July 1 - 15, 2018
OPINION
PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY
Rey Fortaleza - Publisher
Carlito Pablo - Editorial Consultant
Rosette Correa - Senior Editor
Jun Cordero - Associate Editor
Writers - Crisanta Sampang ; Columnists - Geoff Meggs, Ben Berto, Editha Corrales, Mon
Datol, Fr. Jerry Orbos SVD, DeeDee Sytangco, Alan Samuel, Erie Maestro, Sandee M.
Ed Malay, Jayne Anastacio, JJAtencio and Willie J. Uy (Manila Bureau Chief)
Alvin Barrera / Mon Correa - Graphics and Layout ; Rolly Fortaleza - Graphics Design
JoelCastro - Website; Julian Fortaleza - Sports Editor; Ricardo Fortaleza- Sports
Photography Editor: Dean Guzman; Photograhers- Charles De Jesus/ Christian Cunanan
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Opinions and views expressed are of the author’s and do not necessarily reflect the views of the PHILIPPINE ASIAN NEWS TODAY. E-mail: [email protected]
Feminism is as feminism does
Breaking
Point
By Rosette Correa
If you define feminism as the
theory of the political, economic, and
social equality of the sexes, then I am
a feminist. I am a feminist because
I believe women deserve the same
opportunities as men in the corporate,
political, economic and social arena. In
fact, I believe women do a darn good
job at everything because we can multi-
task - try cooking a meal, doing the
laundry, changing a diaper, teaching
another child to read, answering the
phone and going to work all dressed
up with a well-made face on, and you
know women can rule the world even
if they were in the kitchen. I do believe,
however, that there are things that
men can do better than women, and
vice versa, and that the two sexes do
have a complementarity that cannot
be denied. I need my husband to calm
me down, to tell me everything’s okay,
and to take the wheel when I cannot
see clearly through my eyeliner-stained
eyes because of the tears that won’t
stop coming down my face. This does
not make me less a feminist than I
am, because this is is what makes me
uniquely a woman - knowing when to
surrender when I need someone else
to take over.
If you define feminism as being
a supporter for anti-mail order brides,
anti-teenage and young girl brides,
anti-legalization of prostitution, anti-
domestic abuse, anti-rape, and
anti-sexual harassment, then I am
a feminist. As women, we have the
dignity to make the right choices and
to make other women realize that
their choices are connected to their
morality, culture and spirituality,
and that respect for one’s self
is paramount. These choices
must be fair and just to all, but most
especially to themselves.
If you define feminism as one
who adheres to the rights of women
to seek abortion, then I am not a
feminist. A feminist, by definition,
seeks to uphold the rights of women
- all women - so, I cannot subscribe to
abortion because it tramples upon the
rights of unborn women (and men,
as well) to be born and to be given
life. Rachel Harder, Conservative MP
of Lethbridge in Alberta, was voted
out of a committee to study women’s
issues, for being anti-abortion and
pro-life. The Liberal members of the
party walked out of the nomination
and said they cannot support the
opposition “putting forward someone
like Rachael Harder, whose voting
record is opposed to where women
stand.” Harder, for me, is a feminist,
and can surely speak for women’s
issues, because not all women who
seek abortion are pro-choice - some of
them are desperate and were not given
an opportunity to speak to someone
who could have helped them decide
otherwise. For these Liberal MPs to
destroy Harder’s credibility as one who
cannot speak towards women’s issues
simply because she did not share their
views by being pro-choice is an anti-
women move. They forget that Harder
is a woman.
If you define feminism as one
who 100% supports all women’s rights
movements such as not wearing a bra,
open marriages, sex before marriage,
the HPV vaccine for teenage girls, girls
Canadian Armed Forces
continues recruitment
in Vancouver
The Canadian Armed Forces will have Thursday evening information
sessions starting July 5, at the 620 Royal Avenue in New Westminster
from 6 - 8 PM. The CAF is regularly recruiting men and women to join
them every year.
July 19 - General Information Presentation
August 2 - In-Demand Occupations
August 16 - Women in the Canadian Armed Forces
August 30 - Paid Education
Informing people on the many job opportunities in the CAF is the first
step to a potential rewarding and fulfilling career. The CAF hopes to
spread the word on their information sessions.
For more information, interested parties may contact Lt. Simon Chow,
Attractions & Diversity Officer, Canadian Forces Recruiting Centre
- Pacific (Vancouver), National Defence, Government of Canada or at
[email protected] / Tel: 604-694-6390 ext 6311
half-naked going to an April 20 event
or a concert at Holland Park in Surrey,
then I am not a feminist. I believe that
the only way women can have dignity
and retain it is to make themselves
recognize that dignity by not behaving
how society dictates them to behave.
I have taught my daughters that the
only way to get respect is by respecting
themselves first. I told then that if men
know that they value their dignity,
purity and respectability, then they will
meet a real man who is willing to wait
and not be swayed by sexuality. If the
men weren’t willing to wait, then they
weren’t worth the time. I told them
that as a woman and a feminist, we
need to keep our dignity and teach the
world how it should behave towards
us, on our terms, not theirs.
When we subdue the rights of
people, even the rights of men, we
cannot be called feminists. The rights
of men include their right
to be heard on issues that
affect women, as it affects
them as well. Men can be
feminists, too, but not the
likes of those who pretend
to be concerned about
the rights of women by
giving them abortion as
the only solution to their
problems, or by not funding
organizations who do not
subscribe to the idea of
pro-choice. As feminists,
we should be concerned
for all of humanity -
for mankind. And no,
there is no such thing
as womankind, because
semantically speaking, “mankind” is a
collective form of “humankind” or the
human race. Being politically correct
alone doesn’t make one a feminist
either.
Gloria Steinem once said in the
1960s that, “A feminist is someone
who recognizes the equality and
full humanity of women and men.”
Women and men work together to
define feminism because we are all
collectively human first. Women in
the military or in the hospitals, women
in higher office or those behind a
typewriter, women who have to work
themselves to the bone to feed their
families - these are the real women.
Let’s make feminism more about the
achievements of women like these,
and not make feminism a superficial
notion that it is an empowerment
to do whatever one feels like doing.
That’s not what feminism is.●
Surrey Fusion Festival
has 53 cultural pavilions
Surrey, BC – Surrey Fusion
Festival, presented by Coast Capital
Savings, will introduce 14 new cultural
pavilions in 2018, once again making
it the largest multicultural celebration
in B.C. Up from 39 pavilions in 2017
to 53, this year’s expanded festival—
taking place July 21–22 at Holland
Park—welcomes first time participants
Albania, Argentina, Brazil, England,
Guatemala, Greece, Haiti, Hong
Kong, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea,
Portugal, Sri Lanka and Venezuela.
“Surrey Fusion Festival started
with only 22 pavilions in 2008, and
has grown enormously over the past
11 years,” said Mayor Linda Hepner.
“It’s exciting to see it continually
evolve. We thank our presenting
sponsor, Coast Capital Savings, and
our many community and cultural
groups for their continued support in
providing residents and visitors with
an unforgettable experience year after
year.”
The theme for this year’s festival
and cultural showcases is influential
women. Participants will celebrate
inspiring or influential women and the
contributions they have made to their
WWW.PHILIPPINEASIANNEWSTODAY.COM
culture through displays of music, art
and crafts. First, second and third
place for Best Dressed Pavilion will
be awarded to the most impressive
exhibitions.
“Surrey Fusion Festival is a
wonderful community celebration
offering residents and visitors a
chance to explore world cultures
through unique experiences, food
and entertainment,” said Councillor
Mary Martin, chair of the Diversity
Advisory Committee. “We’re looking
forward to another year of world-class
performances and the opportunity to
learn about influential women from
across the globe.”
Named Best Festival at the
Regional Canadian Event Industry
Awards in 2017, Surrey Fusion
Festival is a free community event
celebrating food, music and culture
from around the world. This year’s
event will welcome over 150
performers, including headliners
Walk Of f The Earth on Saturday, July
21 and Ranjit Bawa on Sunday, July
22. For more information, visit www.
surreyfusionfestival.ca. ●