To maintain a safe and harmless school environment, Envergans from various accredited organizations participated in the seminar “BEUnd the Blame Game: Understanding and Ending Victim Blaming,” which provided discussions on the legal and psychological view to understand and avoid victim blaming at the AEC Little Theater, Jan. 17.
According to UCSC President Gianne Pagana, a brief interaction with a peer who experienced victim blaming prompted the council to organize the activity, with Professor Eddson Guerra discussing the psychological view on victim blaming and Atty. Jan Maedec Abastillas providing legal knowledge and advice.
During the first segment, Guerra talked about understanding victim blaming on the social psychological dynamics, emphasizing the need for students to make social facts to make social change. He also encouraged students to speak up and break their silence on issues related to blaming.
Furthermore, Guerra discussed the factors contributing to victim blaming, its origins, how psychological principles influence these harmful beliefs, and how understanding these aspects was the first step addressing the issue.
Meanwhile, Atty. Abastillas, a corporate lawyer and advocate of anti-sexual violence and body positivity, led the second segment providing students with legal guidance to empower and protect themselves against victim blaming including discussions on Safe Spaces Act and sexual harassment and their legal consequences.
Abastillas also informed the students of their rights and laws that can defend them, emphasizing that it is not only women but also men that experience forms of harassment.
In an interview, student participants shared their appreciation and realizations after the said seminar.
“Very informative po. Ang dami kong natutunan and nalinawan po ako sa mga possible na mga pwedeng ikaso sa mga perpetrator and mga bagay na dapat na alam nila bilang isang babae and bilang isang tao,” shared Khristabell Rada, one of the attendees.
Led by the UCSC Student Rights and Welfare Committee, this initiative aims to provide Envergans the knowledge to understand victim blaming with hopes of putting an end to it, for a better and safer University.
