The SONA had several problematic moments, like Pres. Duterte pushing for the death penalty and objectifying women in Boracay. But some people had more pressing matters to attend to—specifically, Sen. Risa Hontiveros’ skirt.
Before the SONA started, a netizen told the senator to “dress appropriately” and posted a photo to highlight how her legs are being shown. “There’s a place and time to dress like a thirsty slut and a senator of the republic. #CoverUp”
Wow, who hurt this guy?
Sen. Hontiveros later called him out on her Facebook page, telling him to stop telling women how to dress. She also retweeted another post where a netizen pointed out her choice of clothing, saying how she doesn’t understand some people getting offended by her dress and how she sits when there are issues like “China’s incursions in the [West Philippine] Sea; the [president’s] non-stop sexist [and] homophobic remarks [and] rape ‘jokes;’ [and] extrajudicial killings.”
She makes a good point. These people are all so stressed over a woman’s outfit that they’re glossing over the controversies that Duterte and his colleagues should be accountable for. First off, it’s no one’s business how Sen. Hontiveros should and shouldn’t dress. Secondly, this netizen was pretty bold to call her a “slut” when the Bawal Bastos Law exists.
This goes to show there are still people who think a woman’s worth is measured by what they wear. If there’s another thing you should be concerned about, it’s how the Duterte administration continues to propagate rape culture and promote the shaming of women, especially the critics of the president.
Photo courtesy of Sen. Risa Hontiveros’ Instagram account
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