Gender Themes in Selected Philippine Fictions in English

Abstract

Literature is being utilized in the language classroom. Through being exposed to various literary pieces, students learn not only about grammatical structures but also about different aspects of life, including gender. Hence, the literature being presented and imparted to the learners must be thoroughly reviewed and evaluated. Presently, most of the studies conducted related to gender and literature have only focused on the inequality between men and women. Meanwhile, research that considers the gender spectrum supported the idea that gender inequality exists in the academe. With this and highlighting the advantages of adding a gender perspective to ELT, this study aims to conduct content analysis among selected Philippine fictions in English regarding gender themes. The results of the study will help people to have a better understanding of gender. It is one significant way to promote gender equality among all genders, with the acceptance and consideration that gender is non-binary. Moreover, the study showcases literary pieces written by Filipino authors as one way to show patriotism. Specifically, the goal of this study is to pinpoint the characters' gender identities and sexual orientations from selected Philippine Fiction and unveil how the prevailing themes explain Filipino experiences regarding gender. The selected short stories are Chambers of the Sea by Edith L. Tiempo, The Doll by Egmidio Alvarez-Enriquez, The Husband by Jaime An Lim, How My Brother Leon Brought Home a Wife by Manuel E. Arguilla, and Summer Solstice by Nick Joaquin. The study employed qualitative design, specifically content analysis. Following the processes of thematic analysis by Braun and Clarke, the salient findings are the following: (1) There are four sexual orientations (heterosexual, bisexual, asexual, and gay) and four gender identities (cisgender, transgender, boyflux, and ambigender) that were portrayed by the characters and (2) There are seven themes that prevailed in the stories: Self-Denial, Romantic Attraction to Other People, Experiences of Discrimination, Hegemonic Masculinity, Feminist Lens, Gender Performativity, Dominance, Gender Stereotypes, and Women Empowerment. The characters in the selected Filipino Short Stories represent different sexual orientations and gender identities, giving the audience have better understanding of the complexity of gender. In terms of predominant themes, the short stories provide a more vivid picture of the experiences of Filipinos when it comes to gender: the occurring gender inequality that happens inside and outside the academic setting. Nevertheless, there is also women's empowerment. From these findings and conclusions, it is recommended that the short stories may be utilized in the language classroom not only for grammatical structures but also to provide a wider perspective on the complexity of gender. Moreover, further studies may be conducted on literary pieces that are being utilized in the classrooms to ensure that each classroom is aligned to eradicate gender inequality, primarily in the academic setting.