Hi Miss: A Narrative Inquiry on the Noob Sexual Perpetrator’s Perspective

Amabel V. Liwanag, Rance Nickole B. Caampued, Kate Trisha V. De Leon,

Christian Jasper C. Nicomedes, Ma. Eliza A. Rata
The Masters Psychological Services

ABSTRACT

Street Harassment has been a big issue nowadays and its definition can be interpreted in many
different ways. It could be in a form of unwelcome and intimidating remarks that can make people
feel scared, uncomfortable, and humiliated. A specific type of street harassment that is especially
demeaning is called catcalling. Catcalling is not just an isolated incident nor happens because of the
fault of victims, but a social issue that is prevalent and must therefore be addressed. Examining the
thought process of the perpetrator and aspects that influence them to exhibit such behavior is the focus
of this study. This study attempted to discern, examine and analyze the perspectives of the
perpetrators as to why they catcall. To make this research achievable, the researchers conducted a
narrative inquiry. A semi-structured interview was administered to six identified catcallers within
Metro Manila thru a snowball sampling. Results shows (1) definition and types of catcalling based on
the perspective of catcallers; (2) the different aspects of why the perpetrator perform catcalling on the
streets; and (3) the feedback of the victims from the perspective of a catcaller.

Keywords: catcalling, sexual harassment, street harassment, perpetrator, victimization, unwanted

comments

INTRODUCTION the concept that can be utilized across culture and

time (Paludi, 1996).
Sexual harassment is defined as any form of
unwelcomed sexual advances, request for sexual Based on United Nations Entity for Gender
favors, and other verbal or physical conduct that Equality and the Empowerment of Women
is sexual in nature (University of Michigan). The sexual perpetration can be verbal, through
U.S Equal Employment Opportunity Commission gestures, abuse, demeaning, intimidating,
states that the harassment does not necessary have humiliating or embarrassing. Furthermore, it has
to be sexual in nature. It could also include any been classified as verbal, non-verbal and physical.
remarks that offends the sex of a person. This Verbal acts constitute as whistling at someone,
means that the harasser can offend a woman by making sexual comments and making kissing
making offensive comments about being a woman sounds, howling and smacking lips. Whereas,
because it perpetuates women’s social inequality non-verbal acts consist of making sexual gestures
(Crouch, 2001). with hands or through body movements and
displaying sexually suggestive visuals. Lastly,
The definition of sexual harassment by law physical acts include standing close or groping
mostly focuses on the incidents that happen inside another person (United Nation Organization).
workplace and schools. Here in the Philippines,
The Republic Act 7877 or An Act Declaring Most sexual harassment is rooted primarily on
Sexual Harassment Unlawful in the Employment, cultural discrimination against women. According
Education or Training Environment, and for to Chin (2009), the foundation of gender bias that
Other Purposes defined sexual harassment as the mainly focused on discrimination against women
granting any form of employment of an individual has been alive for a long period of time in the
in exchange of any sexual favor. This is one of whole world that restricts the potential roles of
the most prevalent problem of sexual harassment. both genders. In contrary, this gender bias
That is, it lacks widely agreed upon definition of resulted to problems such as victimization, low
self-esteem, devaluation and feelings of
helplessness. Moreover, women are often seen as own ordinance entitled Safe City for Women and
objects highlighting the physical appearance and Girls Ordinance of 2018 (de la Cruz, 2018).
aesthetics (Moradi & Huang, 2008).
Economically speaking, women earn less than One of the most common form of street
men and have fewer opportunities (Goldin, 1990). harassment is catcalling. It is commonly defined
as an act done by a person to get attention through
Sexual harassment happens not only on women whistling, compliments, or in any other gestural
but also to men. Both gender can either be victims behavior. (No to Bullying, 2015). Catcalling may
or perpetrators (United Nations Entity for Gender be accompanied by wolf-whistle, winks or grabs.
Equality and the Empowerment of Women). In It includes brief, one-sided interaction in public
connection, Mondiguing (2017), presented that in places because the victim and the perpetrator do
14 years, 51 complaints was filed on office of not know each other (Fisher, Lindrer, &
anti-sexual harassment where 44 females and 7 Ferguson, 2017).
were males. Furthermore, offenders were
composed of 1 woman and 50 men. Based on the Many factors contribute as to why perpetrators
study by Roscoe, Strouse, and Goodwin (1994), commit such act. A literature review by
victims of sexual harassment are primarily consist Greathouse, Saunders, Matthews, Keller, and
of 50% females and 37% males that are harassed Miller (2015), offenders of sexual harassment
by their peers. may root from the person’s environment and
family history; a person’s personality, including
An article published by National Conference of attitude/cognition; and different factors, including
State Legislatures (2019) in the U.S. lists the laws friends and alcoholism. On the other hand, sexual
with regards to sexual harassment among each harassment takes place because of the presence of
state. There were one-hundred and sixteen drafts, offenders. Many theories may assess as to why
fifteen were made into law, twenty-two were offenders commit such acts. One theory suggests
adopted, six were still waiting and one pending. that, offenders are not just immature, but have a
Sadly, seventy-two of these laws did not push generally low self-esteem and a low control in
through. As a further matter, sexual harassment is their social relationships (Finkelhor et al., 1986).
a form of sex discrimination with two forms; quid Men may be the primarily offenders, Hlavka
pro quo and hostile environment harassment in (2014) states that, men’s aggressiveness may be
which sexual jokes, comments and touching viewed as conventional as to women’s toleration
impedes productivity of an individual at work of it. To add, Malamuth (1986), studied the sexual
(Welsh, 1999). aggression of male and female, result shows that
sexual arousal response to aggression, superiority
Street harassment has been a national concern that as a motive for sexual acts, hatred against female,
even law makers give efforts to protect the violence towards women, psychoticism, and
victims. Here in the Philippines, in every 5 sexual experience. Some people, often women
women 3 of them experienced sexual harassment. experience catcalling when they dress themselves
88% are 18-24-year-old women. 70% of sexually as available or provocative (Eastwood, 2015).
harassed are from strangers and 58% were
experienced on public such as streets and major Street harassment can be humiliating, terrifying
roads (Bartolome, 2016). To add, Philippine and may cause harm. It can cause long term
president Rodrigo Duterte, has been accused of consequences that can affect a person’s job and
sexual harassment after wolf-whistling a female well-being (Fitzgerald, 1993).
journalist on a nationally televised press
conference and was perceived as disrespecting Victim’s management of sexual traumas may vary
women (G. d. l. Cruz, 2016). depending on the peers that surrounds them.
States that, traumas endanger victim’s well-being
In 2016, there is an ordinance in Quezon City and behaviors such as suicidal ideation and
known as The Anti-Catcalling Ordinance feelings of unsafety. In addition, the mental health
punishes perpetrators that requires fining or repercussions of experiencing sexual assault can
jailing for the sexual harassment acts committed have a lasting effect on an individual (Mantri,
in public places (Quezon City 19th City Council, 2018). Victims may experience feelings of
2016). Similarly, Manila City recently passed its embarrassment, disgust and guiltiness to thus,
may justifiably fear that that the harassment will
lead to rape or other assault (Stop Violence
Against Women, 2013). “Catcalling for me is supposedly disrespecting.
Street harassment is the definition of catcalling”.
This study focused on the perpetrator’s view
about street harassment as well as the reasons of Types were also identified by the respondents.
committing such act. In addition, the researchers Lester stated:
had gathered information on perpetrators’ feelings
and emotion thus, their view about the victims’ “Maybe for me, just walking on the streets. They
reaction right after the harassment. will start wolf-whistling.”

This study will primarily benefit the Victims Ian added that catcalling is expressing
particularly in knowing what actions they should appreciation stating that:
take after experiencing the harassment.
Perpetrators, for them to be aware on how their “The other reason probably is an appreciation
words and actions affect the victims’ thoughts but can’t express it to the other person.”
about themselves. Government, for this will give
them understanding about the safety needs of our Lester do it just to attract attention stating that:
fellows especially in public spaces and what legal
action(s) one must do in terms of such act. For “I just want to get their attention, just for me.”
future researchers, for this will give them a
background or an overview of the factors of Ian do it just to insult just because he thinks that
harassment. For Psychologist, this will benefit the dress is not appropriate for the age stating
them in understanding perpetrators behavior that that:
will enhance empathy and develop new
intervention for the victims and perpetrator. “It could be an insult. Insult at the sense that you
thought that she is walking in front of you then
METHODOLOGY the dress is not appropriate then that’s when you
insult her.”
The primary purpose of the study is to analyze the
experiences of catcallers based on their stories. Lovely did it just to tease a girl stating that:
Thus, narrative inquiry was used. The researchers
constructed a guide questionnaire that would “That’s when you tease a girl, jesting and many
explore the personal understanding of catcallers more.”
on catcalling and own experience on catcalling.
The instrument was validated by subject matter To conclude, the researchers extracted wolf-
experts. whistling, attention seeking, expressing
appreciation, insulting, and teasing as the
Selecting participants on a study with sensitive different types of catcalling.
topic like this might be offensive and unethical.
Thus, snowball sampling was utilized by the Perpetrator
researchers to lessen the infraction on the
participants. The drive of the perpetrators to commit catcalling
were divided into Catalyst and Inhibitor. Catalyst
Name Age Work consists of Customary for perpetrators was used
Ian 32 Program Head to usual practices associated to the place and
Cy 20 Referee people they live in for that was what they are
Ken 20 Maintenance accustom to. Lovely has grown fond of doing
Lovely 20 Service Crew such act stating that:
Yra 21 Single Mom
Table 1. Description of the Respondents
“When we are together and there is a woman
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION pass through, we always used that act".
Based on the interview, results were generated Another is the culture they were born with. As
through thematic analysis. Catcalling was defined Ian stated that:
by Ian:
“Men are viewed as more aggressive than women “I do not catcall much. I only catcall as a
in terms of social orientation.” greeting to people I know. Then afterwards, I will
call their attention. My catcalling is just for fun.”
Culture is considered as a way of life where they
share behaviors and beliefs in which they Second is the authority where perpetrators will
accepted without questioning. Thereby, those less likely commit catcalling because they are
whom they see as different to their culture is aware of the law. As quoted by Cy:
considered unusual. Furthermore, another factor
why perpetrators commit act of harassment is “Even wolf-whistling can put you to jail.”
because of their peer. There are type of peer that
we made those are peer pressure, peer bond and Perpetrators want to gain superiority when
peer approval. An excerpt from one of the harassing someone which it somehow boosts their
interview, Yra stated that: esteem without knowing the impact they leave in
the victims.
“Usually, when men are grouped together, they
have the tendency to showoff each other by Victim Feedback
teasing women passing by. That’s why I pity
women, they are the usual victims” Victim feedback were divided as positive and
negative. Positive feedback is where the victims
Peers can have a positive influence and on the as viewed by the perpetrators, take the comments
other way around they also influence each other of strangers as compliments and a way to express
in negative ways. We as human wanted to fit in appreciation and admiration. As stated by Ian:
and be like by the people around us thus, trying
things such as making fun to someone is just a “If the perpetrator is good looking, you’ll feel
way of going along with the group as expressed flattered”
by Cy:
As a result, some comments from the perpetrators
“When we were smoking, a beautiful woman somehow boost the victim’s self-esteem.
passed by. Of course, I'm a bachelor so it's On the other hand, negative feedback pertains to a
normal to be attracted. Then, I tried to get her various response of the victims as viewed by the
attention by saying "Hi Miss!". Sometimes, even perpetrators during and after committing the act
my friends would tap me and say "Dude, Chiks!" of street harassment. Based on the interview, most
of the participants stated that their victims showed
Lastly, perpetrators commit the harassment a strong feeling of annoyance and anger after they
because of their sex drive, their sexual motivation were catcalled. As stated by Ian:
by seeing someone in whom they think would
satisfy their fantasies. According to Ian: “Being catcalled can make you feel disrespected
and annoyed, especially when they throw hurtful
“When someone is walking in front of me, I feel words.”
like I am superman. It's like having an x-ray
vision and imagining how cute the girl is if she's By this, it is evident that harassing someone can
wearing bathing suit.” cause feeling of uneasiness and embarrassment.
Another negative feedback of the victims as
For the perpetrators, the thought of thinking about viewed by the perpetrators after they experience
sexual things about the victims enhance their being harassed in public places is the feeling of
sexual arousal. Whereas, there are two things being discriminated. Discrimination in gender is
which inhibit the perpetrators in doing act of perceived by the perpetrators as stated by Ian:
harassment. First is familiarity. Seeing someone
whom they think they know or close to will give “The usual target of catcalling are those gays
the perpetrators a signal to approach them in a who cross dressed.”
friendly manner thus, will not do something that
will cause awkwardness to both parties. As LGBT community is not an exemption from
expressed by Yra: experiencing street harassment. They are being
discriminated by the perpetrators in which they
said things that are hurtful and upsetting. Not only
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