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Wikang Filipino at ang Diskurso ng Kasarian: Ang Misgendering kay Jude Bacalso Bilang Salamin ng Panlipunang Pananaw

Keywords

gender-neutral, kasarian, misgendering, transgender, wikang Filipino

Abstract

The absence of grammatical gender in Filipino pronouns and some nouns has led some to claim that the Filipino language is gender neutral. However, cases of misgendering are undeniably present in our society. If the Filipino language is truly gender-neutral, how does misgendering occur in our context? This paper discusses the concept of misgendering, examines some of its examples in the Philippine context, and revisits literature on the supposed gender-neutrality of the Filipino language. It then analyzes the case of Jude Bacalso, a transgender woman who became a topic of public discourse on social media in July 2024 due to an issue of misgendering. Using three Facebook posts with the highest number of reactions and shares related to Bacalso’s case, the study conducts a content analysis of the comments and finds that all commenters rejected Bacalso’s identity as a woman. The analysis reveals that biology and religion are the two primary bases used by society to assert that Bacalso is a man. In the comments, the Filipino language is frequently used as a tool for mocking, insulting, and invalidating Bacalso’s gender. The results of this study affirm and strengthen earlier studies that claim only a small part of the Filipino language is truly gender neutral. In the case of Bacalso’s misgendering, it becomes evident that the Filipino language can be used as a tool for gender-based oppression. Therefore, the paper advocates for the expansion of research on transgender people in the Philippines as a gender category and on gender-related issues in language.

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