By Genno Gabriel Rabaya
My masculinity is a privilege. I live in a society that favors me because I am a man and the arbitrary patriarchal systems make my life easier. However, I cannot sit idle with the fact that life is postured to favor men when we all come from women—our very own mothers. My mother does not deserve to be excluded from this privilege.
According to the United Nations, an estimate of 736 million women have been subjected to physical and/or sexual violence at least once in their life. It is staggering to think that these numbers indicate almost one in three women experiencing circumstances like these all because of their womanhood.
Moreover, the 2022 National Demographic and Health Survey noted that 17.5-percent of Filipino women aged 15 to 29 have experienced varying forms of violence in their lives—cases perpetrated by their own intimate partners. How is it fair for women to experience this from people that should have assured them safety?
Beyond the obvious disparity between the male and female experience, society itself displays an imbalance with the notions that manifest how men have long been favored.
When wearing skimpy outfits—or even just any outfit at all—women are often sexualized, however, it is normalized to see shirtless men facing no consequences. When women talk back, they are seen as rude, obnoxious, and unbecoming of what a “demure” lady is supposed to be like. But when men do it, they are seen as brave and this behavior is expected because men are supposed to be “strong.”
Even in the workforce, various industries show biases based on gender. More often than not, women receive lesser roles than men, especially for positions in power.
Why are women being treated this way when they possess the same capabilities of men? These notions have long plagued society’s perceptions of women. Mothers’ Day reminds us to celebrate all the strong women out there. It is with days and moments such as these that we are reminded of how unjust the privilege of masculinity is.
With everything women have to endure, initiatives to empower women are great strides to get past old societal notions. Society must also systematically remove the patriarchal barriers that women have to go through, whether through revised laws and policies or even the unlearning of embedded stereotypes.
Beyond Mothers’ Day, we must take the responsibility to ensure that women are celebrated—not only because they come into this world as women, but because of what they endure through their mere existence.
My mother—and every woman—doesn’t deserve to be excluded from this privilege because society should not put masculinity on a pedestal to begin with. Every mother out there, no matter how different they are, deserve to be celebrated not only on Mothers’ Day, but in every single moment. For I would be nothing if I had not been nurtured under the wings of my mom.
