Monday, March 26, 2007

Filipino Women: Before and After

Change. The world's only permanent thing and yet one of the most battered words. In this era of advanced technology, it is hard to think of something not going through the process called change. According to one philosophy teacher, even change itself changes.


Today's women battle with social protocol as they struggle to break from society's conservative standards. From their fashion to their attitudes, women are being criticized. They are constantly frowned upon. Most people who are not open to women's new ways of thinking raise their eyebrows and continue to argue on the proper behavior of women.


How long ago was it when we used to see girls inside the comfort of their homes when the bell struck at six o' clock? When they held on to their skirts that were usually below knee level? When they kept their mouth shut on current issues for they were not encouraged to have a say on such matters? Or when they stayed in a nook and prayed to at least be allowed to vote on a national election? Probably those are now distant memories.


If before, women were usually home earlier than when we are dismissed from our classes, now they can have their social functions and night-outs and go on until the early hours of the next day. They have explored the vastness of their creativity through their sense of style exuded by their various fashion statements. The usual long skirts and conservative polo-type blouses are hardly seen now. Somehow, women can manage to show some skin now. They can dress themselves up in any way they want. Even the names of the Filipino women have also change in presentation. Seldom do we hear Apolinaria, Procopia and Concordia. Most of them are mocked now. They have been replaced with names like Apple or Polly, Percy, and Coline. From Maria's they have now become the modern Marie's. Just a subtle indication of how liberated our women have become today.


Currently, women have earned their respective places in the society. Their voices are being aired and heard. Their ideas are accepted and followed. Their actions are being looked up to and admired. They have acquired an air of confidence and an aura of sureness of their capabilities. They have refined their own independence and broken free from the chains of stereotyping and ignorance. Women have known much more about their worth. Now, they can do more than vote. We have our very own women leaders that never forget to balance power and heart. Women can now take part in every vital turn in the political arena:the election.


A woman's influence has penetrated the walls in the stock markets and entrepreneurship. They can now spell and smell career under their noses. They have made and marked their names in more ways than one. Even in the military and police force, the navy and marines, the jobs where the dirty work was usually done by men, these are not anymore male's sole control.


As the cliche goes, what men can do, a woman will strive hard to do better. We have to be resigned to the fact that nothing will ever stay the same.

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