“You have the power to end the harassment.”
That is the motto on the page of Hollaback Jakarta, a platform that enables anyone to report any sexual harassment incidents. A movement that runs in 27 countries. It was started in New York three years ago.
In Indonesia, the pioneer is Vivi or Anindya Restuviani, 28 years of age, together with Angie Kilbane, her best friend. “We provide a safe haven, safe place, to share stories about the experience of sexual harassments without fear of judgment,” Vivi explained.
Every day, there is always someone sent a story to Vivi that made her shout, “Oh my God!” There was a story about harassment that happened when the writer was still in the 5th grade, the perpetrator was her Al-Qur’an study teacher, and then some other stories told about the experience of groping on the bus, some had it with their cousins. “No comments from us. We only have a star icon with ‘I got your back’ written on it.”
Often, the victims chose not to tell their stories because the responses were undermining, “That’s it? That’s all? That is actually pretty normal.” Normalising harassment behavior is very dangerous, it made people think that it is not something worth reporting and it nurtures rape culture. That is why Hollaback provides the platform without any comment features. “Being able to tell the story is already a therapy for them.” If anyone needs further assistance, the admin person will connect them with other institution such as the legal aid services or Yayasan Pulih.
It has been three years since Hollaback Jakarta was rolled out, and almost 600 stories on harassments had been collected from all over Indonesia. “Jakarta gets the highest rate, but it doesn’t mean other cities are safer. This could be because people in Jakarta are more aware and have more access to Hollaback.”
Hollaback also collaborates with GoJek Indonesia in providing training for online transportation drivers. At first, many people were skeptical. But, during the process, many drivers cried and shared their experiences. The session that was initially set for two hours had to be extended to five hours.
Both male and female drivers are vulnerable. “There was a guy whose penis got groped. But he was not sure how to get rid of the passenger because he feared to get one star and his account would be suspended.” Another driver was kissed by a drunk female passenger. “He was also in a dilemma whether to report or not, he feared that he would be accused as the perpetrator.”
This training was such an eye-opener for GoJek management, that it is not only the passengers who need protection but also the drivers.
The one thing that touches Vivi’s heart was that the female drivers were far more resilient in preparing themselves. They knew this is a risky profession, therefore they must prepare themselves accordingly to prevent harassment.
The point is, Vivi emphasized on how anyone could be a victim of harassment. Doesn’t matter if you are a man or a woman, and doesn’t matter how you dress. Voicing out what had happened is one of the ways to make harassment as an abnormal thing.
What does Vivi feel after three years of running Hollaback? “Oh, it feels like we are in a community trying to support each other even though we don’t know each other. I feel like hugging everyone.”
“Yes, we have the power to end harassments.”
There was a father whose daughter got molested by an online transportation driver. He, then, went out looking for this driver and told him not to do such thing again in the future. He reported this driver to the service provider. “I didn’t want to slash anyone’s source of income, but I must stand up for my daughter.” He said.
For months he felt guilty for cutting off one’s source of income. He couldn’t sleep thinking about that driver’s fate.
Vivi assured him, “You did the right thing,” she said. “You did not only stand up for your daughter, but you also protect other people’s daughters.”
Then he cried, “Is that so? I never see it that way. Thank you, ma’am.”
#PuanIndonesia⠀
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