CRAB MENTALITY A STINK IN PH CULTURE
FILIPINOS are known worldwide for their warmth and incredible hospitality, creating a lasting impression on those fortunate enough to experience them.
This unique and deeply ingrained cultural trait is a source of pride for the Filipino people, reflecting the nation’s rich history and diverse influences.
Whether welcoming guests into their homes or helping strangers in need, Filipinos consistently demonstrate a genuine sense of compassion and friendliness that goes beyond cultural boundaries, attracting foreigners to visit this tropical country. Even when venturing abroad, one is likely to observe a significant presence of Filipinos in the medical and domestic workforce.
However, despite this wonderful culture of hospitality, there is an underlying issue of toxicity within Filipino families in which envy can cause bitterness, which leads to unrelenting attempts to degrade those deemed doing better than others.
The term “crab mentality,” coined by Filipino journalist and writer Ninotchka Roska in 1987, encapsulates a mindset best characterized by the notion, “If I can’t have it, neither can you.”
A survey was distributed to residents in the Luzon area, seeking their perspectives on how crab mentality detrimentally impacts society and is perceived as toxic in their eyes.
The respondents were asked to give examples of crab mentality that can be seen in Filipino culture.
Observations include negative comments about success and wealth acquisition; lack of support for personal passions and goals; workplace dynamics, which embody the belief in using flattery (sipsip) for job advancement; escalation from flattery to gossip and, in extreme cases, character assassination (paninirang puri); judgment on one’s choice of clothing; and so much more.
Negative comments about success and wealth acquisition often arise when an individual succeeds through unconventional methods. This can lead bitter individuals to doubt the legitimacy of these achievements, assuming that the person must have cheated their way up.
Comments like “She probably bribed the manager,” “His parents definitely paid his way in,” “She’s not even that smart,” and “He’s so ugly, how did he get in?” are used as attacks against successful individuals. These comments aim to drag them down or make their path more challenging.
Flattery and gossip become weapons against those who attain success, creating an environment where personal accomplishments are undermined and belittled. In this challenging time, flattery and gossip transform into potent weapons, adding unnecessarily to the struggles faced by those who attain success.
Why perpetuate such a toxic atmosphere? Why undermine peers when uplifting each other does not incur expense?
It is time for Filipinos to extend the same unwavering kindness and hospitality they show to visitors to one another. By doing so, the nation can grow and build a stronger foundation for itself — one Filipino at a time.