Amid rape advice issue, Lualhati Bautista offers enlightenment

Photo from Lualhati Bautista’s Facebook account

While netizens were quick to pounce on the Angono Police Station’s advice for women on to avoid rape, revered writer and known feminist Lualhati Bautista had chosen to educate the people.

Bautista spared the police station by saying that the cops might have grown up to the idea that women should adjust to situations, and that predatory men would not change for good.

“Sa pananaw ko, hindi naman dapat masamain ang mga pulis-Angono sa inilabas nilang “Payo sa Kababaihan para Iwas Rape.” Baka ni wala sa kamalayan nila na ipinapasa na nila sa babae ang kasalanan kapag na-rape ito,” she said in a Facebook post on Thursday midnight.

(In my view, the police in Angono should not be blamed for providing tips to women on how to avoid rape. They may not be even aware that they are passing the blame to women if they experience rape.)

Bautista, however, acknowledged that the idea that the burden of not being raped rests on women is an outdated mindset, and one that should have been changed decades ago.

“Nangyari lang na iyon ang mga ideyang kinamulatan—at kinatandaan—na nila… na dapat nang nabago noon pa.  Tapatan ko na lang kaya nang punto por punto ang mga payo nila?” she dared.

(It just happened that the ideas they have grown accustomed to should have been changed a long time ago. Why don’t I just discuss their advice one by one?)

The “Dekada ’70” and “Bata, Bata, Paano ka Ginawa?” author provided her own version of Angono police’s reminders — this time directed towards men — which obviously showed her bold, firm, and even comic character.

https://www.facebook.com/lualhati.bautista.3/posts/10156530191944621

With advice against drinking lest a man’s mind goes wild when drunk, and reminders on the penalty of rape if proven, Bautista’s post now places the responsibility of preventing rape on men.

Several groups, including lawmakers, women advocate groups, and netizens have slammed the Angono police after its infamous reminder, which was posted in social media.

READ: Angono police draw flak over ‘how to prevent rape’ FB post 

READ: Hontiveros tells Angono cops: Clothes don’t cause rape, rapists do 

READ: Angono ‘rape reminder’ a classic case of victim-blaming – Gabriela

The leaders of the beleaguered police station have already apologized to the public on its Facebook page, reiterating that they meant no harm in asking women to avoid certain situations.

READ: Angono cops apologize for victim blaming anti-rape ‘reminders’

For Bautista, one important thing that men should not do is to emulate President Rodrigo Duterte, who is known for his jokes and tirades against women. /ee