Rochelle T.

Triguero

GENDERS A56

EQUITY THROUGH MORE FEMINIST DISCOURSE Society already has its preconceived roles for sexes, the male and the female. Although this case does not only speak of the Philippines, the division of labor tries to confine the female within the household while the male deals with the real world1. The female is almost always oppressed by these norms and are only given seldom chances to defy the patriarchal norm. One can only do so during the Tadtarin2 or if the male permits the female to disobey. The female in these cases does not realize her full potential; also, her freedom is inhibited by the societal constructs surrounding her. Feminism, as an ideology or as a movement becomes relevant in this aspect (in trying to rescind the hegemony of patriarchy). To answer the question why is it important to study feminism, there are three things that I would like to reiterate. First, misnomers (such as stereotypes and essentialist tendencies) about women will be removed or dismissed through the constant study and advancement of the feminist ideology. Second, studying feminism is important as the development of discourse about the emancipation of women vis--vis the oppression of patriarchal society will result to more gender equity as more individuals become informed of the disparity experienced by different genders. Lastly, continuous scholarship about the field will be needed as the concept is continuously retrofitted as such; more research will be needed as feminism adapts a better framework and becomes multi-disciplinary. My first two points are related by means that a break from the misnomers can engender consciousness which will allow more people to join the development of feminist discourse. The female is always bombarded with stereotypes and norms which coerce her to be essentialized in preconceived context of femininity, such as passivity and beauty3. Moreover, when someone claims to be feminist, he or she often follows it with a disclaimer that he or she is not gay or any excuse which would try to quantify the limits by which he or she becomes feminist4. Aside from this, people and even scholars would tend to define the terms (female, feminine and feminist) in a variety of ways which construe the definition of these terms5. This often leads to confusion and adds to the problem of comparing extant literatures about feminism which in no way helps gain support and understanding from others. But, through the study and further development of womens studies, a consensus can be gained which will enable feminism to communicate to others who are detached from feminist studies. This way, a clearer and more comprehensible definition of feminism (and the terms attached to it) can be used to try to deconstruct the current discourse about the female. In this way, it would be easier and clearer to explain the cause of feminists which combats the social injustice created through institutions and to heighten the position of the woman. A better framework of womens studies can also enable comparison and contrast of different disciplines which employs feminism so as to make improve cross-cultural and historical analysis of the woman. In this way, education becomes the great equalizer between the two sexes which removes the blindfold of individuals caused by patriarchy.

Rochelle T. Triguero

GENDERS A56

Works Cited
1

Kincaid, Jamaica. Girl. Bedford St. Martins virtuaLit. Web. 28 October 2013. Joaquin, Nick. Summer Solstice. Jose Carillos English Forum, 4 April 2009. Web. 28 October 2013. Mabanglo, Ruth. Liham ni Pinay mula sa Brunei. UBC Philippine Studies Series, 19 March 2012. Web. 28 October 2013.

Offen, Karen. Defining Feminism: A Comparative Historical Approach. Signs 14.1 (Autumn, 1988):119-157. Print. Moi, Toril. Feminist, Female, Feminine. The Feminist Reader: Essays in Gender and the Politics of Literary Criticism. Eds. Catherine Belsey and Jane Moore. New York: Basil Blackwell, 1989. 115-132. Print.