear, and how we identify ourselves are not the ones to blame. The one to blame is those who perpetrate unacceptable acts against people such as rape. It is important to be informed on how we can prevent these from happening.
Here are some tips:
Trust your instincts.
Be prepared.
Don’t share too much on-line about what your plans are.
At a Party:
Stick together with your friends or let them know where you are going.
Be aware of your alcohol consumption.
If you do have a drink, don’t let it out of your site.
Never accept a drink from someone you don’t know.
Be ready to speak up to help someone out.
When Walking Alone:
Keep your eyes scanning.
Keep your ears listening.
Keep your feet moving.
Choose a smart route.
On a Date:
Tell a friend where you are going.
Don’t compromise your standards.
If your date is making you uncomfortable call your friend.
References:
Beach, N. (1979, August 26). “YOU ARE WHAT YOU WEAR”. The New York Times. Retrieved from https://www.nytimes.com/1979/08/26/archives/you-are-what-you-wear.html
Cameleon Association. (n.d). “Context in the Philippines” Retrieved from
https://www.cameleon-association.org/contexte-aux-philippines/?lang=en McAllister, D. (n.d). “Sexual Assault: 15 Tips to Protect Yourself”; The Hope Line: Retrieved from https://www.thehopeline.com/sexual-assault-15-tips-to-protect-yourself/
Oppenheim, M. (2019, Feb 23). Majority of men believe women more likely to be sexually assaulted if wearing revealing clothes, study suggests”; Independent. Retrieved from https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/men-sexual-assault-clothes-women-victim-blaming-rape-a8792591.html