Today is International Women’s Day. I want to take this occasion to give honor and tribute to the billions of women who continue to struggle for their recognition and emancipation in this predominantly semi-feudal and neocolonial society. It’s never easy being treated as a second class gender, much less of being relegated as a support entity amidst the exceeding power and greed by some. True, some women have made it to the top and take the roles that have been defined by social norms as male roles. However, much is still to be worked hard for to eradicate the prevailing inequalities in terms of academic, economic, political and social opportunities. As it is, opportunities must be transformed into human rights.
As some women assert their liberty from oppression and discrimination, take the political leadership and dance with the machos, most still wallow in endless military violence in the countryside, are trapped in human trafficking across the globe, or play prey to domestic dole-outs and neglect either by their families or by this corrupt government. Millions of women and children die or suffer poverty due to inadequate food, medication, education, livelihood, and protection.
In the Philippines and worldwide, women play vital and pivotal roles in our continuing quest for genuine social transformation. Since women comprise half of the population and of the humanity, it naturally follows that any attempt to free the society from imperialism, bureaucrat-capitalism and semi-feudalism would fail, if the women’s and children’s plight are treated separately and left only as peripheral concerns. The thrust to free women from all forms of economic and political oppression and discrimination, sexual violence and abuse, neglect and denial of their health and reproductive rights, must stand parallel along the concerns of the proletariats for long-lasting socio-economic justice and peace on the one hand, and the more potent struggle for national sovereignty and independence.
