Jonalyn M.

Mangaban PI 10 T

The Feminist of Now

Dr. Carolyn Sobritchea, an internationally-recognized gender expert and a professor of

Philippine Studies at University of the Philippines Diliman talked about feminism and womens

human rights and their status.

According to her talk, womens and girls concerns and substantial participation in

different areas of the society should be a focus now. Getting the commitment of state parties to

gender equality and empowering womens participation, also having continuous judicial and

legal reforms for the rights of the women are essential to their development.

She said, other countries are already doing the abovementioned measures yet others

still have to keep up with this commitment like our country. The lack of funding for civil society

organizations to work on the projects for women focusing in their rights hampers the progress of

development goals.

What came to my mind is feminism fights outcomes need not to be measured solely

through quantity but also through quality. Equality in opportunities and equality in the results of

these should be present. Dr. Sobritchea really encouraged her audience that as a student, I can

do several things, even if it is in my own little ways or through massive impact, to empower

women and to promote equality among the genders.

Rizal also empowers women as stated in his letter: To The Young Women of Malolos.

He reminded the women that they are the first to influence the consciousness of man, so

remember to be a good mother and do not resemble the mother that the friars have created. For

Rizal, women should be themselves because the power and good judgment of the women of

the Philippines are well known. He said that the cause of the backwardness in Asia lies in the
fact that there are women that are ignorant, are slaves. Other countries like Europe and

America have free and well-educated with strong will women and it is mirrored on their countries

development. Rizal wants women to be empowered and he has the utmost respect for them.

In the conclusion of the talk, I also realized that not only biological females are the ones

who are permitted to fight for womens rights and to empower them in every way possible. All

we need is gender sensitive feminists and womens advocates who are fully aware of what they

are fighting for and do not harm any gender while empowering their rights. There should really

be substantive equality between men and women and not just equality as a mere truism of

gender equity.