GENDER TALKS | EPISODE 09: Seksismo At Social Media

Introduction

The speakers introduce themselves and their areas of expertise.

• Betsy Enriquez teaches about media, gender, and sexuality at the College of Mass Communication.

• Africa Vergara is the director of the UP Center for Women's and Gender Studies and teaches history and perspectives of women, gender, and development.

• Professor Carolyn Riccio teaches several gender courses related to Asian studies, Philippine studies, and social work.

Background on the Leaked Fraternity Chat

The speakers discuss an anonymous Twitter account that leaked a private chat among members of a fraternity in UP. The chat contained thousands of offensive messages towards women, LGBTQ+ individuals, certain races/ethnicities, the poor, and other marginalized groups.

• The leaked chat contained messages that could be interpreted as inciting rape, violence, and murder.

• Some faculty members expressed disappointment with how UP handled the situation.

• The leaked chat sparked outrage among many people who saw it on social media or received screenshots through private messages.

Reaction to the Leaked Chat

The speakers discuss their personal reactions to the leaked fraternity chat.

• One speaker was shocked that students at UP would talk like that even in private conversations.

• Another speaker had to apologize to her class for mistakenly thinking that UP was a safe space for all genders.

• There was disappointment among some faculty members with how UP handled the situation.

Discussion on Online Bullying

The speakers discuss whether online bullying should be considered more than just sexual harassment.

• Some messages in the leaked chat were interpreted as online bullying towards specific individuals or groups.

• One speaker suggests that this type of behavior is not just sexual harassment, but also online bullying.

• The speakers discuss the need to address this type of behavior and create safe spaces for all genders.

Risks of Social Media

The speaker discusses the risks associated with social media and how it contributes to incidents that cause outrage.

Social Media as a Platform for Hate Speech

• Social media platforms are used to facilitate conversations, but they can also be platforms for hate speech and misogyny.

• Hate speech is not new, but social media has made it easier to spread quickly and anonymously.

• Social media allows people to hide their identity and avoid accountability for their actions.

Contributing Factors to Incidents

• The incident causing outrage may have been influenced by conversations on social media.

• Social gatherings are not necessary for people to communicate on social media, which can lead to the spread of harmful ideas.

• The speed at which information spreads on social media is faster than before.

Ongoing Investigation

The speaker talks about an ongoing investigation into the incident that caused outrage.

Technical Working Group Investigation

• There is an ongoing investigation being conducted by a Technical Working Group.

• Gender sensitivity training will be conducted in a systematic way as part of the investigation process.

Reporting Incidents

• People who have experienced similar incidents are encouraged to come forward and file an incident report.

• A preliminary investigation will be followed by a formal investigation.

Statement from the UP Center for Women and Gender Studies

The director of the UP Center for Women and Gender Studies issues a statement denouncing misogyny and sexism in response to leaked contents from a group chat allegedly participated in by student AUP fraternity.

Contents of the Statement

• The statement denounces hegemonic masculinity typified by the leaked contents.

• The University of the Philippines has a strong stand against misogyny and sexism.

• Fraternity leaders are called upon to ensure that members adhere to humane values championed by the university.

• All members of the UP community are asked to address ways they may be contributing to gender and social injustice inside and outside the university.

• Patriarchal attitudes and behavior manifesting as slurs, overt acts, or violence against women, LGBTQ AI community, indigenous peoples, and other marginalized sectors are deplorable.

Masculinities Discussion

The hosts discuss how this incident can be explained in terms of masculinities. They make connections with fraternity culture, hazing rituals, violence, misogyny, machismo, belongingness through violence.

Fraternity Culture

• Hazing rituals involve violence for neophytes to become full-fledged members.

• Fraternity culture affirms worse machismo and misogyny.

• Rituals rejuvenate machismo and belongingness primarily through violence.

Violence Against Neophytes

• Violence is not limited to hazing but also includes mental abuse.

• Reaction to any form of violence should be dealt with immediately even within fraternities.

Efforts Towards Change

• There were requests from fraternities for gender sensitivity training before.

• Efforts towards changing notions of masculinity need to continue by reaching out to organizations like fraternities.

Importance of Vigilance in Promoting Gender Equality

In this section, the speaker emphasizes the importance of vigilance in promoting gender equality and denouncing discrimination. The speaker also highlights the need for leadership to denounce misogynistic language and practices.

Violence Manifests in Different Forms

• Violence manifests not only in physical violence but also in talk and discriminatory practices.

• Political leaders often use misogynistic language which is reproduced by others.

• Traditionalism can lead to fundamentalism, which can be a source of discrimination.

Importance of Vigilance

• It is important to denounce discrimination and promote gender equality.

• Leaders must be vigilant against misogyny and discrimination.

• Tolerance should be promoted to prevent discrimination.

University's Role in Promoting Gender Equality

• The University of the Philippines is working on crafting policies that promote non-discrimination based on gender or sexual orientation.

• Awareness campaigns are needed to promote gender equality among students.

• Vigilance is key to promoting gender equality.

Conclusion

The speaker emphasizes that vigilance is crucial in promoting gender equality and preventing discrimination. The University of the Philippines has taken steps towards promoting non-discrimination policies, but more work needs to be done through awareness campaigns and leadership denouncing discriminatory practices.

Sexual Harassment in Universities

In this section, the speakers discuss sexual harassment in universities and the importance of reporting incidents.

Reporting Incidents

• It is important to report incidents of sexual harassment.

• Incidents should be reported using an incident report form.

• The incident report should include specific details about the incident.

• Power relations between faculty and students can sometimes implicate gender relations.

Addressing Misogynist Issues

• It is important to address all misogynist issues in universities and society.

• Faculty members should encourage students to report incidents of sexual harassment.

• Gender and sexuality should be included in university curriculums.

Conclusion

• The speakers conclude their discussion on sexual harassment in universities.