Author's Note: I found this
article written in an old intermediate paper and suspected that it was one of
my essays to be submitted in a writing class. I really don't remember if I
submitted it although upon checking on my files, I didn't see it. It tackles a
sensitive issue so I decided that I think it would be much better if I just
upload it and let others judge for themselves. I also didn't edit this for the
sake of preserving the immature thoughts that once lingered in my mind during
the early days of my academic life.
"Minsan, ayoko na lang matulog dahil sa ganitong oras nila ako
bina-baboy." This was the dramatic line of Lily (not her real name) while
recounting her horrible experience of sexual harassment.
Lily, now 38 years old and a mother of four children was a victim of incest. It
is a form of sexual harrasment made by person who is related to the victim
either by blood or affinity. She is now married and pregnant for her fifth
child but the impact produced by what her brothers had done still remains.
She was 11 years old then and the youngest among four siblings. Due to poverty,
her parents became too preoccupied in business that they forgot to look after
their children. She was left with her two brothers for her old sister had to
move to another place to work also for them.
Being exposed to maturity, her brothers namely Bogart and Gary, 12 and 14 years
old respectively made her as their sexual dummy. The two boys acting as
superior to Lily didn't hesitate to trespass her. Every night, when Lily was
trying to sleep, she could feel the harassment although she never stood up
against them for she didn't want to create clashes among her two older
siblings. She just kept all the hurtful feelings inside and until now, nobody
from her family knows why she became easily intimidated with men, specially
with her two brothers.
Lily was harrased but I believe that no one was to be blamed in the issue
because according to Cheris Kramarae, a renowned feminist, it is the society's
fault for the society where we live in is molded by the men and for the men.
Lily could have spoken but she still had this notion that no one would believe
her. Had it been that she knew she was already being harassed then maybe there
would only be a little chance that she would speak up.
For this reason, I would like to address this problem to our government
officials, if the judicial branch will still sleep and not act regarding this
matter then most women will not have the guts to speak for themselves. If
people can see that officials are truly doing their jobs well then everyone can
be rest assured that justice will properly be served. Every official
particularly the policemen must also be vigilant so that crimes such as
harassment can be avoided.
The end could never justify the means and just as Abraham Lincoln said,
"to sin by silence when one should protest, makes coward out of men".
As for the sexual harassment victims like Lily, it is high time that they speak
up for if they remain hidden behind in silence then they would carry the pain
inside themselves for their lifetime.
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