Online Representations of Gender and Ethnicity
In the journal titled “The E-mail Order Bride as Postcolonial Other: Romancing the Filipina in Web-based Narratives”, the representation of a Filipina is disempowering and degrading, because they are reduced as a mere commodity for foreigners and other people to buy. People are brainwashed to believing that a Filipina is synonymous to a servant and must be compliant at all times (Rhondina, 2004). Due to misrepresentations on the internet, perceptions of the audience are continuously skewed and plagued by a toxic fairytale of “the obedient and perfect wife.” Pictures and layouts were reminiscent of a manual and it also exhibits the malignant and imbalanced power dynamics between a wife and a husband. Filipino-American romance is often idealized as a fairytale and observers may overlook the more negative aspect of the marriage life and underestimate potential domestic abuse.
Shaping the gays space on the internet stemmed from the freedom of communication in real life and online. As a result, they are able to share their essence and become empowered in the process of revealing themselves gradually. People have different reasons for going online, but everyone has a right to the freedom of speech (Austria, 2007). On the other hand, all must also be mindful of the impact words and posts bring to others – every freedom has an attached responsibility. Nevertheless, gays were able to establish themselves to others by utilizing modern technology and somewhat gained acceptance, lessened discrimination, and acquired proper representation in the society.
In the video “Annoying questions about Igorots”, the vlogger talked about how others view Igorots as “aliens” because of how curious these outsiders are. Now, curiosity is good, but it becomes bad if the motive for learning is for the wrong reasons. By regarding minorities or groups of people as “different” from the “dominant” population, alienation and misrepresentation of groups may be the unpleasant end result. It may be better to shift one’s perspective, be responsible enough to understand, respect, and learn ethnic cultures while discarding ethnocentric notions.
References
Austria, F. (2007). Gays, the internet, and freedom. Plaridel 4 no. 1, 47-76. http://www.plarideljournal.org/article/gays-the-internet-and-free-dom/
Dr. Kiliminaguru. (2017). Annoying questions about Igorots. (Video). YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HZsD8fz9jl4
Marin, F. (2018). Gender Equality. [Online Image]. UNDP Eurasia. https://undpeurasia.medium.com/speaking-gender-10-communications-principles-to-show-you-care-about-gender-equality-15e87df71dd8
Rhondina, J. (2004). The e-mail order bride as postcolonial other: Romancing the Filipina in web-based narratives. Plaridel 1, no.1, 47-56 http://www.plarideljournal.org/article/the-e-mail-order-bride-as-postcolonial-other-romancing-the-filipina-in-web-based-narratives/
