A Question of Responsibility: Boy Talk and the Ethics of Harassment

 Boy Talk

Author: Cyrene Joyce Laurante and Bryan Nonay

The short story Boy Talk represents the main themes of the tension in relationships, the role of society, and the consequences of victim blaming through the conversation of the generations. Kiko, the main character, interacts with his uncle who has stereotypically masculine perceptions of male-female relations. The uncle encourages Kiko to have multiple relationships and that women should dress well but responsibly in a way as to avoid harassment thus all the responsibility of avoiding harassment lies with women. Nevertheless, some of these concepts are questionable, according to Kiko who argues that is very unfair and that men have to be held responsible for their deeds.

Ethical and social justice are among the philosophies that the narrative uses to foreground the moral problematics of victim-blaming while revealing how society sustains gender oppression. In turn, Kiko shows that he uses critical thinking and moral reasoning when countering his uncle’s arguments, stressing autonomy and the need for change in men. The story emphasizes the continuity of harassment and signifies the need for a change that goes beyond the legal aspect at a high level, based on justice and people’s responsibility.

In summary, Boy Talk is a conversation in which Kiko and his uncle discuss both relationships between sexes and what society expects of people. Men should be out-dating as many women as possible. Also, he says women will not get harassed if they dress modestly. The uncle is from a previous era Kiko disagrees, saying the blame should not only fall on women. He thinks that men also have to accept their responsibility for their actions. The story shows a clash between old and new ideas about gender, fairness, and responsibility, and calls for changing attitudes to create equality in today's world.

Proverbs 31 8-9 "Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy." Cyrene Joyce Laurante and Bryan Nonay's short film Boy Talk addresses the issue of how women are often blamed for sexual assault and abuse, with the expectation that they should dress modestly to avoid such experiences. The film presents this through a conversation between a boy named Kiko and his uncle, who reflects outdated views on women’s behavior. When Kiko hears his uncle’s comment, “kung ayaw mong ma bastos, wag kang magsusuot ng malaswa,” he challenges this perspective, realizing the problem lies not in how women dress but in the need for men to change their behavior. This film highlights the struggle women face in overcoming sexual assault and underscores the need to educate men about respect and equality.

The language used by Kiko’s uncle reflects the Filipino culture of masculinity that is quite toxic and old school. He uses vulgar language and even jokes, which prove that such concepts are integrated into everyone’s discourse. On the other hand, Kiko’s more liberal attitude shows the change of pace of the new generation. This shows how even language can be both the holder of a certain culture and can also be a tool that changes certain aspects of culture for the better.

This conversation is a reflection of real-life scenarios particularly the fact that the old generation and the new one have different perceptions towards these problems. The youth of today demands more respect and fairness and this is why they are not willing to accept older notions that claim that women are to blame for harassment. The current generation is more concerned with equality and advocating for it which is a very different attitude as compared to previous generations.

Reflecting on personal experiences, like the situation at school with a teacher who abused his position shows how crucial it is to be aware of such issues and to take action against inappropriate behavior: Reflecting on personal experiences, like the situation at school with a teacher who abused his position shows how crucial it is to be aware of such issues and to take action against inappropriate behavior:

A friend of ours during junior high got into something similar to that, where the teacher took advantage of the posts and stories of one of our classmates. We found him trying to flirt as well with our friend so we alerted her and I explained to her to be more careful with people she befriends. It is very unpredictable as to what may occur at any time and any place.

After some time that teacher eventually got exposed and has been frequently doing the same thing to other students as well, the students; who just solely enjoy posting themselves on social media, overlook these types of people who intend to do the wrong things and have no self-control. The school then held a meeting for this particular issue to regain its reputation.

These experiences and current events remind us that change requires understanding where others are coming from, even if we disagree with them. We should try to have open and respectful conversations with older generations, acknowledging their past experiences while sharing our views on fairness and equality. At the same time, it’s important to stay committed to making real progress toward a more just society. Engaging in these discussions helps bridge generational gaps and promotes a culture of respect and dignity.

In the sociocultural context, this narrative gives us a glimpse into today’s youth culture, particularly how gender roles and digital communication are evolving. It shows how young Filipino guys shape their identity and relationships through casual conversations and jokes. The film highlights how important communication is in breaking down gender stereotypes, especially by exploring masculinity, and vulnerability, and how certain stereotypes still get reinforced. Peer interaction and open discussions play a big role in this

The film strongly aligns with UNESCO’s initiatives of promoting quality education, fostering cultural diversity, and advocating for the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially SDG 5: Gender Equality.  In the film, it shows how bad gender is. The uncle stated that women should wear modest clothes so that men would not do anything to them, but Kiko has a friend who dresses modestly but still gets victimized by men. The film analyzes the lack of comprehensive education on issues like consent and gender equality, showing how traditional education often neglects these critical topics. This reflects UNESCO’s goal of quality education (SDG 4), which should include ethical and gender-sensitive discussions. By challenging patriarchal norms that contribute to rape culture, the film also promotes cultural diversity, encouraging the inclusion of diverse gender perspectives and the dismantling of harmful stereotypes

The issues portrayed in Boy Talk are very much relevant to the prevailing problems in the Philippines today particularly to gender roles and harassment. Kiko’s conversation with his uncle is also a reminder of clichéd attitudes that one can still encounter in real life, for instance, women should not provoke men into harassing them by dressing immodestly. This is similar to the Philippine case where traditionalist views still persist in the manner by which society deals with harassment.

In the country, there’s always that problem of blaming the victim, where women are always forced to bear the brunt of harassment due to how they dress or behave. This is made worse by the culture that may regard anyone who complains or seeks assistance as weak or crazy.

Also, there is more pressure from young people who are gradually rejecting such stereotypical standards. They promote a better view, where men should also assume the blame and where society does not disregard violence against women. Kiko’s defiance of his uncle’s perspective falls under this category, therefore demanding a change in Philippine culture to fight harassment and support women’s rights.

Thus, Boy Talk can be considered a successful representation of the constant battle between the old and the new in matters of gender roles and sexual harassment. This scene in the film shows how Kiko challenges his uncle’s old-school mentality that still prevails in society and that there is a need for change in the culture to be more accepting of others. In this regard, language, generational gap, and the use of technology in communication and interaction, the film emphasizes the role of communication in the fight against stereotyping and the promotion of a healthier outlook.

The movie is not only a portrait of current young people’s lifestyles but also complies with educational quality and women’s rights standards. This is clear in the absence of enough information on consent and gender issues in traditional education and calls for a change on the same. Therefore, we can recommend this short narrative as it provides