MARION ABILENE NAVARRO

Marion is a teaching associate at the Department of Behavioral Sciences, UP Manila and is currently pursuing graduate studies in Clinical Psychology at UP Diliman. She is an advocate for mental health and women’s rights, and a believer in the power of the youth and girls’ collective action.

What is the effect of the commodification of girlhood on women? Kung hindi ito mag-eexist outside of consumerism, ang girlhood natin ay mamomomold ng gender stereotypes ng capitalists and colonialists. Tapos yung pinambibili natin (ng materials to express our girlhood), ginagamit siya ng capitalists to fund the patriarchy, so parang binibili mo ang sarili mong shackles. At kapag nacocommodify ang girlhood, nagiging very exclusive ito at nagca-cater na lang sa mga elite.

Where do you think this popularity of girlhood came from?

Napaka-isolating ng buhay ngayon. Meron tayong need to belong dahil hindi tayo makapagusap-usap sa capitalist society na very alienating. Ginagamit natin ‘yung materials linked with girlhood to communicate with each other. So ang capitalism, siya ang gumawa ng problem of isolation and alienation, and magpe-present siya ng solusyon na siya rin ang gumawa.

Feeling ko factor din (sa pagiging materialistic ng girlhood natin) ‘yung sentimentality natin as Filipinos. Nag-aattach tayo ng meaning sa material things. ‘Pag may binigay ako sa’yo, like a friendship bracelet, iniisip ko na a part of me is with you.

What does a girlhood outside of consumerism look like?

Kailangan maging clear sa atin na pwede nating i-explore ang girlhood natin outside of material things, like through our connection with each other. Dito lumalabas ‘yung importance ng being part of a collective — nagkakaroon kayo ng space na pag-usapan ‘yung girlhood niyo. Through language lumalabas ‘yung idea of girlhood; more on caring for each other.

From this sense of belongingness (that you feel in collectives), doon na natin mapag-uusapan ‘yung common frustrations and struggles natin. On your own, akala mo problem mo lang siya, pero makikita mo (na common experience siya). Eventually, (marerealize natin na) kailangan natin siyang ipaglaban para sa girls after us.