Incestuous Rape and Violation of Space
Nicole Harris
University of Washington
In
this analysis I attempt to expose the interlocking oppressions caused by the
effects of dominating and colonial powers, particularly those of male and white
privilege (McIntosh, 1988). The purpose and intent is to define the topics
discussed in the readings while critically analyzing and incorporating the
lectures and field experience as aspiration to dismantle the politics of
neglect which lead to structural and systemic violence (Maria Carinnes P. Alejandria-Gonzalez
presentation, 2016). Rape is an assault of the physical body
whether that is land, space and/or person and always without consent or
consideration. Incest is defined as having relations with related persons which
includes but not limited to an ancestor, descendant, brother or sister by blood
or adoption (Dictionary.com, 2016). I will show how the body, land and space of
Filipinos were violated by the “Big Brother” also known as the United States of
America, hence the title to this analysis.
Intent without consent is apparent in the
history of the USA occupying the Philippines. Twain (1901) wrote “There is
something curious about this- curious and unaccountable. There must be two
Americas: one that sets the captive free, and one that takes a once captive’s
new freedom away from him” (p. 64). We can also see how a colonial mindset and
White privilege were being played out during this horrific time as shown in the
graphics of Zinn’s Invasion of the
Philippines (2008) as USA president McKinley states that the Filipinos are
“unfit for self-government” and that we must civilize them (p. 55). These were
the justifications for the rape and violation of the Filipino citizens that we
sought to protect or at least presented it this way.
President
McKinley issued the Benevolent Assimilation Proclamation on December 21, 1898
and with the signature of
the treaty of peace between the United States and Spain, stating that the
future control, disposition, and government of the Philippine Islands are ceded
to the United States (Blount, 1913). When
this benevolent assimilation didn’t work to our liking, orders to “kill and
burn” (Ileto, 2002, p. 14) were carried out destroying all livestock and houses
and women were sexually assaulted (p.15). This is at a time when the Filipinos
were vulnerable, as the USA rides in like a white knight on a horse to scare
away the enemy only to take their place and rape the Filipino people’s bodies,
land and space.
The parallel
oppression and violations that took place are clear. We cannot analyze these
issues and facts without coming to the conclusion that women and people of
marginalized groups were and continue to be disenfranchised. Many of those who
are in power, often call prominent people, are generally White men using their
power and privilege to continue to keep others at a disadvantage.
The common
themes throughout the readings, lectures and field experience are “friendship”
(Ileto, 2002), deception and power and one can never forget this. When will
males realize and acknowledge the systemic violence that they participate in
against women? How do we as the USA
redeem ourselves of such actions? I suggest access is the key. We must demand
access to education and representation, female equity not just equality and
making room not just allowing it for disenfranchised groups. We must
acknowledge male dominance, White privilege and the physical, emotional and spiritual
violations that occurr/ed by means of rape during our occupation of the
beautiful Philippine Islands. But this alone doesn’t equal reparation or
redemption. That leads me to my last conclusion and question, when do we start
remembering to begin this process that is overdue?
References
Blount,
J. (1913). American Occupation of the
Philippines with Origin of a Myth with an
introductory essay by R. Constantino
1898-1912. New York and London: The Knickerbocker Press.
Carrines Alejandria-Gonzalez, M.
(July 28, 2016). "Living
in the Margins of Manila:
Identity
and Space Making among the Urban Poor" Lecture. Balay Kalinaw, University of Philippines.
Incest
(n.d) Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved
August 2, 2016 from Dictionary.com
Ileto,
R. (2002). Vestiges of War: The Philippine-American War and the
Aftermath of an
Imperial Dream 1899-1999. (pp. 3-21). New York: NYU Press.
McIntosh, P. (1988). White privilege and male privilege: A personal account of coming
to see correspondences through work
in women’s studies. In K. Tupper,
Introduction to women’s studies:
Women 200 (2nd ed.) (pp. 62-71).
New York:
McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
Twain, M. (2002). To
the person sitting in darkness. In Shaw, A.V. & Francia, L.H.
Vestiges of war. (pp.
57-68). New York: New York Press.
Zinn, H. (2008). Invasion of the Philippines. In a people’s
history of American empire.
(pp.
53-72) New York: Metropolitan
Books.
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