The brand SSS Department is currently under scrutiny for producing\nseveral t-shirts featuring sexually charged text. One design, for\ninstance, includes the phrase, \u201cCan we just skip the flirting? Let\u2019s go\nstraight to [vulgarity].\u201d<\/p>\n
Professor Alimatul Qibtiyah, a Professor of Gender Studies at UIN\nSunan Kalijaga, assesses that the use of such narratives falls into the\ncategory of sexual violence in verbal form. This is because vulgar\nnarratives relating to reproductive organs can make women feel\nuncomfortable.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen I read it, it feels unethical, especially since such clothing\nwill be worn in public spaces. Discussing vulgar matters and\nreproductive organs can make women feel uncomfortable. Therefore, in my\nview, this constitutes sexual violence in verbal form,\u201d Prof Almatul\nstated when contacted by Republika on Friday (4\/9\/2026).<\/p>\n
She also rejected the notion that such words are merely a form of\nartistic expression or humour. Prof Alimatul emphasised that using\nnarratives that demean or exploit women in a commercial product cannot\nbe justified under the guise of art or humour.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is no longer about artistic expression or humour. The case is\nsimilar to verbal sexual violence that frequently occurs in group chats\nor social gatherings. Do not use jokes as a defence, as that will create\na pattern of evading the resulting social responsibility,\u201d said Prof\nAlimatul.<\/p>\n
She further highlighted several inscriptions on SSS Department\nproducts which she believes are excessively vulgar as they point towards\nsexual issues or activities. She assessed that this could serve as a\nform of symbolic harassment, as messages with harassing nuances are\ndisseminated in the public sphere.<\/p>\n
\u201cSome of the writings on the products are indeed too vulgar in my\nopinion, as they lead towards sexual issues or activities. This could\npotentially be a form of symbolic harassment,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
When such t-shirts are worn in public, Prof Alimatul noted that women\nor even children cannot refuse exposure to them. Consequently, this can\nhave psychological impacts, including reducing the sense of safety in\npublic spaces. Women encountering t-shirts with sensual messages in\npublic may feel intimidated, anxious, or threatened.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe psychological impact is a reduction in the sense of security.\nFor instance, if we are sitting near someone wearing such a shirt, one\nmight think, \u2018What if the thoughts written on that shirt are also\ndirected at me?\u2019\u201d said Prof Alimatul.<\/p>\n
Another impact is the emergence of excessive self-surveillance. Women\nmay choose to maintain distance or be more cautious when near\nindividuals wearing clothing with sexual narratives.<\/p>\n
Prof Alimatul also warned of the possibility that such messages could\nact as a trigger for women who have previously experienced sexual\nviolence. \u201cAs mentioned, it could trigger their experiences as victims\nof sexual violence, for example, through those specific words,\u201d she\nconcluded.<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/expert-states-eccentric-sss-dept-t-shirts-constitute-verbal-sexual-violence-1788523110", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }