You know what I hate? Being told “kababae mong tao” when I do something that’s expected of a woman. What’s somehow worse is when this phrase is related to the fact that Filipinas should be modest. Because, you know, we’re all supposed to be conservative in clothing and actions.
Earlier, the hashtag “#DalagangPilipinaKaKung” trended on Twitter and it’s still being tweeted by many. Netizens have responded to it with jokes about the archaic expectations imposed on Filipinas. There are also those who’ve highlighted how Filipinas should know their own worth and identity, not based on the preconceived notions of a “dalagang Filipina.”
However, there are also tweets that have a judgmental tone because they sound like statements we’ve heard before. One said a “dalagang Filipina” shouldn’t be drinking excessively, the other said women should know their worth and not make the first move—the list goes on.
Here’s the thing: Being a dalagang Filipina isn’t a personality, nor should it be used to demonize another trait that one doesn’t agree with. Some sarcastic netizens joked that these women are considered as such because they’re born in the Philippines, but they do have a point.
It’s merely a descriptor for someone who live in this country. It’s not a standard that women should be following. Modesty isn’t necessarily a sign of goodness, and “acting like a slut” isn’t evil. If a woman wants to act a certain way, let them be and don’t put one on a pedestal and shame the other.
Us women are strong human beings regardless of how we present ourselves. We shouldn’t be confined in the box of modesty that society has created to be taken seriously and respected by others.
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
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