StoriesOfPower: Inspiring Stories of Reclaiming Power and Courage in the Face of Injustice and Misogyny

Join us for an in-person event as SheDecides and Filipino Freethinkers come together to showcase the powerful stories of Filipino women and gender-diverse people and their journey to reclaiming power and courage. Through a blend of in-person storytelling and an immersive display of performance art and visual artwork, this exhibit will offer a vivid and moving representation of the real experiences of women and gender-diverse people in the Philippines.

• Date: March 22, 2023 (Wednesday)
• Time (tentative): 5:30 – 8:30 PM
• Venue: To be determined

Background

The Philippines, one of the only Catholic-dominant countries in Asia, is plagued with issues of gender-based violence (GBV) and suffers from widespread stigma towards sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) and bodily autonomy. With the restrictions on abortion, at least three women die every day due to unsafe abortions.

The resistance to the rights, bodily autonomy, and safety of women and gender-diverse people stems from a slew of complex issues that arise from a misogynistic, patriarchal society. This is made worse by a culture of religious conservatism, the lack of equal economic opportunities, and the absence of comprehensive sex education, among others. 

In such a culture, women’s and gender-diverse people’s voices are silenced, and their concerns are unheard. This Women’s Month, let’s celebrate women through the stories they tell and the experiences they share–of adversity, of discrimination, of sexism, and of their continuous reclamation of power and courage in the face of everyday misogyny.

We call on youth leaders, community leaders, and feminist advocates to:

• Listen with their hearts and ears open when Filipino women and gender-diverse people find the courage to speak, even when all odds are against them. 
• Empower women and gender-diverse people to speak out and seek help with safe spaces that encourage them to do so. For every report of gender-based violence, there are countless more that remain unreported.
• Celebrate successful initiatives and journeys by Filipina feminists advocating for various intersectional issues.

Goals and Objectives 

This event aims to:

• Create a safe and inclusive space for youth leaders, leaders of feminist organizations, and feminist advocates to share their stories and experiences of courage and the reclamation of power as they face challenges of everyday misogyny, to inspire to make impactful long-lasting change, and to do so free from hostility, judgment, and stigma.
• Underscore the invisible but powerful impact of women and gender-diverse people’s issues on the quality of life they experience through 3 stories to be delivered in front of a live audience.
• Inspire dialogue for everyone to improve the conditions of women’s and gender-diverse people’s rights and welfare in the Philippines.
• To challenge the psychosocial structures that perpetuate misogyny in our culture, language, and schools.
• To dismantle the social constructs that allow sexism to thrive in workplaces, in public, and in our homes.
• To achieve total gender equity in legislation and in practice.

Expected Results

This event intends to achieve the following results:

• Mobilize, build networks, and raise awareness through a discussion of the selected stories that encourages participation from at least 60 advocates, artists, and participants during the event.
• Reach an audience of  3,000-10,000 people on its social media pages through social media initiatives, high-impact keywords, and digital marketing to reinforce campaigns and boost traction.
• Pledges to continue advocating tirelessly for the resolution of women’s and gender-diverse people’s issues, so that they may reclaim their power and say, “We decide…”. We also enjoin the attendees, youth advocates, and organizations to pledge the same.
  

Here we pledge,
To create a safe space,
A community where women of today and tomorrow thrive,
Where diverse stories and experiences
Are welcomed with open hearts and minds


We decide that these voices must be protected and heard.
We denounce these acts that harm and exploit.
We dedicate ourselves to the pursuit of equity and justice for all.

We champion the importance of comprehensive sexuality education,
Of access to safe abortion,
Of ending gender-based violence,
Of freedom from gender-based discrimination,
To advance women’s rights and change the world.

May all voices inspire and empower,
May all actions spark change,
May they—and we—find and reclaim our power
And find the courage we need
To stand together.

Program