How Manila Is Making Streets Safer for Women

The streets of Manila are a dangerous space for women. The scenes are, unfortunately, recognizable from other urban environments: women get catcalled on sidewalks, elicit wolf-whistles on eskinitas, or “alleys,” receive lewd stares in public markets, or are groped on public transit. But when women in Manila recently spoke up, the government took notice.

Last year, two Facebook posts from women sharing their experiences of being catcalled in Manila went viral. One woman had noticed an uptick in catcalls and lewd stares when she wore dresses; in response, she posted a picture of herself in a cream dress with the words, “Is my dress provoking you?” written on it. In the accompanying post, she called for a change in culture, telling men: “It’s not about the way we dress; it’s about the way you look at us. Our bodies are not yours to look at and objectify.”