From the personal to the political: Young, Filipino, and feminist

ABSTRACT The new generation of Filipino feminists, like all young people, not only have characteristics and experiences that are different from those of the older generation, they are also subject to a culture of seniority. As young women who are conscientized about and act against social injustice, they acquire further distinctiveness. Drawing upon semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with 29 research participants, I inquire into the critical consciousness and engagements of young Filipino women with feminism. A central finding was their profound and thorough internalization of feminist ideas—not only as praxis, but also as a set of principles and values—which may be viewed to represent young feminist identity within processes of feminist maturation. This study recognizes that broadening and deepening our understanding of young feminists is vital for building and strengthening organizations and the movement and nurturing a veritable inter-generational feminist solidarity.