(From left) Iza Calzado and Carla Abellana. Images: Instagram/@missizacalzado, Instagram/@carlaangeline
Women’s Month may have come to a close, but these women celebrities believe that allowing women to take charge of their own narrative goes beyond March. These female stars try to shatter societal expectations and stereotypes using their respective platforms.
Iza Calzado
Take Iza Calzado, for example. Drawing from her personal experience, Calzado addressed an often bandied phrase thrown her way by some people on her career and family choices — “Sayang ka”. She said these words are not only damaging to women, but also runs counter the ideals of empowerment to become the best version of themselves.
Speaking on the sidelines of Cosmopolitan Philippines’ Women of Influence ceremony, Calzado called for these words to be put to rest, saying these terms can dent a woman’s morale since it forces them to fit in a “certain mold.”
“What does it mean [for us] as women? Do we have to fit a certain mold? Does the “sayang ka” narrative mean I’m not worthy? It’s not exactly the best narrative,” she said. “It doesn’t empower women and it doesn’t support our growth. It doesn’t champion women.”
With this in mind, she hopes there will come a time when women will be “free” from these expectations. “It would be nice to free us from it. Women should free themselves from it.”
Carla Abellana
Meanwhile, Abellana told reporters that she hoped women wouldn’t be limited to a “certain level or position in power” while pointing out it’s an “old-school” way of expectation imposed on them.
“Unfortunately, there are people who still believe that women should only reach a certain level or position in power. It’s very old-school. Hirap sila (They have a hard time) to accept that women can be on top and rule,” she said.
The actress then stressed that “women can lead” while hoping that society will allow females to take leadership positions in their chosen fields.
“Women can lead. I’m glad to see that women [are the ones] who run things now,” she said.
KaladKaren
KaladKaren said many are still uninformed about the “different types of women” such as transwomen and cisgender, as she underscored they are all women. She then challenged those who believe that transwomen to define what it means to be a “real woman” while reminding the importance of respect.
“Hindi magandang sabihin na ang mga transgender women ay hindi tunay na babae,” she said. “Ano ba ang depinisyon ng tunay na babae? Babae bang nagkaka-anak, babaeng may matres? Hindi naman lahat ng babae — even cisgender women — are capable of having children. All women are women. Let’s respect all of them.”
(It’s not nice to say that transgender women are not real women. What is the definition of a real woman? A woman who gives birth or has a womb? Not all women — even cisgender women — are capable of having children. All women are women. Let’s respect all of them.)
Denise Julia
Rising R&B star Denise Julia kept her answer short and sweet as she said women can do things “the way men can do it.”
Janina Vela
Content creator Janina Vela quoted the movie character Elle Woods as she stressed that femininity should not be “separated from intelligence.”
“Femininity should not be separated from strength. What does that mean? I want to feel pretty and I want to take up Political Science,” she said. “I want to speak up for things that matter to me, the nation, and the people around me. I want to wear makeup while doing it and it doesn’t make me less of a Political Science student or a citizen.”
