When is an act considered harassment?

It should really be simple, harassment is anything unwanted done to another person and should not be committed.

But things are hardly ever black and white.

According to human rights defender and feminist Aisiah Castelano, there are multiple factors that would come into play in assessing whether or not an act is a form of harassment.

“Kasama na rito ‘yung konteksto ng situation, the intentions of the situation, at tsaka ano ‘yung impact or effect nito doon sa taong nakaka-receive nung harassment or the recipient nung situation,” she told GMA News Online.

Castelano listed the following factors as criteria to consider: 

• consent
• power dynamics 
• frequency and severity
• impact 
• intent 
• and subjective experience.

She explained an act is considered harassment if the action is unwanted “or hindi welcomed nung recipient at nangyari siya without their consent.”

“Halimbawa, sa friend group niyo, may isang tao dun na patuloy na nagha-hug or keeps on touching the other member despite them expressing discomfort or explicitly sinasabi niya rin na they do not want physical contact — that could be harassment kasi even though ‘yung intent ay parang friendly, if it’s unwanted, it causes a boundary,” she said.

For power dynamics, she explained that this happens when there is a power imbalance between the parties involved. This may be related to sexual exploitation that happens in corporate settings or for those in certain age gaps.

“Kung merong attempted or actual abuse of that position of vulnerability o ‘di kaya ay power, then that can constitute harassment,” she said.

Going over intent, Castelano said it is one of the most important factors to consider.

“Kahit na ‘yung perpetrator did not intend to harass, if the behavior has a negative impact on the recipient, that can constitute harassment,” she said.

Finally, for subjective experience, “We need to recognize that perceptions ng harassment ay magkakaiba among individuals so, kung ‘yung isang tao, kino-consider niya na harmless banter lang o ‘di kaya ay joke-joke lang, ganiyan, others might perceive at offensive o kaya ay harassing kaya crucial na i-validate din natin at seryosohin ‘yung mga feelings of those who were harassed.”

“Regardless of the perpetrator’s intentions or how they characterize it kahit i-claim nila na ‘Oh, friendly lang ‘yan’ or it’s just a joke, hindi niya nane-negate ‘yung impact it can have on the recipient,” she said. “The harassment is occurring even if pinackage siya as something friendly. It’s a very Filipino culture na ‘‘To naman, joke lang naman ‘yon.’ Or if it’s packaged in a friendly manner, kailangan pa rin siya i-address directly.”

She continued, “I guess some of the things that we can do, una ay klarong communications or communicating it clearly. Politely nating kausapin ‘yung isang tao. Kausapin ‘yung tao na ‘yung ginawa mo or ‘yung behavior ay unwelcome and it makes me feel uncomfortable at tsaka kung gagawin natin ito, maging specific tayo kung ano ‘yung action or comment na nag-cause ng distress sa’yo.”

“But then, with all things that I said, lalo na sa konteksto ng Pilipinas, I think, all things I mentioned are easier said than done. Lalo na sa cultural context natin where setting boundaries might be deemed as you know, ‘Ay, grabe ka naman! You’re too sensitive!’ They will shame you for it.”

Apo Whang Od, Piolo Pascual, and cultural differences

Questions about harassment came up this week after a video of Apo Whang Od touching actor Piolo Pascual went viral. Some netizens questioned whether or not that was a form of harassment, while others waived it off and filed it under tradition.

Professor Nestor Castro, a cultural anthropologist, refuted it was a traditional practice in Kalinga, saying “Walang katotohanan ‘yung ilang nababasa ko na ‘Napaka-traditional talaga sa Kalinga na ginagawa ‘yon.’ Hindi ‘yun totoo.”

He did however explain that there’s a difference between the culture of those in Kalinga and that of the lowlanders.

“Alalahanin, sa Kalinga, talaga namang traditionally, ang mga kababaihan, litaw ang pangtaas. Ang mga kalalakihan, nakabahag. At may mga pagkakataon na nakikita mo, naliligo sa ilog nang hubo’t hubad. So sa kanila, hindi sila masyadong prudish sa mga usaping ito. At alam ko sa mga kabataan na Kalinga, puwede pang nagtutuksuhan at tulad nga ng paghihipuan bilang pamamaraan ng pagtukso,” he said.

He suspects Apo Whang Od’s practice of touching her clients is her way of removing the tension in their bodies before they get tattooed.

“Siguro nagsimula ito bilang isang pamamaraan para ma-diffuse ‘yung tension sa tina-tattoo kasi masakit ma-tattoo. So, ‘pag hinawakan niya ‘yung ari ng tina-tattoo niya, siyempre nagugulat, hindi nararamdaman ‘yung sakit nung pinupukpok ni Apo Whang Od. Tapos natatawa, nagtatawanan sila pareho, so nagiging relaxed ‘yung situation,” he said.

“Para sa kaniya, ‘yun ay katuwaan na lang at para din sa tina-tattoo, gano’n din, katuwaan na lang,” he added.

He does however say “dapat din nating malaman ‘yung kalagayan noong nagpapa-tattoo. Pabor ba ‘yung nagpapa-tattoo o hindi at hindi natin ‘yun alam. Meroong pumapayag, at sa katunayan ine-expect na nga nila na gagawin sa kanila ‘yon ni Apo Whang Od. So sa ganoon, hindi ‘yun harassment, parang consent na rin ‘yon bagama’t hindi siguro explicitly pinag-usapan,” he said. 

“Ang problema, kung meron mang mga ilang turista o dumadayo sa Buscalan na hindi alam ‘yon, doon siguro magiging parang harassment,” he continued.

Castro said that Apo Whang Od and her relatives should consider those who might see this practice on social media.

“Hindi na ito usapin ng si Apo Whang Od at ‘yung nagpapa-tattoo, kundi pati na rin sa nanonood. ‘Yun ba’y katanggap-tanggap sa nanonood o hindi? Sa palagay ko, ‘yun ang isang aspeto na hindi nakonsider ni Apo Whang Od at ng kaniyang mga kamag-anak, na meroon din kayong responsibilidad sa iba pang nakakapanood nito na maaaring hindi naiintindihan ‘yung konteksto,” he said.

For him, there should be a “two-way understanding.”

“So dapat maintindihan din ni Apo Whang Od at ng mga taga Buscalan na ang mga pumupunta sa kanilang lugar ay galing sa iba’t-ibang kultura at hindi necessarily katanggap-tanggap ang mga bagay na ‘yon. Papaano kung may pumunta roon na isang nagpapa-tattoo na Muslim na no-no, hindi puwedeng hawakan ‘yung ari lalo na kung opposite sexes. Papaano kung merong minor na nagpapa-tattoo? So ‘yung mga ganoong konteksto, dapat two-way ang unawaan at hindi lang one way,” he said.

Castro also thinks that the touching practice should be addressed and changed.

“Sabihin kay Apo Whang Od at sa kaniyang mga kamag-anak, dahil ‘yung mga bata na ang naga-assist sa kaniya, i-call out sila na ‘Uy, parang pumatok na ‘yan dati, okay na ‘yan. So baka puwedeng iba namang gimik, hindi na ‘yang ganiyan na paulit-ulit kasi napapanood kayo sa social media at maaaring ang mga bata inaakala na tama ‘yun, puwede tayo palang maghawakan,’” he said.

Icons should also be mindful of the responsibilities that come with their influence, the professor stressed.

“Kasi ‘pag icon ka na, modelo ka na eh at inaakala na ang ginagawa mo ay tama sa lahat ng bagay,” he said. “At tingin ko, magiging enlightened si Apo Whang Od at ang mga Kalinga na ‘Ah sige, ‘yan ang trademark ko dati pero outgrow ko na ‘yan, iba naman kaya ang gagawin kong panggugulat sa aking mga tina-tattoo.’ Hindi na ganiyan, ano. Halimbawa, may sasabihin siyang joke, tapos matatawa ‘yung tina-tattoo niya. So ibang gimik naman, ano? Kaya ang bagong darating na turista, may ie-expect na ano kaya ang bagong joke ngayon ni Apo Whang Od?”

Finally, Castro said that problems usually arise when two different cultures meet and intersect.

“Merong mga misunderstanding na nangyayari, may mga bagay na ‘Uy, bakit gano’n? Bastos,’ pero wala naman palang bastos na intention. So okay lang na magdayalogo, tanungin bakit kaya gano’n, anong lohika nito? Sabihin din sino ang mga nao-offend sa mga ganito para may two-way communication at mabago ang sitwasyon sa hinaharap,” he said.

For Castelano, it goes back to consent. “If the male clients did not consent to the act and they found it uncomfortable, it could be considered “a violation of their boundaries and therefore, a sexual harassment,’ she said.

She noted how Apo Whang Od is addressed for her status, and that she is a highly respected elder and tattoo artist “kaya may power imbalance na mahihirapan ‘yung mga kliyente niya to refuse or to speak up against her actions.”

Finally, she looked into Apo Whang Od’s intent.

“Miske na na ‘yung intent ni Apo Whang Od ay maybe not malicious, if the groping behavior has a negative impact dun sa mga male clients niya, ‘yung experiences nila tsaka ‘yung feelings obviously should be taken seriously. And I guess from the lens of a queer feminist and human rights defender, mas ina-approach ko ‘yung situation na ‘to with the commitment of upholding the rights of all individuals,” she said.

She acknowledged that this may be difficult for some, as there are victims who face fear or intimidation.

With this, Castelano advised to seek support from trusted individuals or authorities if you cannot directly talk to the perpetrator.

“Set boundaries and honor those boundaries,” she said. “Establish what behavior is acceptable and what is not. Kailangan klaro tayo na at any form of harassment, even if it is intended as friendly ay hindi siya tolerated.”

— JCB/LA, GMA Integrated News