Thread by @Lugard_Tareotu

"There are no women at the Bar"

Thread

After becoming lawyers, we often hear this phrase "there are no women at the Bar". This phrase has been said countless times by the entire legal apparatus - from the Nigerian Law School to Judges, both male & female - such that it is now like a broken record. We hear it often

It is perhaps one of the most commonly said, used and known phrases and usages in legal practice all over the world and in Nigeria. It is used as an injunction and instruction to direct female lawyers never to see the "female" in themselves, but only the "lawyer" in themselves

I think this was inspired by the evil thinking by our ancestors & forbears that "women are weak & inferior". Plus the fact that women suffered systemic oppression at the Bars all over the world & a woman probably never became a Barrister in England until about 100years after men

The truth is the slogan "there are no women at the Bar" arose from age long discrimination against women in life generally and legal practice. Up until 1913, women were incapable of becoming lawyers in England, as they were not regarded as a "Person" under the Solicitors Act 1843

Sadly, when we suffered colonialism from Britain, we did not only inherit their Legal System, we also inherited the biases, prejudices and discriminatory practices that were inherent in English legal practice. And this prejudice became extremely rooted in our legal fabric

This is not to say we didn't have our own pre-existing forms of discrimination before the British came. We did. We also had our own dark age in Africa. But I am referring here to the discrimination of women in the legal system, profession and practice in Nigeria.

This prejudice is so deeply rooted, that it is routinely taught by our Law School. Benchers (the body responsible for admitting persons into the Bar), and Male & Female Judges (even up to the highest level) will sing it often -

"There are no women at the Bar"

So the system fights so hard not to recognize women in the profession. Therefore, if you enter the profession, you will be told as a woman, that for the purpose of being a Barrister, you are not a woman, you are a man. There are only men in the profession. We are all men

You will be encouraged to deny your own existence as a woman. You will be encouraged to believe that it is a man's profession, you will be encouraged to think you are inferior to the man - and that you, a woman - you are actually a 'Gentleman of the Bar' and not a woman.

There are several ways this discrimination takes effect, & gradually, female lawyers are working hard to change the system and turn the tides of discrimination against women. Women have actually seen and experienced some slight reform. But there is one instance which still exists

One of the oldest forms of discrimination and prejudice against women is the way and manner that we refer to and address our Judges.

MY LORD!!!

You will recall that our legal system and profession is borrowed and lifted from Britain. Alongside, the profession, we also borrowed uncountable age long traditions and practices. Some of which are good & some need to be discarded. Sadly, Nigeria's copy and paste has no peer

It is only in Nigeria that when we copy and paste, we can even copy and paste the person's full name from whom we have copied. This is what has happened to the legal profession as well. The British, which we copied from have since moved from their archaic practices

But Nigeria is still in medieval England. We still treat women like chattels - things capable of being owned - inferior to men. Sadly, this is where we are in Nigeria. This is where we are at the Bar and this is where we are at the Bench. Let me tell you why

The phrase "My Lord" is medieval old Saxon (English) phrase for referring to a MAN who is in a position of Lordship over you. Those days in the English speaking world, you refer to your King, Prince Liege, Bishop, Master, Judge, etc. as "Your Lordship, My Lord, Your Highness, ...

Your Majesty, Your Grace, Your Eminence, My Liege, etc.

These appellations were symbolic of reverence to your male Lord & Master, though some of them like "Your Majesty, Your Grace, Your Highness etc are unisex and were/are used for female rulers - Queens, Princesses & royals

However, in the same old medieval England, if a man is the ruler/holder of a fiefdom, he was referred to as "my Lord". His wife or a female ruler/holder of a fiefdom (in her own right) was referred to as "My Lady".

The medieval Roman equivalent of this is

Dominus and Domina

This is exactly what we copied - or so we thought. The British still refer to their male Judges as "my Lord" & female Judges as "my Lady".

NOTE OF WARNING

Don't try this in Nigeria. If you call a female Judge "my Lady" in Nigeria, you might go to jail. No jokes!

So after we succeeded in telling women that there are no ladies at the Bar, the women who actually climb to become Judges and who should work to reform the profession against all forms of discrimination, will literally fight with you if you refer to them as "my Lady"

Fresh from law school and with the knowledge of how it works in England and how it ought to be, I appeared before a female High Court Judge

Me: If it pleases your Ladyship. My Lady, may I?

Judge: Who is your Lady? Are you okay? Look at these young lawyers o. I AM YOUR LORD!!!

The Judge was so upset that day. I thought it was just her and tried it at about 2 other Courts, I got the same response, if not worse.

Since then, O boy! Every Judge, whether man or woman

Me: My Lord, May I?

And the women are so happy when you refer to them as Lord!

So why stress yourself to respect a female Judge by regarding her as a woman and accord her all the dignity and glory of womanhood, when she insists that she is a man on the Bench and might even hold you in contempt if you make the same 'mistake' multiple times. You wan go Jail?

So what started off as a discriminatory policy of "no women at the Bar", has become so ingrained in our female lawyers and Judges that they are even more aggressive on this hill more than the men. If a female Judge sees your long hair sticking out of your wig, you are finished!

Women who should be fighting this prejudice are the ones basking in prejudicial & discriminatory glory. Truth is, the most fundamental form of discrimination is a system that denies your identity and your existence. Tells you - "you are not a woman, you are a man" & you accept it

I believe one of the reasons this is so is a lack of real education and perspective on the issue. Our female Judges have not taken the time to study and find out the origin of the "My Lord and My Lady" tradition - especially how it is used in England. I think they don't know

We all need to keep educating and reeducating ourselves, as women, men and professionals. How we chose to identify ourselves and acknowledge our own existence go to the root of the dignity of our human person. It is abusive to see a woman and call her a man, and vice versa

In fact it is derogatory of the fundamental right to the dignity of women for us to tell women that they are men and that women do not exist at the Bar. Women should not accept this. If we cannot even acknowledge the existence of women, how can we respect them?

The first and most fundamental respect we should give to women is first and foremost to respect, appreciate, value and acknowledge their existence with all its dignity and glory. And we must change our education and learning & begin to teach this at the Law School and at the Bar

I believe it this lack of appreciation of one's own identity that makes some women refer to themselves as "King", as though being "Queen" is inferior. It is really a lack of enlightenment and education on the subject. Woke on the TL, but not woke inside the head. Empty Woke!

There is a reason why the one true female Sovereign, Ruler, Crown & Head of State of several countries and Commonwealth Realm, Her Royal Majesty, Elizabeth, calls herself QUEEN. This is deeply rooted in self value, self worth & a complete appreciation of her identity as a woman

As little as this issue may be, it is not trivial. It is seriously fundamental. I urge whoever emerges as NBA President as between @OlumideAkpata, @DeleAdesinaSAN, @BAjibadeSAN, to put educational and institutional mechanisms in place to reform the Bar & Bench on this issue. End

If I have one female lawyer, who will be a Plaintiff, I will file a lawsuit and make this argument, up all the way to the Supreme Court.

@threadreaderapp please unroll.