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Maria Rhodora Salazar, Enderun Colleges, PhilippinesAbstract
The media, such as films, play a significant role in establishing and reinforcing gender stereotypes, objectification and sexualization of women; and the constant exposure to objectifying and sexualizing representations in media appears to be associated with the internalization of cultural ideals of appearance and sexist attitudes and behaviors. This qualitative study aims to explore how Filipino films portray older women’s sexualities by analyzing images and narratives (plot) that focus on their desire and desirability. Filipino films rarely showcase female lead characters in their senior years due to traditional gender stereotypes and ageism that paints a dominant image of aging women as undesirable and asexual beings. Using content analysis, this study investigates five Filipino films (i.e., When I Met You in Tokyo, Love Me Tomorrow, Revirginized, The Love Affair, and Unexpectedly Yours). Based on the interpretive approach, the analysis of the images and narratives is anchored in Roland Barthes’ Semiotic Theory and Fredrickson and Robert’s Objectification Theory. Initial results indicate that the films communicate messages that both challenge and reinforce dominant narratives of sexuality in aging Filipinas. Moreover, the films reveal that the need for love and sexual intimacy does not diminish with age, and that sexual desirability is in the eye of the beholder.
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