Women’s inspiration, everyone’s opinion changer

May 27, 2019 Educator's Corner Opinion

Useless! Women were deemed useless before. But now, as modernization came, the statement is already being forgotten. Women empowerment has indeed come into existence.
As I remember the previous school year, the women’s contribution to the society had been given importance through the following legal bases: Republic Act (RA) 9720 or Magna Carta for Women; Proclamation No. 227 s. 1988, providing for the observance of tenth of march as Women’s Roles in History Month; Proclamation No. 224 s. 1988, declaring the first week of March each year as Women’s Week; and RA 6949, declaring March 8 of every year as National Women’s Day.
This year, the theme for Women’s Month is “We Make Change Work for Women”. It highlights the empowerment of women as active contributors and claim holders of development.
We stands for women empowerment, Make Change Work stands for Magna Carta for Women, and Change means compassionate and harmonized actions and networks for gender equality.
The theme itself shows and emphasizes the point that we should all change the thought that women are useless. Like men, women are also active drivers in bringing positive changes, and should also reap fruits of development efforts.
This can only be made possible by empowering women, recognizing gender equality, and changing our thoughts that men are more superior that women.
Going back to history, men and women’s rights were not equal. Men were regarded as more superior than women. However, as people were becoming aware of their rights, more women showcase their skills and talents.
An example of this is the famous tattoo artist Apo Whang-Od. In celebrating 2019’s Women’s Month, people are reminded of Apo Whang-Od, one of the last and might also be the last traditional Kalinga tattoo artist or “mambabatok”.
She has become a great inspiration to women who are being discriminated. As a woman, she has contributed to the field of arts through her tattoo.
Through the stated legal basis, women were empowered and were cared for. Women were undeniably equal and useful!
by Meriam E. Gao-ay
Pines City National High School