Overview

In Filipino-Catholic society, sex is treated like a taboo, discussed in hushed tones behind the bedroom door. Women are told not to speak of their bodies, as intercourse is meant to be a sacred act that consummates marriage. Throughout childhood and adolescence, women are taught that their bodies are not truly theirs, instead belonging to their family and eventually their husband. With a noose wound tightly around their sexuality, many women feel alienated from themselves. Sexual feelings are discouraged, as physical attraction is for women of “loose morals”. According to Hollinsteiner, women are taught that sex is just a means to produce children. These conservative attitudes restrict women from owning their bodies. Many modern pieces of literature by female authors explain these dynamics in a way that is honest and raw. These works hope to open up dialogues about sex, how it is natural and simply part of life. The following section explores themes of sexual pleasure, sexuality (i.e. lesbianism and general queerness), and femininity.