Blind Legally

by Catalina Cassandra Uyguanco

The symbol of justice has always been a blindfolded woman with a sword in one hand and a scale in the other, but now it seems to have its hands tied and the scale of fairness has weighed down on injustice. If the law is the truth’s eye, why does it appear to have gone blind?

For the past years, the age of consent has always been as early as twelve. It was a huge hurdle for a 16-year-old rape victim who goes by the name ‘Jenny’. Her virginity was taken away by a relative when she was 13 and attempted to sue charges against the assailant but was immediately declined for the man had said it was consensual.

“The lawyer was the one to set my uncle free because I refused his attempt to touch me. I didn’t know anything back then, I thought it was not a big deal so I said yes to my uncle, I couldn’t do anything anyway, he’s already on top of me.” The lawyer, who happened to be a family friend, extended his hand to handle the case but ended up being the one to silence Jenny’s pleas. Jenny claimed that the lawyer has been maliciously staring daggers at her and was vocal about complimenting her ‘curves’. He was the one who attempted to molest but still had the audacity to turn the tables and side with the rapist all because he got rejected for such filthy action. Her words were used against her by her legal counsel. Saying it was something consensual between the two parties despite the strong disagreement on the victim’s side. Threatened her to remain quiet about the molestation and even went to extreme lengths as to gaslight the child into withdrawing the case, which, unfortunately, she did—and that was it, case closed.

Under Republic Act No. 8533 or the 1997 Anti-Rape Law, a sexual act is considered statutory rape when the victim is under 12 years old or is mentally unstable. That also means a 12-year-old child and above can give sexual consent anyway. A report way back in 2015 conducted by the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) revealed that the minimum age of 12 set by the Philippines stands as the lowest in Southeast Asia and the second lowest worldwide.

The Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD) states that from the years 2015 to 2017, aged 14 to 17 are likely to be victims of rape and incestuous activities. A twelveyear-old is typically in 6th grade and has barely, or has not yet gone to puberty. Several studies have proven that the rationality of the mind of a 12-year-old and their understanding of the consequences of their actions have not yet developed and will fully develop by the age of 25. Her body may have developed at an early age but her mind hasn’t yet. Victim-blaming is not a card that should be used against a child victim. A degree holder, specifically a lawyer, is bending justice only because he wasn’t fed on by his lustrous desires. It’s always “Age is just a number”, but a great number of underaged victims aren’t getting the justice they deserve all because of this outrageous age of consent.

The scale of fairness appears to have weighed down the value of truth as the sword of power seized Jenny’s last hope of justice. Now that the pleas of the young victims are finally heard and the age of consent has lifted, she still hopes that there will be a day the symbol of justice finally obtains an eye to uncovering the truth under the blindfold and the lie it hides.

In

Misogyny is still alive and still gripping more women victims up until now. Women are still experiencing physical and verbal harassment and continuous discrimination by men. Due to this prejudicial treatment faced by them, people— including women -- had the internalized beliefs that women should abide by the norms and expectations that men have built.

No matter how a woman digs their path to stay away from the loop that was fostered by men and a one-sided society. Women would still glimpse their feet walking on the same path that can not be dodged. Bringing them back to the loop where they have been before. Even in current times and as opposed to the remote past, society drives people to play certain gender roles, contributing to gender disparities.

In the 20th century, the idea of a woman only staying at home while satisfying the needs of her husband was highly romanticized in such advertisements, films, and magazines. That it became the standardized concept for women. More than that, it is believed that a woman’s body and physiology are considered as weak as they undergo menstrual cycles and pregnancy, hence making them think that women are unsuitable for pursuing careers. All of this leads to the double standards and disparagement of women where validity is only open to men.

When a deed is done by a man, it is most likely to be praised and applauded. On the contrary, a woman would instead be doubted and criticized. In the recent presidential elections that took place in the Philippines, two candidates; Ferdinand ‘Bongbong’ Marcos Jr. a man, and Leni Robredo, a woman were considered the biggest rivals in the seat. Even though Marcos was known for his controversial background, he officially won against Leni Robredo who has a lot more credentials and cleaner records. In several interviews about why people did not vote for Leni, few claimed that her being a ’woman’ is not seemly good for being a president and saying that she’s too soft for the position.

In this dimmed patriarchal system, women have always been oppressed but the voice of a woman was represented “I’m so sick of running as fast as I can, wonder if I’d get there quicker if I was a man” The Man by Taylor Swift, disseminates the last dig. That describes the whole loop of women’s deceitful fate back and forth to those men who can devour their rights, but women can not.

Men have locked women in a barless cycle they have manufactured. In a darkened, barless jail, the society played out a loop. And for women, it is ceaseless agony in misogyny that takes a length of time to bury in oblivion. Consequently, it has been consistent who devoured and depraved women’s rights. To confront the difficulties, a woman, the leader in all sectors of life, is relevant.

In the end, the last man standing is a woman.