Unexpectedly, Women Can Also Be Perpetrators of Sexual Harassment!

Kapanlagi.com - For a long time, women have often been viewed as victims in cases of harassment and sexual violence. However, along with social changes and rapid technological advancements, an interesting fact has emerged: women can now also play the role of perpetrators of harassment.

I Gusti Ngurah Agung Krisna Aditya, a sociologist from Udayana University in Bali, explains that women, who are usually in subordinate positions, are now beginning to express themselves and show their interest in sexuality. The digital transformation that has taken place has made everything more open and exposed, so women's courage to express their interest in the opposite sex has become commonplace.

This phenomenon is clearly seen in the Kpop fandom, which is dominated by women. According to Krisna, this fandom is a form of outpouring of physical admiration related to sexuality. However, this emotional outpouring can risk leading to sexual harassment, both directly and in the digital realm through inappropriate comments.

"Women's perceptions of the behavioral boundaries that can be considered sexual harassment towards men are also different," Krisna revealed in a voice message to the Lifestyle Team of Liputan6.com. He added that usually, men engage in catcalling or calls that have the potential to be harassing by visually assessing women and touching them directly.

Meanwhile, women who admire their idols tend to express that admiration through comments about the idol's physique or attractive male figures in their eyes.

Thus, this phenomenon shows how complex the dynamics of gender are in the context of sexual harassment in the modern era. This change in perspective and expression needs to be monitored to ensure it does not cross the boundaries that should be maintained.

1. It Could Just Be a Form of Sexual Expression

For many women, comments on social media that are full of praise for idols are not intended to be harassing. Especially when the idol has a visual appeal that exudes masculinity.

"They may not realize that it can be considered harassment, but it is actually an emotional expression from women who admire the opposite sex, even when they are just presenting themselves on social media," Krisna said.

He added that unlike men who tend to seek more explicit visualizations of women's sexuality, women are often captivated by the male character from a deeper perspective, even when dressed modestly.

"Many women do not require an open display to imagine a man's sexual appeal," he added.

2. Unusual in Eastern Culture

In Gusti's view, the outpouring of expression related to sexuality is a natural thing, considering that sex is a basic human need. He explains that in Eastern culture, women are often reluctant to openly express their sexual desires.

"The visualization of women in this context is still rare, as social norms prevent them from speaking directly about sexual satisfaction," he said.

Gusti also added that it is difficult to define what stimulates a woman, whether it is an athletic body or a man's neat appearance, because the essence of masculinity displayed by men often excites women's imagination more.

As a result, women sometimes express their interest through comments that seem extreme, such as "My womb is warm for you," which has crossed the line and falls into the category of sexual harassment, worse than catcalling or touching done by men.

3. Social Media Opens Space

In an era of increasingly dynamic social change, Gusti highlights that social media users no longer recognize gender boundaries between men and women.

Interestingly, women are showing creativity that may exceed that of men in expressing their sexuality without having to rely on erotic visualization.

They are able to channel that expression through comments on social media, whether with real or anonymous accounts, thus creating a wider space for freedom. However, the stigma that considers sexual harassment to be a male domain makes women immune to the notion that they too can be perpetrators.

Ironically, actions such as commenting on social media are often seen as a form of free expression, even though they can potentially become harassment.

Gusti reminds us that while social media provides freedom of opinion, it is important for all users, both men and women—to be wise in their interactions and to respect existing boundaries.

(kpl/rao)