UP Research Criticizing Jonaxx
I saw this UP student's research about Jonaxx's works. I am one of her readers, but upon reading this, it became an eye-opener.
Sexual Abuse
Scorching Love (2016)
Snow refuses his advances by pleading "Get off, Engineer Riego. Please... Go away...", but Sibal outright rejects it.
Waves of Memories (2016)
Tinikom ko ang bibig ko para pigilan siya ngunit imbes na umatras ay lumapat ang labi niya sa akin.
"What the hell are you doing?" tanong ko at tinulak ang kanyang dibdib.
Tila bakal iyon na ayaw paawat. He nipped and sucked my lips making me feel so dizzy.
"Stop it, Ali!" utos ko.
In another instance, Ali once again forces Aia to have a sexual interaction with him. Aia has not yet recovered her memories, so she is uncomfortable in getting intimate with him:
Tinulak ko siya pero halos mawalan ako ng lakas nang maramdaman ang paulit ulit niyang halik. He sucked my lip and he licked it with so much passion.
"Ali!" sigaw ko at tinulak siyang muli.
Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at nang tinulak niya ako ay bumagsak ako sa kama. I felt his other hand trying to remove the towel habang dahan dahan niya akong hinihiga. I groaned in protest but it's only drowned by his kisses.
Island of Fire (2017)
Rad continues to touch Zari even after she tells him to stop which is a direct violation of bodily autonomy:
"Rad, stop," I half-heartedly commanded. Huling protesta para sa katawang tuluyan nang nadarang ng apoy.
Even a "half-hearted" protest indicates a lack of full, enthusiastic consent. Her initial "stop" should be enough. His disregard for her verbalized boundary is a form of sexual assault.
What Lies Beneath the Sand (2017)
"What are you doing..." I half heartedly struggled.
He inserted his hand on my chest, gaya ng ilang beses niya nang ginawa.
Hinawakan ko agad ang palapulsuhan niya para alisin iyon doon dahil alam ko kung anong mararamdaman niya roon.
"Why is your heart beating so fast then? Hindi ba ayaw mo sa akin?" he said softly.
My peak hardened at his touch. I want to stop him pero walang boses ang lumabas sa aking labi.
Tripped: Lilienne (2016)
Riguel dismisses Lilienne's resistance to his kisses. Lilienne does not want the kisses because she still has a lot to say (Chapter 35).
Lilienne's explicit physical struggle and her internal reasoning clearly indicate her lack of desire for the kiss at that moment. However, Riguel's action of holding her arms to prevent her from moving demonstrates a disregard for her expressed wishes.
Unprotected Ejaculation Without Consent
Island of Fire (2017)
This is how Rad reacts when he has been told that Zari is getting a shot regularly, indicating that he wants to
impregnate her:
"What if you get pregnant?" tanong niya na parang iyon ang sagot sa lahat ng problema ko.
Ngumiwi ako sabay tingin sa kanya. "I won't get pregnant. I get a shot regularly."
He muttered a curse and then went back to his position. Hindi siya nagsalita.
Tripped: Lilienne (2016)
Lilienne's explicit desire to avoid the worry of
conceiving clearly demonstrates her lack of consent to this potential outcome.
The added element of Riguel allegedly hiding Lilienne's birth control pills introduces an even more serious dimension to this issue, potentially escalating the
disregard for her reproductive rights to the level of reproductive coercion.
Sexual Engagement With a Minor
Waves of Memories (2016)
Aia is only 15 years old when she is kissed by the 21-year-old Ali.
Island of Fire (2017)
22-year-old Rad kisses the 15-year-old Zari.
In the same story, Rad goes beyond the kisses and she touches the minor Zari sexually when she reaches 17.
Tripped: Lilienne (2016)
Riguel engages in sexual intercourse with
Lilienne when he is already 18 years old and she is just 16 years old.
These concerns often center on the portrayal of dominant, controlling male characters and their relationships with submissive female protagonists, which can perpetuate harmful stereotypes and influence readers' perceptions of healthy relationships.