#webleedred

Last 09 October 2019, I had the honor of being invited to be a part of Plan International Philippines Open Forum, #ReWriteHerStory, wherein media practitioners, journalists, writers, filmmakers, and academicians were invited to discuss, and ultimately brainstorm, the alarming effect of women representation in film and other forms of media to girls and young women particularly its effect on their lives and leadership roles.

“Because usually when we talk about a leader I still come up with a man. I still think about a man. [This idea] It’s really popular… people think that men are more powerful” said a young woman from Vietnam. (Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media, July 2019)

As a graduate student majoring in Media Studies Film, I am no stranger to news of women’s misrepresentation in media, or lack thereof. I have seen films, locally and internationally, more than I can possibly count and there are only a handful of films that does not objectify, pornify, and capitalize on women’s bodies or represent them as irrational human beings that function based on their emotions.

Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media partnered with Plan International to conduct a research study on women’s representation and its effect on the minds and lives of girls and young women. This is their most comprehensive study to date taking into account the “attitudes and opinions of over 10,000 girls and young women across the globe.” It also has the “first global analysis of how women’s leadership is portrayed in the top-grossing films [2018] in 20 countries around the world”.

It has been agreed that film continues to be one of the strongest media and global artform that can have huge impact to its viewers and consumers. As a form of art, it has the power to “create reality and influence how we see each other”, film can also “create empathy, it can change perspectives and help us see things from others points of view” not just for women but for all of us—men included.

Here are three key findings that I personally want to highlight from the research during our discussion:

1. Male characters outnumber female characters by 67% and male characters speak twice as much as female characters

Their research show that male characters dominate the storylines and women leaders, if and when they do exist in the plot, may be portrayed as “intelligent, likeable, and effective” but they are often sexualized and objectified. It is as if a woman’s worth won’t be enough based solely on her intellect, competency, and rationality. She also has to be beautiful and sexy in order to be noticed, validated, and equal to their men counterpart.

Male leaders in films are much more visible compared to women and they are shown more effective compared to their female counterpart. Female leaders are far more likely to be shown wearing revealing clothes and are more likely to be shown as partially nude than male leaders. They [female leaders] are more likely to be sexually objectified than male leaders.

Also, it is worth noting that the overall make-up of the characters in the 2018 top-grossing films analyzed reflect the film producers rather than their audience: they are white, male, and middle-class.

2. Out of the 2018 top grossing films analyzed: none of the films were directed by a woman; only 1 in 4 films had at least one female producer; and only 1 in 10 films had at least one woman on the writing team

As a once-aspiring filmmaker myself, and if I can be completely honest, this finding hurt me the most. I truly believe that one way we can combat the misrepresentations or lack of misrepresentation, and harmful stereotypes in films and other forms of media is by involving MORE women behind the scene. Have more women PRODUCE films about women, have more women WRITE about women, have more women INVOLVED in making films about women. In that way we can combat and challenge patriarchal ideology on portrayal of women in films.

“It’s urgent that we no longer create stories that teach children to view women and girls as second class citizens—not when we’ve seen the level of sexism in our culture so egregiously put on display” Geena Davis, Founder and Chair of the Geena Davis Institute on Gender in Media

3. Percentage of Characters in terms of Ethnicity and Region: 46.6% are white, 14% are southeast asian, 10.7% are latin, 10.6% are black, 7.4% other asian, 1.5% middle eastern.

In their research report, not only are female characters less prominent than male characters, the study also reveals a “lack of ethnic diversity in the heroes, heroines, villains, and secondary characters” in screens.

The lack of diversity is further “compounded when it comes to the sexuality of characters in the top-grossing films of 2018”. According to this research, very few of the characters are lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, or queer.

“Knowing that young women need to see powerful females and more characters who look like them on the screen is the reason why I will never give up film making.” Ash Mayfair, 34, Filmmaker, Vietnam

Brainstorming Discussion:

During our discussion all the participants, guests and I, included, brainstormed on possible solutions on how we can make women leaders more visible, not just in films, but in any other forms of media. We came up with three main solutions:

To be it, they must see it.

We all agreed that in order to encourage girls and young women to take up leadership roles is by allowing them to see the involvement of more girls and women in media. We have to “make stories about female leadership visible and normal”.

Stop the sexualization and objectification of women and girls on screen.

As practitioners, writers, and overall responsible citizens of the world, we have to make it a norm, that a woman’s worth is not based on her appearance—how she carries herself, the clothes she wears, the color of her skin—but can be based solely on her intellect, leadership, competency, and moral standards. We have to show girls and young women that their validation should not come with the approval and permission of others, particularly men, but themselves.

Fund (and invest on) female filmmakers, program makers, content producers and address harassment and discrimination in the workplace to encourage girls and young women into the entertainment industry at ALL levels.

Women who aspire to create, write, produce, direct, etc. should be given a chance to do so, should they wish. Girls and young women should not be discouraged, at an early age, to stop aspiring to be who they want to be because of the belief that as “second-class citizens” they can be anything but. They should not be afraid to step out of their comfort zones, to aspire to be equal with men, and be allowed to function in a society without limitation.

Theories applied:

On a more personal note, during the discussion and after going through all the reports and readings of feminist theories, I do believe that Plan International Philippines’ Open Forum, #ReWriteHerStory, has one goal that has been reflected on all the theories, and the very root of feminism itself, which is the emancipation of women.

Liberal feminism aims to emancipate women from legal and state restrictions. Marxist feminism aims to emancipate women from capitalism particularly labor restrictions. Radical feminism wants to emancipate women from gender restrictions and sexist norms. Socialist feminism aims to emancipate women from capitalism and patriarchal ideology, believes, practices, and social construct. Ecofeminsm wants to emancipate women and nature from patriarchal subjection. Third World feminism aims to emancipate third world women from false-feminism of the first world women.

Emancipation. If we continue to misrepresent women where they are bounded and subjected by patriarchal laws, beliefs, and practices; where they are restricted and limited; where they are boxed and stereotyped, and where they are dominated by men, this will only keep going and will result to stronger patriarchal ideologies.

I feel that some of you may want to know who is behind this “blog”, and I figured that the best way everyone can get to know me is by reading this personal essay I submitted for my Feminist Theories and Movements class in UP Diliman under the College of Social Work and Community Development--Women and Development Program.

Here goes:

My journey to self-discovery is rooted to feminism. 

 Way back when the word wasn’t even making headlines. Back when I didn’t even know there was a word for what I was becoming.

It started out with two important questions: 1) Will people never stop dictating what I can or cannot do for myself? and 2) Will decisions be made for me when I can make it myself?

Growing up, I used to think that freedom is a reward given to you when you: listen, behave, cooperate, and follow—which is ironic given that, well, it should be free. I grew up in a very patriarchal environment (both household and society), although before we didn’t know what patriarchy was or that it even actually existed. What I grew up knowing was already considered normal and natural. Patriarchy was “the way, the truth, and the life.” Pun intended.

I cannot exactly pinpoint when and where patriarchy began in our household. I was young and naive, all I did was behave, play by the rules, and follow the values being passed onto me without a second thought and without asking questions. Because then, asking questions meant you’re being disrespectful. But if anything, I think it started when my father told my mother, right when they got married, that she “need not find work” and to “just raise the kids” because he will “provide for the family”. If I were a damsel in distress I would probably sigh and swoon when a man tells me that I need not worry about anything because he will provide for me, but I am not a damsel in distress.

Let it be known that I do not blame my mother for saying yes and my father for offering her a “way out”. She got married right after college. She was only 21. My father was 26. They were simply a traditional Filipino family (husband = breadwinner; wife = housewife).

Cesar, my father, had nothing growing up. He was a farmer’s boy. He believed in education and fought hell and high water to attain it. And with hard work and determination, he earned his doctoral degree. He wanted to be better—to be able to provide when his parents could not. He did not want us to go through what he went through. That is why I know he meant well when he dictated himself as the provider of the household and Genevieve, my mother, the ultimate carer.

But the dictation did not end there. I have three male siblings which makes me the sole daughter of the Sumalde-Chavez household. And being the only daughter of a patriarchal household has never been an easy thing. Rules come off as either protective or downright oppressive. And in this case, it’s mostly the latter. And when household rules are strengthened and solidified by society’s standard of what is right or wrong, what is acceptable or unacceptable—to challenge it means you’re at the losing end.

When I was younger, my parents—Cesar, especially—have dictated what I can or cannot do. (Again, I know they meant well. I don’t hold anything against them.) I remember my father did not approve of my all too-short hairstyle (borderline boy cut) that Mom had imposed on me when I was very young--but in all honesty, I didn’t mind. And I, being a firm believer of comfort before style, do not cut my hair as a symbol of my sexuality—but a symbol of preference in comfort. He would also rarely let me leave the house for fear of my safety, but he would let my Kuya wander off late at night until 3 in the morning (to be fair, this was when he was still “young” now he really just stays at home or at work). We were only two years apart.

Other than that, I would be scolded for every time I do not “sit like a lady”. And I don’t, because what does “sit like a lady” even mean? Why am I not allowed to sit with my legs apart, to take up space, when all the men in my family would open their legs just as much and just as wide? How are my legs different from theirs? Even with the clothes I wear, sometimes there were rules laid out for me: no shorts, no sleeveless (unless I wear a sarong or a jacket), no spaghetti straps, no this, no that. They didn’t have to say it, but  I knew it was because they were afraid that I might become too “inappropriate” or be disrespected for wearing less.

More than the physical, there are things that I am not allowed to do like talking back or having an opinion. I guess it’s usual for kids to talk back to their parents—both female and male—during an argument but how come girls are heavily punished compared to boys when they do? Why are boys even expected to talk back and girls are expected to shut up and be quiet? Even apologize?

So, growing up stricken with all these “rules” I did what any perfect daughter would do: behave. I didn’t stay out late. I didn’t drink. I didn’t do drugs. I didn’t party. I didn’t “hang out with the wrong people”. And when I did do any of those things, it was rare and guilt would often follow me. (Except for the drugs part. I never did that.) All these for fear of not just disappointing my family but as well as society who is expecting a lot from women like me. In fact, all I did was go to school in the morning, train at night (as student athlete and leader) then go straight home. I played the part up until college was over.

As I said at the beginning of this personal essay, I thought freedom was a reward given to you when you: listen, behave, cooperate, and follow the rules. I did all those and still, the dictation never really stopped, at least not with society. My traditional, conservative parents are gradually becoming progressive as I grew older: lax and open-minded, accepting and trusting. They were slowly realizing that I am becoming a woman of strength and direction (I realized that communication is all we needed). But, overall, the rules (now controlled and imposed by society) are still there: “you’re not allowed to go home late because you’re a girl”; “you're not allowed to drink because you can’t keep up with the boys”; “if you cut your hair short again people might think you’re a tomboy”; and “don’t wear shorts when you go out strangers might disrespect you”.

I realized then, when I finally had enough of these limitations, no matter how insignificant or unimportant they may seem, that the rules that were being imposed on me were made so that the people around me will accept and respect me as a human being. 

And if I “misbehave” I became alienated. 

Disowned. These rules are making me adjust to people and situations, I am basically being unconsciously asked to behave a certain way for people and not the other way around: “don’t cut your hair people will think you're a tomboy”, “don’t wear clothes that are too short or revealing someone might rape you”, “don’t talk too much people will think you’re opinionated” and “if you cry people will think you’re weak”. All of these have led me to a conclusion: freedom is only an illusion when you’re oppressed.

My personal conquest to attaining my so-called freedom made me realize that my problem wasn’t just mine alone. 

It was a problem that majority of the women share together. Young and old. That was when I was slowly becoming aware of myself and my surroundings. I now see, with my own eyes and my own understanding, how unjust and unfair women are being treated at home, at school, at work, and most especially, at the streets. From the length of our hair, the size of our skirts, and the height of our heels, rules are being dictated. Rules that came mostly from the white and the male. It created a culture: a culture where women are less than men. Insignificant and irrational. Subordinate and weak. A second sex.

I understood what I wanted to do. I wanted to fight back. My aim wasn’t to make women better than men but be equal with them. I want the women, the marginalized, and the oppressed, to have the same amount of rights—without the double standards. 

I want women to be recognized equally, to be credited where credit is due, to be seen, and heard. I want our voice to be just as loud as men—important and valid, respected and powerful. I want the decisions made for women are made by women. I want them free from harmful limitations. 

It is a bold and ambitious dream—but a goal nonetheless.

Hence, why I decided to take a Women and Development course/subject. If I wanted to make a change, no matter how small, I had to be educated first. This, I am sure of. And I come in this course admitting that there are things I still do not know about feminism or things I am still unsure of, and I believe that WD 210: Feminist Theories and Movements is the right choice for what I wanted to do.

I want to learn what feminism was before it was even “invented”. I want to learn how feminism became from demanding equal rights to fighting for human rights. I want to know the extent of the influence of the #MeToo movement to our country and how it can raise social awareness most especially to victims of sexual assault in male-dominated industries. I want to challenge the local media representation of women: that women are more than just their bodies—the breast, the curves, the legs, and the nudity—that women’s bodies should not be an instrument and medium of salacious content. I want to challenge the ad industry for misrepresenting period blood because women don’t bleed blue. We bleed red. I want women to walk the streets in daylight and at night time without having to fear for their safety. I want more women leaders in government that can accurately provide solutions for women’s needs. I want to help erase the negative connotation the word “feminism” has: that feminism does not equal to man-hating. That it is not anti-men.  

And above all else, I want to understand the different meanings of feminism and how it differs based on sex, class, race, nationality, and demography. That women of color don’t exactly share the same meaning of feminism to white women. These are the things I want to learn if I want to make a change.

Because to me, feminism means that the women, the marginalized, and the oppressed are allowed to do whatever they want for themselves without having to worry how people would react. I want them to be provided the same amount of privilege and credibility that the white and the male have.

Women have been suffering for centuries and we didn’t even know it.

We stood, we watched, we followed because we thought it was right and normal. For too long, we have endured the pain of being silenced, controlled, dictated, and overpowered. Everyday, more and more women are opening their eyes to the Truth, and the possibility of a future where they can share the same spotlight with men. The fight for our voice to be heard is far from over but with an idea, with an initiative, and with the willingness to learn, to grow, to share and educate we can have a better a better country—a better world—where sex of a human being will not dictate a man or woman’s worth.