Women might be their worst enemies after all—as in the case of physically disabled victim Dezrin, who has been treated with so much neglect even by her fellow gender.

Ottawa Judge, Justice Sylvia Corthorn in a recent ruling on an Urgent Motion request, utterly dismissed the civil rights of the disabled woman and her son Raymond, who is seeking to visit his mother to ensure her welfare and safety. This is after Justice Callum Macloed, on 24 March 2017, gave an injunction due to his apparent concerns for the safety of the elderly woman. He implored that a religious envoy—consisting of a rabbi, go along with the Defence Counsel’s lawyer, Mr. John Summers, for independent verification to ensure that the woman “has not been held prisoner”.

While Justice Macloed—a male, showed that much empathy for Dezrin, Justice Corthorn on the other hand completely disregarded this sanction. Quite surprisingly, her final ruling was in favour of the abusive husband who had subjecting her to inhumane conditions, and secluded her from her own son. Raymond had attempted to rescue his mother from the hands of her captive, but met a brick wall, as Justice Corthorn blocked his attempt.

It is quite disturbing that despite the fact that Dezrin’s husband had abused her to the point in which she is unable to talk, write, or even walk anymore—with all access to acquiring proper medical treatment and a proper meal equally inhibited, yet Justice Corthorn during her ruling determined that the situation was apparently not sufficient to be termed an “urgent matter”.

One would think that the elevation of women into positions of high authority—were they are shouldered with the responsibility of making major decisions, would greatly promote the better treatment of women who are victims of insensitivity and immense discrimination. Yet the specific case of Justice Sylvia Corthorn has proven that it’s never a matter of gender, as a female judge can be just as (or even more) oppressive as their male counterpart.

This case has shown that women, who find themselves in high rise political, judicial, and corporate positions, may become the female agents of oppression—just as Judge Corthon has shown. It’s safe to say that the discriminations women face in the Justice system here, and everywhere else in the world—due to callous and tyrannical minds, should never be limited to the male gender alone.

Justice Sylvia’s action just goes to show that maybe, just maybe, women can sometimes be their own enemies.