SOGIE and the cockfight between the obsolete and the contemporary

Today, gender-based discussion is at its height. From an obsolete, post-colonial mentality that confines gender and roles in just two separate boxes, men and women, to an ever-inclusive notion that promotes tolerance and sensitivity — our society has matured.

During the prime years of foreign occupation, a very patriarchal system was the prevailing societal model where men must assume roles designated only for them and women with of the same gesture, and are not meant to interchange or overlap in any way possible. Men must exude strength, emotional stability, and virility to safeguard their manliness; any form of effeminacy are automatically attributed to being homosexual that is highly despised back then. They must assume machismo roles, otherwise, they will be robbed of their masculinity. Women, on the other hand, were reserved, soft-spoken, demure, and were considered the second sex. They are to stay at home, accomplish chores, and rear and parent their children, while their husband is working their efforts off to provide for the family. This backward thinking disabled the society to have a more equal treatment for both sexes, increasing the gap between the roles of men and women.

Contrary to what once was, many sexualities are acknowledged by society today and one’s sexual orientation and gender identity expression have little to no manifestations to what they sought to do. Men, women, and other identities are more than welcome to venture roles that were once not assigned to them. Gender-related discussions are now more debated than ever. It has gained an exceedingly high attention from many people across all generations pushing for intellectual conversation concerning gender issues: sexism, toxic masculinity, consent, feminism, gender-based discrimination, diversity, and equality just to name a few. Progressive individuals seek to publicize the need to address the said issues to have a more tolerant society for all, despite one’s sexual orientation and preference.

This year, the Philippines ranks second-best in East Asia and the Pacific and 16th globally in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2020, making the country among the most gender-equal countries in Asia. However, it seems that remains of the colonial past still adhere to the mind of many making the fight for acceptance among sexual identities far from over leaving us the question: are we really that open to close the gap between genders?