Peaceful Haven BLOGS

Summary: Student body president Marcus asks Hannah out and then tries to touch her in a restaurant on their date. He “thought she was easy” and was offended when she rejected him in front of his friends, who he’d invited along to watch. After she pushes him away, he rounds up his buddies and leaves Hannah crying into her milkshake.

** Source: https://medium.com/@bareivy/a-therapists-comprehensive-episode-by-episode-breakdown-of-hannah-baker-s-suicide-in-netflix-s-13-c527c8633eb2

I think in this whole series, the things that are happening in Hannah Baker’s life has been repetitive. Since that “HOT LIST” came out to the entire school, thanks to Alex, Hannah has been the center of malicious looks and a subject of multiple sexual harassment/assaults. Me and my cousin had an experience of getting those “looks” from a perverted older man. He is a Public Utility Jeep (PUJ) driver in our village and I’ve noticed that he always gaze intently on every girl/women passenger most especially when they get off the vehicle, he would stare at them as they walk away. It made me uncomfortable whenever, by chance, I happen to ride in his jeep. Only God knows where he is looking at but it makes me think of things that are not so good because why else would he stare behind all of his female passengers’ back? To make sure they don’t trip off or something? It may seem that I’m over reacting but I think its safe to say that it is an instinct. Men out there may say that I’m way too judgmental but this thing are one of those many thing that men wouldn’t really understand unless it happens to them. I don’t think that its in a man to be worried of being groped in crowded place or being raped when they stay out for too late at night but it is for us women. I also don’t think that what women wear is the problem, partly it is, but no matter how conservative your fashion is if there are perverted men, like the one I’m talking about, or sex maniacs out there what happened to Hannah Baker and to all other women who experienced this kind of things in real life will keep on happening again and again. Just like what I’ve said on my reflection in episode 3, the only thing that we can do as a woman is to fight, not only as a physical defense but also for our dignity, for equal rights, and for the respect that we deserve.

The second side of Hannah’s tapes was addressed to her past friend, Jessica. Hannah and Jessica’s friendship started when they were both introduced to each other by the guidance counselor and they clicked immediately. Their friendship came into a sudden halt when Jessica started dating Alex, supposedly their new friend. Their estranged relationship later became more complicated when things turned sour between Alex and Jessica–and Hannah was caught in between. Jessica discovered that Alex was sexually attracted to Hannah which is why she accused her of seducing him behind her back.

As cliche as it may sound, the same thing happened with my own best friend and our circle of friends. My dearest friend had a boyfriend when we were 3^rd year in high school. Majority of our common friends didn’t love the idea of them being together and so they decided to give her an ultimatum; it’s either her long time friends or her new found guy. For some reason, she came to me to find some comfort. What I’m trying to emphasize is the relationships that we have at such a young age and the sense of entitlement that we have. It is our responsibility as a friend to guide each other into the right path, but we should always  keep in mind that there are boundaries that we must not cross. I see in a lot of teenagers the sense of entitlement they have with their friends. Trying to meddle with one’s decision in life, whether it be good or bad, for me is definitely wrong. I personally think that you communicate with your friend your own thoughts and opinions about her decisions, as an advice that will guide him or her, but leave the final say to them because after all it’s their own life to live and you have yours, too.