WD 210 UP Open University

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Introduction to Feminism

INTRODUCTION
Why are there people who are afraid of feminism and feminists? Perhaps, one
reason is they don’t understand what feminism is all about. What we don’t know,
we fear.

On the other hand, there are people who are actually feminists but don’t use the
label because they aren’t familiar with the term or are unsure of it. Then there are
the conscious advocates of feminism who no longer need any convincing but who
want to deepen their knowledge of their cause.

No matter what category of people you belong to, this module is for you.

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OBJECTIVES

After going through this material, you’ll be able to:

1. explain how and why feminism emerged;
2. define feminism in your own words; and
3. respond to your own doubts and fears regarding feminism and feminists.

ACTIVITY
Let us start with what you or people close to you associate with
feminism and feminists. Chances are you have been exposed to
such ideas through personal contact or through the media.
In the columns provided below, list down key words or phrases,
whether positive or negative, which you associate with the terms.
Try to fill out all the spaces, but if you can’t, it’s all right.

POSITIVE NEGATIVE

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Most likely, in the column labeled “positive,” you would have written “women’s
rights,” “gender equality.” “freedom of choice,” “women’s liberation” or
“empowerment.” If you wrote at least some of these words or phrases, it shows
you are in touch with what’s going on around you. If you didn’t, perhaps you
used different words or phrases which mean the same things.

In the column labeled “negative,” some of the items which probably came out are
“man-haters,” “destroyers of homes,” “lesbians,” and “Western import.” Do you
have these words and phrases in your definition? It wouldn’t be surprising if
your answer is yes. Why? Read on and find out.

You may not aware of it, but the positive words or phrases normally associated
with feminism actually have a historical basis. Let’s take a closer look at the
“positive” ideas associated with feminism to prove this point.

WOMEN’S RIGHTS

In the Philippines, feminism was first of all about the struggle for women’s rights.
Do you remember the women of Malolos to whom our national hero, Jose Rizal,
wrote his famous letter in 1888? These women, who belonged to the upper class,
actually wrote to the Spanish authorities appealing for access to the same
educational facilities as the men. At that time, women were taught only how to
pray, cook, and embroider. They could not be doctors, lawyers, artists, writers, or
scientists like their men. Rizal encouraged them to pursue their right to education
so that with enlightenment, they would be able to raise children who would refuse
to be slaves to colonizers.

The first Filipino women who called themselves feminists were writers and other
educated, professional women who emerged during the early American period.
They fought for women’s rights, particularly the right to vote, which was finally
granted in 1937. They wanted recognition, equal treatment and opportunity for
women, whom they organized into civic, but predominantly middle-class groups.

GENDER EQUALITY

Feminism is also about gender equality. Women are entitled to the same rights as
men at home, at work, and in society in general. Within the family, these include
the right to own and inherit property, to decide where to live, to work in a chosen
occupation, and to share domestic and parenting responsibilities on an equal
footing. Such rights are already stipulated in the new Family Code.

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At work, women should have equal access to the same resources, benefits, and
opportunities as men. Among workers, there should be no discrimination in hiring,
training, and promotion. There should be equal pay for work of equal value, unlike
today when men, on the average still earn twice more than women. Women in the
rural areas should have equal access to land, credit, technology, and education.

In society, women must be able to participate at all levels of decision-making.

They should be adequately represented in the executive, legislative, and judicial
branches of government. They should have a voice in the running of non-
governmental organizations, trade unions, people’s formations, and community
institutions.

Unfortunately, very few women are active in politics. In fact, they occupy less
than ten percent of all elective positions. This, despite the fact that there are more
women voters than men.

FREEDOM OF CHOICE

What about freedom of choice? Why is it important to feminists?

This concern came to the fore in recent times, particularly in the last three
decades when women’s movements all over the world surged forward. It has to
do with the broader idea of self-determination, of a woman’s right to control her
body, and therefore her life. It recognizes the fact that men often impose
themselves on women and violate them. In the Philippines, for example, one
woman is raped every six hours. Wife battering and other forms of domestic
violence occur frequently. Women experience unwanted pregnancies and are
forced to raise more children than their health and resources can afford.

Women have the right to be free from male violence, and to choose when, how, and
with whom to have sex and children. They should be given access to means of
fertility management and be able to use these based on informed choice. They
should be allowed to leave failed and violent marriages and live a life of peace and
harmony.

WOMEN’S LIBERATION AND EMPOWERMENT

These concepts have to do with the new idea of power as enabling and fulfilling
human potential through shared strength. Women’s movements of the last three
decades say that beyond women’s rights and gender equality, women must also
address the structures in society that foster discrimination and inequity. They
should tackle the sources of women’s subordination at their roots and seek to

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transform the larger society.

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In the Philippines, for instance, there is an increasing recognition that the majority
of Filipinos-- workers, farmers, migrant brides and maids -- suffer not only
because they are women but also because they belong to the poorer classes and to
a less developed nation. Thus, for them to be liberated and empowered, they have
to undergo the process of organizing, consciousness-raising, capability-building,
and participating in decision-making. They have to lift themselves up as women
and in partnership with enlightened men, they can transform society together.

SAQ 1
At this point, pause to think of your own personal experiences while
trying to recall what you have learned so far. Is feminism relevant to
you at this state of your life? In the space below, define feminism in
your own words.

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ASAQ 1
If your definition mentions the following ideas, give yourself a pat on the back.

1) awareness of women’s disadvantaged position (exploitation, oppression, and

subordination are alternative words)
2) action to improve women’s position.

If your definition contains only one of the two, it’s alright. Next time, you’ll get
the two.

If you missed out completely on this one, don’t lose heart. There are many ways
of skinning a cat.

Most likely, your definition also mentions women’s rights, gender equality,
freedom of choice, women’s liberation and empowerment, or their equivalents in
your own words. If it does, give yourself four more pats as bonuses. Doesn’t that
feel good?

As we have seen, feminism has developed over time. It draws from ideas and
movements of specific historical periods. It is not one single strand but
oftentimes, a combination of many strands. It can be about women’s rights,
gender equality, freedom of choice, women’s empowerment, or all of these.

But what is the common thread? This is what you were expected to state in your
definition of feminism. Compare your definition with that forwarded by the
women of Asia in a workshop: “Feminism is an awareness of women’s
oppression and exploitation in society, at work and within the family, and
conscious action by women and men to change this situation.” (Bhasin and Khan,
1986).

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Now let’s look at the “negatives.” Some of these may have appeared in your
list.

MANHATERS
Have you encountered feminists who appear to be manhaters? Chances are you
have. Perhaps, those you’ve met are women who are at the “angry” stage of the
feminist process. Most likely, they personally experienced male violence and
deception so they are reacting quite strongly. We have to understand and
perhaps sympathize with them while they are at this stage. With our sympathy
and that of other women and enlightened men, they will, in due time, be able to
overcome their anger as they enter the healing stage.

If it is of any comfort to you, there are many feminists who are in relatively happy
and peaceful relationships with men. Through dialogue and negotiation, they are
able to cause changes in their partners’ attitudes and behavior leading towards
greater equality.

DESTROYERS OF HOMES
But you may ask: Aren’t there feminists who have broken marriages and homes?
If it weren’t for their feminist stand, their family would still be intact, some say.

Feminists, just like other human beings, want peace, but they want a just peace.
They will not stick it out with wife-beaters, or men who habitually subject them
to verbal abuse for the sake of family peace. Sure, they will try their best to help
such men to change but if these men don’t want to, they cannot do anything
more. It is unfair to expect them to stay in a living hell. It is far better for them
and their children to leave such a situation and rebuild their families in peace,
free from any form of violence.

LESBIANS
Not all lesbians are feminists. And certainly, not all feminists are lesbians.

But why do some lesbians consider themselves feminists? They are merely
asserting their freedom of choice, like all other people. To them, it is all right for a
woman to love another woman, in the same way that it is alright for a man to love
another man. Society, of course, still finds it hard to accept this, but with the
increasing assertion of lesbian and gay rights, a change in attitude is now taking
place.
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WESTERN IMPORT
Some people say that feminism has no place in the Philippine setting because it is
Western and therefore alien. But Christianity and democracy also came from the
West, yet these concepts are not being attacked merely because of their origins.

Ideas and debates on women’s rights had emerged in Asia even before the
Western colonial powers arrived. This means that internal conditions in the Asian
countries themselves pushed women and even some men to call for the upliftment
of women’s position in society.

SAQ 2
Supposing you have a close friend who tells you “I can’t be a feminist
because I like men too much,” what would you say to her? Write
down your answer in the space below:

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ASAQ 2
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If you wrote something like, “you don’t have to hate men to be a feminist -- in
fact, many feminists really want partnership with men so that there will be gender
equality,” congratulations! You hit the nail on the head.

If you added something about trying to understand why some feminists hate men
during their angry stage and their anger oftentimes subsides when the healing
process begins, then you are a great persuader. If you wish, you can be an
advocate of feminism.

If you couldn’t write anything much, don’t worry. We don’t expect beginners to
be instant advocates. But we are confident that feminism will “grow” in you as
you move on to the other modules.

SUMMARY
To help you remember, the main points that we discussed in this module are:
1. the main goals of feminism as they unfolded through history
2. some doubts and fears regarding feminism, what lie behind them, and how
they can be resolved; and
3. the essential elements of a definition of feminism.

Now, get ready to move on to the next module.

REFERENCES
Bhasin, Kamla and Nighat Khan. “Some Questions on Feminism and its
Relevance in South Asia,” Kali for Women, 1986.

University Center for Women’s Studies. Women’s Role in Philippine History -

Selected Essays. Quezon City: 1976.

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