Julienne Renee M.

Diona JORIZAL
ODGE8

Reflection Paper: The Essence of a Woman

Personally, I find this topic about women’s role in history as a relevant part of how
we Filipinos should realize and define our authentic identity in the country. During my
group’s discussion, I was grateful to have open-minded and understanding peers
towards this topic, to which I also want to consider the fact that I was the only girl in that
group. The role of women in Philippine society really is significant and evolving through
history, whether it’s from their impact, gained opportunities, and familial influence on the
people around them. Before I go over my point of view during the Spanish colonization,
I want to emphasize an essential part of history during the pre-colonial period.
According to Saldua in the article, The Role of Women from Pre-Hispanic to Spanish
Era, the role of women was given high regard in their communities. They handled
leadership and influential roles like Babaylan/healers, priestesses, heiresses of a Datu,
and so on. In this sense, both women and men respected each other and had equal
influential roles and rights. What had changed? It’s depressing to say and think about,
but the generalizations that our Spanish colonizers instilled in our Filipino ancestors
about gender’s societal roles have really made an impact on the entirety of our history;
past, present, and future-wise. The real Filipina was replaced by the ideal woman
dictated by the Spaniards (Saldua, 2012).

During Dr. Rizal’s time, my group somewhat agreed to the apparent fact that
women’s roles in society were reduced from the pre-colonial period to this given time in
history. From possessing ‘influential’ roles in the community in the past, women in this
time were not prioritized with good education and opportunities, unlike men. Women’s
role was then attached to household tasks and activities. They became mothers,
caretakers, and nurturers that tend to their families. The Spanish also imposed
Catholicism in the colony, which included misogynistic ideas the demeaned women’s
role in society (Aguja, 2013). These significant changes then introduced new feminine
values emphasizing the concepts of purity, modesty, and seclusion. According to Rizal’s
novels, some women were privileged enough in that society to get an education or
possess riches. But their means for survival and attaining respect was to throw away
their Filipina identity and side with the Spaniards and imitate them. Thankfully, despite
the apparent oppression and degradation of women’s societal role, there had been
female individuals who stood their ground and fought for equality.

From the Women of Malolos to even the nonapparent but influential women,
Filipina mothers. Rizal’s mother, who had such a significant role in Rizal’s education,
values, capabilities, and patriotism. My group had agreed that as time progressed, the
Philippine Revolution being the catalyst, more women took over powerful roles over the
rebellion and fought alongside men. The abuse from colonizations strengthened the
majority of women to attain influential roles. This is seen through the prominent Filipina
heroes of history, such as Gabriela Silang, Gregoria de Jesus, etc. This gives us a
better overview of the supposed and essential role of women in our society. The
flexibility of women to not just be a familial and motherly figure, but to also have the
capability and stance to create a strong impact on society, like men.

My group concluded that the significant changes from the past enabled women’s
role and the identity of human rights to be respected in society. The only challenge now
is fairness for all genders and awareness of rights for ‘still oppressed’ and
unrepresented groups of women.

Additional Sources:

Saldua, A. (2012, February 22). The Role of Women from Pre-Hispanic to Spanish
era. Retrieved from https://tonkshistory.wordpress.com/2012/02/22/the-role-of-women
-from-pre-hispanic-to-spanish-era/.

Aguja, H. (2013). The FILIPINO WOMAN: A Gendered History. Retrieved from

https://ejournals.ph/article.php?id=7122.