RAISING AWARENESS ON WOMEN’S STATE REGARDING CATCALLING

IN BRGY. SAN ROQUE, BAUAN, BATANAGAS CITY

A Concept Paper
Presented to the Faculty of the
Languages Department, Senior High School
University of Batangas

In Partial Fulfilment of the Requirements

For English for Academic and Professional Purposes

DAVID, JAZPER E.
MADLANGBAYAN, JERSEY ISAAC A.
MANDAWE, GABRIEL SEAN P.
PARCON, MARY MELIZA V.
REYES, AIRA ZEIN R.
RODRIGUEZ, KATHE WINSLEY M.
SALCEDO, ANA PATRICIA A.

STEM 11-HELIUM

January 2019
I. Introduction and Rationale
Sexual harassment is one of the prevalent threats a woman experiences in her everyday
life. Nowadays, a bigger number of harassment cases against women are present. Being
commanded to smile, make any contact, to be followed, and to be objectified and perilous are
what women experience in their everyday life. Every day, it is common for women to receive
numerous forms of sexual harassment particularly in a verbal manner, which is referred to as
catcalling. Catcalling is a term referring to a situation where men whistles, yells, hollers or makes
any unsolicited comments to a woman in a sexual manner. This kind of harassment stimulates
fear within the victims and gives women a reason to feel anxious when outdoors. “Gender-based
street harassment is not unique; it is a worldwide phenomenon” (Kearl, 2015). According to the
works published by the Manila Bulletin 2016, a study conducted that 60% of the women in the
country had been victims of sexual harassment in public places at least once in their lives and it
showed that 88% of these women are ranging from 18-24.
Catcalling is deemed as an unacceptable behavior done usually by a male civilian.
Usually, some men do to this to either make themselves feel superior or to just get attention from
women. These unwanted sexual explicit comments and sometimes gestures in public places are
what women especially those in their teenage years hear whenever they would go to school or
just outdoors. These comments and gestures mainly come from truck drivers who slows by near
you when you are walking at a sidewalk. This kinds of sexual harassment dejects and even
prohibits women from being alone in public places and this kinds of situation would make the
women feel less as a person and be even more conscious about her physical appearance. This
kind of sexual harassment makes women feel unsafe from being alone in public places. This
harms not only the mental state of a woman but is also profoundly observable in their
psychological, physical, and social state, which is why this study is conducted. Daily experience
of women being sexually harassed are shown and the results are to be shared to the public then
to be interpreted by officials.
We would want to pursue this study because this issue needs to be quickly resolved. We
have observed that the situation of catcalling in Barangay San Roque, Batangas City have been
rampant especially in the morning. One of the victims is a student who is on her way to school
and later on would be catcalled by random vehicle drivers. These men do these kinds of
harassment either to make themselves feel superior or to just get attention from women. Here in
the Philippines, forms of sexual harassment occur mostly in and around public transport vehicles,
meanwhile 58% of the incidents happen in the streets, narrow roads, and alleyways.
This concept paper is conducted to raise awareness on the social state and the well-being
of women especially in the barangay where the study is done. This concept paper aims to resolve
the impending danger that would be brought to women if the situation worsens. The results of the
study would sprout conversations and confrontations in the local barangay regarding the issue.
Further actions include strengthening laws and more outreach programs to be conducted and
give proposals or take actions that would eradicate this problem.

II. Project Description

A. Goals and Objectives
Raising Awareness on Women’s State Regarding Catcalling in Brgy. San Roque,
Batangas City aims to achieve the following:

1. To gradually reduce cases of sexual harassment in public places caused by

impudent men.
2. To enhance the self-esteem of women and eradicate their self-objectification
primarily to teenagers.
3. To strengthen and advocate women’s rights as stated in Republic Act 9262 (Anti-
Violence against women and Their Children Act of 2004).
B. Methodology
This study mainly focuses on the effects of catcalling and aims to reduce any forms
of sexual harassment that happens specifically in public places. This would also make the
people in the said barangay aware of the ongoing harassment on women in public places.
Listeners would know that this issue should not be ignored and they would realize that
they need to take an action about this issue. The researchers conduct this study for women
to have the courage and to repulse any forms of self-objectification. This is conducted to
boost the self-esteem of women when in public. To elucidate such issue, programs that
would be implemented and some action plan proposals that would be even more centered
on solving the issue would be made right after the seminar done. Women of all ages would
be invited and also citizens of the community would be invited in the seminar where they
would listen to speakers who are sharp and straightforward in solving the issue. An
organization or even a women’s group would be formed that would further focus on the
issue and would assess the current situation of the community based on the stated
problem.
This study is conducted at Barangay San Roque, Bauan, Batangas City where
there are absurd cases of catcalling. For the flow of the events, everything must be
arranged systematically from the researchers themselves, guest speakers, psychologists,
barangay officials, audience and volunteers. Permission from the barangay officials would
be done to have a concrete grasp and have a specific location to conduct the seminar.
The researchers would make flyers and invitations for the seminar. These materials would
be given to the people of the barangay. Women are given priority as they are the subject
of the study. Additionally, men who are willing to participate are as well gladly invited in
order for them to help in eradicating this issue and understanding the connotation – ‘Boys
just being boys’ wouldn’t condone such act.
Furthermore, this would inform citizens about the event that would be done in the
area prepared by researchers and officials. Once invitations and flyers are spread out, the
venue would be organized. Barangay San Roque Court would be the venue and would be
used to conduct the seminar. The court would have enough participants to hold and if
there would be more listeners, there are still spaces around the court and those who are
willing to stand may do. Equipment like mic, speakers, table, and chairs would be rented
as well as a technical operator.
As soon as the seminar starts, researchers would first explain the issue happening
on the barangay and right after the introduction, researchers would invite guest speakers
and psychologist who are very well aware of the issue to further discuss and give
counseling on what needs to be done when one is verbally harassed in public places. As
the seminar goes on, drinks would be provided for the guest speakers, listeners, and
committee. As the seminar concludes, we would be giving out brochures that would
summarize all the things that are related to this given issue.
 Activities Persons Involved Objectives Venue
o Barangay o To allow the
Permission of Officials and members of the
Brgy. San
Members of the organization to o Barangay Hall
Roque
organization conduct the
Officials
seminar.
o To inform the
community on
Making of o Members of the the seminar to
Flyers and o Barangay San Roque
organization be conducted
Invitations for
prepared by the
Seminar
members of the
organization.
o Orient the
o Barangay members of the
Officials community
o Members of the especially o Barangay San Roque’s
women on how
Seminar organization Court
to defend
o Participants themselves for
o Guest Speaker the purpose of
preventing
catcalling.
o Members of the
organization
o Plan in
o Participants advance in
Flow of the o Barangay order to be o Barangay San Roque
Event Officials organized and
to avoid
o Guest Speaker
wasting time.
o Volunteers

C. Benefits of Anticipated Outcomes

The researchers have identified the problem and what needs to be focused on.
The contributors of the said issue is also studied. Having to solve this issue would be a
great impact that would start in the community and would further spread in nearby
barangays and soon this issue would be eradicated and women’s rights would be acted
upon on and would be strengthened. Women would be aware and would erase the fear of
being objectified. The feeling of nervousness would be replaced by the confidence to face
the issue and to not be down by what happened to her.
The certain people who would benefit from the conducted study “Raising
Awareness on Women’s State Regarding Catcalling in Brgy. San Roque, Batangas City”
are the following:
 Teenage girls. Catcalling happens to most women between the ages of 11 and
18. This project will benefit the teenage girls as they will learn how to handle themselves
whenever they encounter this kind of sexual harassment; and defend themselves for the
sake of their own rights.
Parents. This seminar aims to orient the parents about how can they advise their
daughter on the right thing to do in case of catcalling.
Advocates of Women's Right. To provide them a stronger basis for their
campaigns and advocacies.
Men. For them to realize that catcalling cannot be considered as a way to get the
woman's attention; as well as for them to understand that this act of sexual harassment
can affect the self-confidence of the women.
Students. To be informed and spread awareness about catcalling.
III. Project Needs and Cost

Materials Needed Materials Reason Cost

o Flyers and Bond paper o Would be Php 2,000
Invitations Printer spread out to
the
community to
inform about
the seminar.
o Guest Speakers o Invited for the Php 4,000
and counselling
Psychologists and giving
advices for
the victims.
o Snacks and C2 o Distributed to Php 2,000
Drinks Mineral Water the speakers,
Rebisco Crackers listeners, and
the committee
during
seminar.
o Brochure Bond paper o Distributed Php 1,500
Printer after the
seminar to
make them
recall what
were talked
about in the
seminar.
o Venue San Roque Court  Provided for Php 3,000
the main
place to
conduct the
seminar.
 The organization will start at a fund of Php 12,000. The fund would then be spent for the
following:

 Flyers and invitations made from bond paper and would be printed would cost Php 2,000.
 Guest speakers and psychologist would be invited for the giving of advices and counselling
which would cost Php 4,000.
 As the seminar goes on, drinks and snacks would be distributed to the participants, guest
speakers, and the committee and would cost Php 2,000
 Brochure would also be distributed as the participants leave the venue and this would
primarily be given to women right after the seminar. This would cost Php 1,500.
 As for the venue, officials have let the researchers use the court of the barangay and would
cost Php 3,000.

IV. References
 http://www.womensrepublic.net/what-is-catcalling/
 https://www.timeslive.co.za/sunday-times/lifestyle/health-and-sex/2018-08-04-catcalling-
isnt-flirting-its-sexual-harassment-heres-why/
 http://sociology.ucdavis.edu/undergraduate/awards-and-opportunities/lofland-research-
award-1/lofland-award-research-papers/JenniferHerreraThesis.pdf
 https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/2158244014543786
 http://www.stopstreetharassment.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/04/Manila-Thesis-Street-
Harassment.pdf
 https://creativemarket.com/Cheremuha/985155-Angry-woman.-Stressful-girl.-EPSJPG
 https://coconuts.co/manila/news/artist-creates-flyers-and-cards-help-you-deal-catcalls-
and-street-harassment/
 https://www.dailypedia.net/tag/catcalling/