Sexual Violence: 5 Things You Need To Know


Find out why victims are not speaking out and what to do.
Recently many actors and models including Cara Delevingne, Angelina Jolie, Blake Lively, and over 40 others came out to speak about sexual abuse by film producer, Harvey Weinstein. However, this abuse of power is not just a Hollywood problem, it’s common in other male-dominated industries like business and tech and beyond-- Weinstein is just one example of a systematic problem that we ignored for too long.
Here are five things you need to know about sexual violence:

1. Victims fear the risk of speaking out

Harvey Weinstein has been abusing women for decades. But most women who experience sexual harassment don’t file complaints because they’re scared of not being taken seriously and dismissed for being too emotional or punished for talking. According to EEOC Studies, 75% of those who file complaints do face retaliation.
Actress Ashley Judd acknowledges, "Women have been talking about Harvey amongst ourselves for a long time, and it's simply beyond time to have the conversation publicly."
Unsure of the impact speaking up will have on her career and life, Delevingne claims, “Since then I felt awful that I did the movie. I felt like I didn’t deserve the part. I was so hesitant about speaking out...I didn’t want to hurt his family. I felt guilty as if I did something wrong.”

2. Men experience sexual harassment as well

Gender-based violence has long been considered a “women’s issue.” But believe it or not, men experience sexual harassment as well. In 2010, EEOC reported that men made up 16.4% of the 11,717 sexual harassment charges. Yes, men can be vulnerable too and women can also be perpetrators. Similar to women, they experience shame, anger, and fear from sexual harassment. But many men may not speak about it and seek proper help because they fear that they’ll appear weak and vulnerable, contradicting society’s expectation for them to be powerful and in control of their bodies.

3. What’s the difference between sexual harassment and sexual assault?

Both are unwanted and uninvited sexual advances. Sexual harassments can be verbal. It often happens in the workplace, where someone is made to feel like their value is determined by their physical attributes and their skills or work are overlooked. Sexual assault involves physical contact involving force or threat. Even just a touch can be sexual assault. Rape is a type of sexual assault.

4. Men also play an important role

Men can help stop sexual violence. Men can be more aware of language and avoid using degrading language such as “bitch” or “whore.” Men can speak up and become women’s allies.They can teach boys that sexual violence is also a men’s issue, and teach them to be men in ways that don't lessen female’s status as humans.
Though there is a lot of room for improvement, there is progress and hopefully, there will be more in the future. On October 12, Ryan Gosling came forward, stating he is “deeply disappointed in [himself] for being so oblivious to these devastating experiences of sexual harassment and abuse.” He suggests that “men should stand with women and work together until there is real accountability and change.”

5. So, what's the solution?

Speak up! By not speaking up about these issues we are allowing it continue. The courage of these women inspired other women to come forward to speak about by Weinstein and by others. Right now, women are using the hashtag #MeToo on Twitter and Instagram to acknowledge that they suffered sexual violence. As of October 16, Twitter’s spokesman, Kyle Griffin, confirmed that the #MeToo has been tweeted nearly half a million times and 300,000 of which were from men.
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5 Tips: How to Conduct A Street Interview


Stopping Bangkokians from whipping through their life and capturing their short attention span to interview and take a picture of their shy self was not easy. I was rejected more than ten times within a day when I was trying to interview teens for Y-roon Thai. I mean, I get it. They might be in a hurry. Perhaps, they just want to take it easy and enjoy their day off at the mall.
But the more they rejected me, the more I reflected on myself. Am I approaching them the right way? How can I gain their trust? Am I asking the right questions? I learned a lot through the process from trial and error, and I want share some tips on how to conduct successful street interviews.

© Copyright Nichakarn Kuphirun. All rights reserved.
Stop people, don’t be ashamed!
You may hesitate because you’re scared of being judged. But don’t. You’ll miss the chance if you hesitate. Bring a friend to do it with you, if doing it alone seems daunting at first.
Why should they care?
Start off with introducing yourself and briefly explain your project, how you’re going to execute it.
“Excuse me, can I have a minute or two to ask you something. I’m currently interning at Action aid…”
Open-ended questions are key
Narrow questions can set up blocks to the interviewees’ thoughts. Broad questions are more relatable, allowing for more personal opinion and stories. Open-ended questions might even open you’re interviewees up to other ideas that you haven’t thought of before.
Guide
If your interviewee is going off topic and you’re not getting want you want out of them, give them guidance and be direct.
Rejection is normal
It’s okay to feel down after several rejections. But don’t take it personally. Approach the next person with a smile. You might not get the number of interviews that you set out for that day and it may take several days.
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Hear Me Out: Bangkok, Not So Safe After All?

Activism


 

Despite 30 years worth of work dealing with women related issues in Thailand by private sectors and NGOs, Thai women and girls still endure violence, sexual harassment, and abuse in their everyday life. As of 2012, there were 394 cases of sexual crimes; 23.9% were sexual harassment attempts, 21.3% were assaulted with rape intention, 21% were sexually harassed, 19.2% were raped and sexually abused, and 14.6% were verbally harassed (National Statistical Office cited in Matichol Newspaper, 2013). Their fear of violence limits their use of public spaces and enjoyment of their full rights.

Last summer, I had a chance to intern at Action aid Thailand. I worked specifically on the Hear Me Out project for the Safe Cities for Actionaid’s women campaign, which aims to create a safer city that is accessible for all, not only privileged groups. In order to collect information on the current situation and determine the most effective policy, I went around Bangkok to interview people on their views on “What should we do to make Bangkok a Safer city for women and girls?”

The interviews provided an insight into the existing oppressions and Thai women's perception of fear and insecurity. These interviews also helped generate an evidence base, addressing the root causes of gender-based violence against women and girls that shouldn’t be accepted as an inevitable fact of the human condition. More importantly, it serves as a consensus for action through broadening the impact of violence against women and girls to the wider community. I found the project eye-opening, as I met people from all walks of life and heard their varying views and experience relating to this topic.I was shocked by the responses I received, as I live Bangkok and I thought of it as a fairly safe place.  Many also made suggestions that I have never thought of before. I’d like to share some of the interviews because I think it brings up important dialogues that more members of the Thai community should engage in. 


 Sraawut Taiwitrakul: “To make Bangkok a safer place for women and girls, it must to be a collective effort rather than just the effort of one person or a social group. We may start from educating the public about equality and respect. If everyone respects those around them, we will naturally transcend gender inequality; everyone will have the same human rights.”

Vinussa Boonmee: “Bangkok looks safe because there’s a lot of people here, but I don’t think it is at all safe. I got my butt grabbed when I went to the Safari, a place that is supposed to be safe for children. Sexual assaults happens everywhere...in bts sky trains...in the MTR for example. I think most people are too ashamed to ask for help. There must be an easier way to report these cases like a call center. Laws must be more forceful. Attitudes towards these assaults must also change; we must not be tolerant towards these issues.” 

Nuntaporn Lertkowit: “There should be a place for women to file complaints with clear guidelines and steps of what we can do if we’ve been sexually assaulted. I don’t think Bangkok is totally unsafe, but when I go to places that I’m not familiar with at night, I feel the need to be vigilant at all times. Now, some malls have a Lady parking floor, which makes me feel more safe. Once on the skytrain, a guy tried to brush his private parts against my hands. I’m not sure how much importance our society gives to issues like this. When it happened to me, I didn’t know who to report because I felt like I didn’t have evidence; it seemed like it was just a feeling.”


Metee Meesuay: “I think it should start from family. Parents should educate their kids about living together in society. Media should also educate children about present dangers and what they should do to stay safe.”

Arisra Petsaward: “Perpetrators of sexual violence should suffer capital punishment. Imprisonment is not enough; once they are free, they will do it again. Even though there are lights in places around the city, it is still very dangerous. Indeed, sexual abuse within the family occurs even more often between the step father and the daughter or even between the father and the daughter. Therefore, we should also educate our society about proper parenting.”

 What do YOU think should be done to make Bangkok safer for females? Do you have any similar experiences concerning sexual violence? Share it with me!
All images © View Kuphirun.
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A night in Thonglor

Lifestyle

8:00 PM
Touché hombre
Have a Mexican dinner at the hip community mall, 72 Courtyard, in the heart of Thonglor. The walls are decorated with neon murals and wrapped with collages of people in the hip-hop culture, taking you back to the 80’s -90’s.
Start with Cangrejo, the soft shell crab salad mixed served with Crema De Mexicana, spicy Mexican crème with rich and silky texture (380 Baht). Try the restaurant’s signature dish, Chorizo (225Baht), fried octopus topped with avocado slices served on tacos

11:00PM
J. Boroski
The dimly lit bar with retro interior is set in the mysterious alley just short of Thonglor Soi 7.
In fact, we can’t tell you exactly where or give you the map. Although not so much a secret now, its secrecy is meant to imitate the secret bars or speakeasies of the 1920s, which are “so called because of the practice of speaking quietly about such a place in public, or when inside it, so as not to alert the police of neighbors.”  
There is no menu here: each cocktail is handcrafted for you to offer you an experience that suits your individual taste. You just tell the bartenders what you like and don’t like, and they create.
Marisa Polchan, a frequent go-er, “I love the bespoke experience and the friendly vibe here. Unlike other Thai bars, where I just order my drink and leave, I can just chill at the bar and actually have a conversation with the bartender here.”
(Picture source: Sassy Hong Kong)
12:30AM
Blaq Lyte
Now that you’re a little tipsy, show off your dance moves at the newly opened club across the street from Courtyard 72.  The hip-hop club with local DJs is lit up with neon and its crumbly pink and blue walls are covered with scribbles and hologram stickers, giving you that underground raving vibe.
Going above and beyond, Nick Supreda, the owner who was an orphan himself, also hopes to donate some of the profit to his orphan charity, 32 Foundation.

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