On the way there, I was leered and jeered at by a group of men on a truck. At the next intersection, some young boys yelled, “Bule bule!”* One of those young boys then threw his shoe at me. I just brushed it off and kept biking. About a block from the café, a few guys on their motorcycles slowed beside me and started clapping. I’d accept that behavior if I were competing in the Tour de France, but really, guys?
I started to wonder what happened. Why was the catcalling so bad today? Was it my clothing? I’m wearing long pants and a baggy t-shirt. It really shouldn’t matter what I’m wearing. I shouldn’t have to blame myself for their behavior. This happens regardless of what I wear.
I was especially sensitive to the catcalls today because I interacted with only my host parents, my neighbors, and the many cats in our area. It was a peaceful day in the village. Because I was safe at home, I guess I didn’t bother to put on my “armor.” This is armor I’ve built in Peace Corps to help deflect against any cultural habits that I find offensive.
For example, when the teachers at my middle school engage in their culturally appropriate chatter by calling me fat or mentioning my acne, I’m ready for it. When my ninth grade boys whistle as I pass their classrooms, I’m ready for it. When motorcyclists slow their pace to clap at me, I’m ready for it. But I was not ready for it today.
One of my Indonesian friends said I shouldn’t bike or go out at night because it’s dangerous for women. Women need to be protected, he says. He used money as an analogy. If, for example, we openly display our money when we walk down the street, someone will, of course, want to steal it. I had no response. Only after this conversation did I realize he compared women to money, to an object. Women are not objects. It’s simple really. Women are people and objects are objects. I don’t know why I didn’t say anything. Maybe I’ve been conditioned to believe what he has been conditioned to believe.
Being a Peace Corps volunteer is supposed to be tough. I realized that, which is why I built this armor against things I expect to be offensive. Cultures operate differently from one another. But wouldn’t it be great if I didn’t need the armor at all?
Peace Corps suggests we use the Iceberg Theory to understand foreign actions. For example, at the top of the iceberg, the foreign act is the teachers calling me fat. In my culture, that’s incredibly rude. Why does physical appearance need to be mentioned so blatantly here? Although weight is sometimes openly discussed in America, the topic is completely inappropriate in a professional setting.
Coming back to the Iceberg Theory, underneath the surface of the water is the bigger part of the iceberg. This is where intention lies. From my experience, Indonesians tend to express care by asking if I’ve eaten, if I’ve already bathed, and where I’m going. They are just making sure I’m healthy and safe. These are personal questions I answer on a daily basis. So the weight question doesn’t really faze me anymore. They just want to make sure I’m taking care of myself.
But what about my ninth grade boys or the motorcyclists that clap at me? Do they care? It seems that they’re more concerned about acknowledging me as a woman, and as such, an object. They don’t want to make sure I’m healthy or safe. This is not a cultural difference that I can try to understand using a theory. This is a universal problem that typically stems from the objectification of women.
Anyway, I try not to let it get to me. I try to be the best person I can be and do good things. I’ve never been a big picture kind of person, so I really have no clear idea what we can do to change this. I just want to say that I’m tired of wearing my armor for things I shouldn’t have to. Cultural differences: okay. Female objectivity: not okay. I think my time can be better spent on more useful things than on worrying how much of an objectifying beating I can take that day. And I'll step off my soapbox now.
But what about my ninth grade boys or the motorcyclists that clap at me? Do they care? It seems that they’re more concerned about acknowledging me as a woman, and as such, an object. They don’t want to make sure I’m healthy or safe. This is not a cultural difference that I can try to understand using a theory. This is a universal problem that typically stems from the objectification of women.
Anyway, I try not to let it get to me. I try to be the best person I can be and do good things. I’ve never been a big picture kind of person, so I really have no clear idea what we can do to change this. I just want to say that I’m tired of wearing my armor for things I shouldn’t have to. Cultural differences: okay. Female objectivity: not okay. I think my time can be better spent on more useful things than on worrying how much of an objectifying beating I can take that day. And I'll step off my soapbox now.
*Bule is a derogative Indonesian word for foreigner.
