GENDER EXPRESSION BLOGS

Metro Manila Pride March, Marikina, 2018 | Photo by Kryss Rubio

Watch and Learn

According to the BBC (Klein, 2022), among the population of Generation Z (i.e., people born between 1996 and 2010), there has been a decrease in adhering to a heteronormative binary, with roughly 50% identifying as part of the LGBTQ+ community. Additionally, Gen Z is the generation that not only grew up on the internet but also has a profound connection to and influence on the digital world. As stated, Gen Z has a distinct identity from that of prior generations, and they have an entire space to express this, but this space is not solely exclusive to them but to everyone, and not everyone agrees with the “lifestyle” they choose to live. So, as people do, we argue and fight, and then go about the rest of our days; normally, that was about it on the internet, yet these days those words become more and more aggressive and even more serious, no matter who is on the receiving end.

People who put pineapple on pizza should not have the right to buy pizza, ever. Actually that’s understatement, anyone who puts pineapple on pizza deserves to die. Not very kind to an opinion that completely doesn’t affect me isn't it? Or to a preference that I don’t personally enjoy.

Any person, especially children, have the right to feel safe on the internet. Especially if they choose to use the platform they have as an outlet of expression (As long it doesn't harm anyone) whether you agree with it or not.

Let me explain, firstly some individuals lives do not solely revolve around their religion, or any belief for that matter. The sayings like ”Hindi na kasi nagsisimba” or “Hindi kasi nagbabasa ng bibliya kaya ka ganyan” are not a valid excuse for why you can just harass others into following your rules. According to Manning (2019), in an article about the relationship of Gen Z to their religion, he states that this generation’s incline in non-religiousness or lack of religion for that matter, coincides with advocacies of diversity and acceptance. Secondly, with the topic of gender, relationships are bound to come about. So it must be stated that relationships do not always center around the end goal of procreating. The standard of a genuine and fulfilling relationship is not children. Once again: “It's just a phase once you get into a relationship and have children you’ll understand how childish it is” or “You will never get a boyfriend/girlfriend acting that way, you might never settle down if you do”. As many surveys have shown, not just LGBTQIA+ couples but even heterosexual married couples no longer aim to have children. With reasons varying from financial concerns or even choice of particular lifestyles, in this day and age. Lastly, as early as age 2, we can comprehend the concept of gender. “Masyado ka pang bata para mag isip ng ganyan”, it is sayings like this that restrict so many from living their truth. Early in life we manage to comprehend concepts like gender as a way to define and categorize what we experience. So even as early as then Gender Expression is an even closely tied topic to us, even more so now as adolescents who try and “find” ourselves and establish who we are as people, in defining our identities. Now I know what you might be thinking now, “But the Philippines has been a culturally religious country for centuries”, or “The majority of the Philippines’ population consists of Catholics”, or just general arguments about living in a community where religion is ingrained in our daily lives. I can understand where you might be coming from, whether it be having concern for the well-being of our youth, or because you want to suppress them from being who they are. The Philippines is no stranger to Gender Expression, from celebrities and public figures, to the people we encounter over the course of our lives, we cannot use a religion that has continuously oppressed and torn down multiple groups of people, and a history of violence and intolerance to excuse your unwillingness for change. Change is what we need, a change in mindset, in our social-culture, in our laws, and our hearts. Our morals are more than our religion, as much as any person is more than just the clothes they wear. Gender Expression is now a more than prevalent concept to our youth, it is a movement of tolerance and support that we cannot stop, so all we can do is watch and learn.

Breaking Barriers by Empowering Women Using Education Equality as the First Step

Throughout history, women have been discriminated upon in all sorts of categories. From gender roles to work inequality to oversexualization of the body, women have been found as either tools for pleasure or useless objects. We still haven't found the solutions to discrimination of women that is worldwide, applicable, and actually realistic. But then it got me thinking. Isn't Education the root of our success? If a woman were to get equal access to higher education, will this directly impact the employment rates of women? Will this directly impact not only employment rates but the entire case of discrimination of women? Well, this is where I stand.

Women should have equal access to education. This will directly impact discrimination of women in a positive manner and can redirect the current status quo of “men above women.”

To start, education is the root of all of our success. Not only education in school but also moral education that we get from our peers and family. These things are things we also get from school, not through the school curriculum but in that school environment. It's hard for women to be able to focus on their studies and on their development with peers.

To the men out there you may think this is absurd that “women have had a worse struggle than us.” But imagine yourself as a woman, just on the way to school if you’re on a train it’s terrifying to have that chill on your spine that maybe, just maybe there's a predator ready to follow you. Then we finally get to school, where in school Men are always the prime examples yet Women with the same accomplishments are overshadowed. Then there’s trying to manage your friend groups and your friend circles. And trying to see which man is a pervert and bad to stick around. Is that something you struggle with? Can you really tell me in the face that all of these are things you struggle with? And even outside of the social fears that women face, their studies are so overshadowed in job interviews that it’s difficult for them to even get the simplest of jobs even with qualified experience and diligence.

So you may be thinking, “then how is equal access to education going to help with women discrimination if even when women get equal education they still end up getting discriminated against. Doesn’t that make this an infinite loop that education can’t fix?” And to answer bluntly, yes, I said this directly impacts discrimination not outright solving it. Equal access to education is only the first step. Usually women give up after the first step when trying to get a job. Well it's because we keep looking at the old companies who still uphold those specific discrimination areas to try to fix it. But that’s not right. Youtuber, Influencer, Online saleswoman, Freelancer, like it or not there are many new markets and work opportunities up for grabs. Women should be capitalizing on the fact that these new things exist. So what am I saying? Instead of trying to destroy old upheld discriminating organizations from the inside, we should be overwhelming them with the new standard of “no discrimination.”

How do we do that then? Well girls this is the time that you all will have to pick up the slack on. You girls need to stand up, start your own businesses and create a new standard, not try to join and accept an old standard. Create opportunities for yourselves using that education that you get. And break the standard. Woke feminism isn't right. We should be trying to put in the effort because if we just sit back, relax and expect men to fix it, then they’re right. Women are under men. The solution is to put in effort, attain that standard, don’t let men push you down, don’t let men limit your growth, don’t let men decide who you are, but most importantly, put in the work and the hours and don’t expect society of men to fix it for you, because to be blunt, they won’t.

Tactless, Garbage, Nasty, Backhanded Representation (“TGNB Rep”)

I’m just gonna start off by saying that I am not the most qualified person to speak on this issue. Yes, I have done extensive research, but since I am not transgender or non-binary myself, I cannot speak with true authenticity about their struggles and experiences.

Transgender and Non-binary people being represented in the media is dangerous and harmful. No, really. Hear me out.

But before we get into the meat of the episode, let’s set an outline for the listeners at home to follow:

What are the possible reasons for the hypersexualization of Transgender and Non-Binary people in Media?
What does this entail for the TGNB community?
What can we, as allies, do in order to prevent and alleviate the community of this problem?

Serano (2007) believes that there are various reasons as to why trans-feminine people are often sexualized through commentary and catcalling, photos shared online, and through pornography. One of these reasons may be because it is commonly believed that trans-feminine people only undergo gender-affirming surgery to engage in “proper” intercourse with men. Some trolls online may even call this “customized female genitalia.” Which, apparently, makes it more appealing to them.

Another reason may stem from internalized homophobia. For example, cisgender-heterosexual (cishet) men with internalized homophobia are more likely to have a bias towards trans-feminine people because of their “original” genitalia. These men possibly want to have sexual intercourse with a male sex organ, but do not want the label of “gay” so they find, and exploit this loophole.

In a study conducted by Anzani, et al (2021), a non-binary transgender lesbian gives their testimonial on how “a man constantly talked about my [male genitalia] and how “great” it is while I was naked.

Serano’s study mainly focuses on the issue concerning trans-feminine people and transwomen, but that doesn’t mean these reasons don’t exclusively apply to them. They also apply to trans-masculine and non-binary people, and are equally as dangerous and harmful.

In the same study by Anzani (2021), a queer transgender male confirms that he has been “approached often because [he’s] listed [himself] as FTM (female-to-male), and it’s pretty obvious it’s a kink.”
Another participant with a similar gender identity says “On a date, one guy told me ‘I’m the best of both worlds’ and wouldn’t stop talking about all the things he wanted to do to me— not with me. Just gross.”

According to Anzani, et al. (2021), conflating queerness with explicit content such as pornography, sends a message that sexuality and gender are “inherently sexual in nature.”

This negative relationship allows for the demonizing of queer people, and serves as 3-steps-back in terms of societal progress.

Given these testimonials and studies, we can conclude that due to the mal-representation in Media, Transgender and Non-binary people are being reduced to sexual objects (therefore dehumanized), become more vulnerable to gender-based aggression, and are less likely to accept themselves as they truly are.

So, what can we do?

For the listeners at home who don’t have the time, resources, or bravery para maging isang aktibista, the bare minimum we can offer is to listen. Just like you’re listening to my podcast right now, it is imperative that we open our hearts and minds to the stories of marginalized communities— not just the LGBTQIA+.

No Difference Between You and Me

What’s up, ASHS! This is Raleigh and this is the first episode of the series “Confessions Unfold.” A podcast dedicated to listening to the unheard. Through this podcast, I hope that this platform will become a safe space for all of you as I shed light upon the untold stories of those who want to share their experiences. Today’s episode is entitled “No Difference Between You and Me” where you will join me to evaluate the freedom of gender expression of youth in the media. Since I’ve received tons of entries from you, I only chose the one that stands out for me. Alright, so let’s start.

In a world painted with different colors, where each stroke of paint represents the unique stories of human existence. Every tint, color, and shade. Just like art, our world continues to evolve and explore new knowledge that no one has ever imagined. Back then, gender was black and white; it’s one or the other—when born a man, be a man, and when born a woman, you live as a woman. Stand out, and people would discriminate and completely disregard the minority from our society.

Gender expression may refer to how an individual expresses themselves in terms of clothing, behavior, and others. This matter is so wide that no one could really properly explain the ends of it! Personally, I believe that we should have the freedom to express ourselves in the media. This freedom is not only a human right but it is also an important step for us, as a society, to improve, accept and understand our morals.

In today’s generation, the media has a massive influence in shaping societal norms that greatly affect our youth. Just like how children tend to copy what adults do, this is what happened to our generation. Everything they see in the media is what they believe. According to a research study, children tend to be influenced by the norms that are presented to them. It’s just kind of sad when we show the wrong things to them. As someone who’s older, we should be their role models who are respectful and understanding. What will happen to them if they see us discriminating against other people based on the way they express themselves? Wouldn’t it be ironic? Positive portrayals of gender can help to validate and empower our youth as they become more confident in their expressive freedom. Thus, inclusivity in media must be normalized.

Media has the power to showcase the underrepresented in our society. As technology became much more accessible, people gained the right to share what they wanted in the media. They feel more empowered as they see them supporting and representing them. Of course, people make mistakes, and the media provides an opportunity for the public to be educated about the complexities of gender. Especially during the pandemic when people didn’t have the access to go outside, they were forced to be stuck in an electronic box and interact online instead of going out. As a result, they tend to be more online and get the chance to interact with other people. With this in mind, discrimination and hatred can be reduced as people become more knowledgeable.

Gender expression must not be a sole basis of who you are. It must not define your whole personality or whole life. Just because a cis gendered male wore feminine clothing, does not mean that they are gay or a girl. This is just how they want to express themselves and how they want to be known. Are you willing to judge other people based on their mere clothing?

On the other hand, some may say that gender expression is confusing for other people especially children as it is sometimes too complex for them to understand their own identity. But in reality, they must be aware of these things from an early age so they can adapt easily to the norms. This will also be beneficial to them because they will already understand their identity and be more open-minded to the issues that surround the topic.

To conclude, we must have the freedom to express ourselves no matter what our standing in life is in media. They play a crucial role in molding and shaping the minds of today’s generation and promote gender inclusivity to feel more secure and safe. The media also affects our moral beliefs and it helps us improve our knowledge. Gender expression, like rights, should no longer be a fight.

That’s it for today, ASHS! Again, I am Leigh and this is “Confessions Unfold.” Join me in the next episode as we reveal your confessions and adventures.

Spotlight on Inequity: Decoding the Gender Pay Gap

The gender pay gap has been a prevalent issue all around the world. It shows the difference between the average pay of women and men across organizations, industries and the workforce as a whole.

On average, women in the entertainment industry in Hollywood make $1.1m less than male actors despite having similar experience. Despite the gap seemingly shrinking, it remains statistically significant, even among actors with over 10 years of experience.

Common myths could be that women choose to work lower paying roles, they choose to stay at home to look out for the children instead of work, or that they don’t negotiate.

What causes the wage gap? Well, there are a multitude of factors.

Conscious and unconscious discrimination and bias in hiring pay decisions
Female-dominated industries attracting lower wages
Lack of flexibility in a workplace to accommodate for women
Their other responsibilities outside of work which impact career progression and opportunities
Disproportionate share of unpaid caring and domestic work

Although the pay gap has been an issue for years, we should still find ways to minimize it. With the analysis of data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, we can propose some solutions.

Conducting an audit to understand the size of the gender pay gap
Reporting the findings to management and employees
Setting KPIs for leadership
Encouraging men to access flexible work arrangements and leave entitlements.

With these solutions in mind, we should strive to gradually implement them in workplaces. Prioritizing gender equality, economic fairness, and social progress will have a positive impact on our economy and businesses in the long term.

I Have A Dream

HEY YOU! YES YOU!

Have you ever thought about the near impossible beauty standards that mainstream media is presenting!? Or how about the relatively low amount of good representation of strong women and LGBTQ individuals?! I have a dream that on the green hills of Hollywood, the strong women of the world along with the LGBT community will sit on the same table as rich executives and be judged not on their gender identity but the content of their character.

I HAVE A DREAM! LGBT INDIVIDUALS AND WOMEN DESERVE GOOD REPRESENTATION! However, instead of that, most of the representations of queer individuals are forced or the audience is simply baited with the prospect of a queer relationship on screen. In many movies, shows or books they don’t develop any queer characters they just say they’re gay or lesbian or what have you. Such as the case with J.K. Rowling who just stated that an important character in her books was gay years after the book series finished. Another case is in the T.V. show Voltron(2018) who teased fans with the prospect of one of the main characters having a gay lover but when the episode with it aired it was revealed that said partner died. Women also lack good representations such as in Hollywood with the trend of “strong female characters”. These characters are women portrayed to be always right, stronger than everyone else and perfect in every way. Like in Mulan (2020), where the titular character was made into the perfect chosen one instead of the determined, hard-working person she was in the original movie. But I have hope that we can overcome this.

We shall overcome because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice!!!!!!!! Another issue is that of near impossible beauty standards. This is where women are expected to look a certain way in order to be beautiful. They are expected to look like the Kardashians, or Scarlett Johansson, etc etc. However in order to look like this some women starve themselves and develop eating disorders as a result. In addition, they also develop a bad self-image and mental health problems. By only giving important female roles to actresses who are beautiful by the standards society has set then women everywhere wil be pressured into looking one way. But I think we can get past this darkness. Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that!!!!!!!!!!! A possible counter argument I see is that giving more representation to LGBT+ individuals and women is that it will increase toxic wokeness in pop culture. People who are actively trying to make others be politically correct in a toxic fashion do not get the core message of equality for all. These people are only a vocal minority and not true advocates for the cause.

We have to make a career of humanity. Commit yourself to the noble struggle for equal rights. You will make a better person of yourself, a greater nation of your country, and a finer world to live in!

To wrap up everything I have said so far, in Hollywood lies the problem of poor representation for LGBT+ individuals and women in cases like queer baiting, forced representation and misrepresentation. There also lies the problem of near impossible beauty standards being shown in popular media which can give women a poor self-image and mental health issues. I believe we should take a stand and make our voices heard so that change in popular media finally arrives. Change does not roll in on the wheels of inevitability, but comes through continuous struggle!

Shattering the Norm: Challenging Negative Gender Stereotypes in Media

Welcome to another episode of "Shattering the Norm," where we dive deep into the critical issues that shape our society. Today, we're peeling back the layers of a topic that affects us all, whether we realize it or not. Picture this: You turn on your TV, scroll through your social media feed, or open a magazine, and what do you see? Do you see a world that reflects reality, or do you see a world of stereotypes, biases, and unfulfilled potential? Join us as we explore how media is being used to perpetuate negative gender stereotypes and what it means for our society.

We firmly believe that media is being used to show negative gender stereotypes, and it's high time we discuss the pervasive impact this has on our lives. Let's dive into the heart of the matter.

It's undeniable that gendered stereotypes are pervasive in our culture, deeply rooted in our society's fabric, and perpetuated by long-standing biases—both conscious and unconscious. These stereotypes aren't just confined to our screens; they affect all our expectations and, sadly, start influencing the minds of our youngsters from a very early age.

From the notion that boys shouldn't cry to the idea that girls should be delicate and nurturing, these stereotypes are everywhere we look, subtly shaping how we perceive ourselves and others. But that's not all.

Negative body image is another consequence of media's role in promoting gender stereotypes. It can stem from a variety of influences, including family, peer groups, and the relentless pressures imposed by media and society.

Think about it; when media continually portrays unrealistic body standards for both men and women, it creates a toxic environment where people feel inadequate and pressured to conform. This not only affects individuals but ripples through our entire society.

Now, let's talk about unequal representation in the media. Did you know that around the world, women are far less likely than men to be seen in the media? As subjects of stories, women only appear in a quarter of television, radio, and print news.

This unequal representation sends a powerful message that women's voices and experiences are less important than men's. It limits our understanding of the world and reinforces stereotypes about who can and should be in positions of power and influence.

But wait, some argue that media merely reflects the reality of society, including its negative gender stereotypes. They contend that media creators are not responsible for creating or perpetuating these stereotypes but are simply mirroring what exists.

While media may reflect some existing stereotypes, it also has a profound influence on shaping public opinion and attitudes. When negative gender stereotypes are consistently portrayed, it can lead viewers to believe that these stereotypes are the norm, further cementing them in society. In other words, media can be both a mirror and a magnifier of these stereotypes.

In conclusion, it's clear that media is being used to spread negative gender stereotypes to the masses. These stereotypes hold us back, limit our potential, and foster inequality. It's time for us to act, to challenge these harmful portrayals, and to demand better representation. Let's create a media landscape that spreads positivity and love instead of negativity and hate. Thank you for joining us on this journey to shatter the norm. Together, we can make a difference.

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