Whatever Happened to the "Essence of a Woman"

Allow me to use that statement by 1999 Miss Universe first runner-up Miriam Quiambao who reacted to the rule change by the Miss Universe Organization allowing males-who-lost-their-manhood-but-who-did-not-really-gain-womanhood, a.k.a. "transgenders", to join the world-renowned pageant. In one of the tweets of the Filipina beauty queen to Miss Universe co-owner Donald Trump, she quoted "Whatever happened to the essence of a woman?"

It all started with Miss Universe Canada contestant named Jenna Talackova (called Walter Talackova[1] in "his" younger years), when "he" was initially disqualified for the Miss Universe Canada which will be held on May 19th of this year because "he" did not meet the requirements to compete despite having stated otherwise on her entry form[2]. But due to media outcry[3], then-Walter-now-Jenna would be allowed to compete in this year's pageant, should "he" meet the legal gender recognition requirements of Canada, and the standards established by other international competitions[4].

Supposing a male have legally fixed his gender to be female, I am bound to think if he ever truly becomes a female. By paper, yes. He may be a she! So this man, by the power of pen and paper, calls himself, and demands others to call him a "She-man". He acquires the guts to call himself a woman, just because he lost his male reproductive organ. But did he gain womanhood by losing his manhood? No. Not at all. He may have larger breasts than he had before, but he does not have the female reproductive organ, which scientists call the ovary.

This brings to my memory that one classic answer by the beautiful Sushmita Sen, the 1994 Miss Universe Queen from India. In that competition, all the three finalists were asked the same question, "What, for you, is the essence of being a woman?" And the best answer came from that stunning lady from India, befitting the Miss Universe crown, who answered,

       "I think, being a woman, by itself, the very fact that you're a woman is a 
         gift of God, which all of us must appreciate. The origin of a child is a 
         mother, and is a woman. And a woman is one who shares love, and who 
         shows a man what love, caring and sharing  is all about. That is the 
         essence of a woman." [It was delivered more powerfully in the video.
         Watch it HERE.]

The president of the Miss Universe Organization Paula Shugart said, "We have a long history of supporting equality for all women and this was something we took very seriously."[5] Very seriously, eh? But failing to consider that transgenders were naturally born men? And that these are not truly women because they do not have that biological organ which distinguishes a woman from a man, that which gives a woman the capacity to bear a child. She said that this policy change was a result of their ongoing discussions with GLAAD (Gay & Lesbian Allaince Against Defamation) [6]. Yeah, right. A "result" of discussion with GLAAD, but an "insult" to real and natural women.

Rules are set up and revised by those on top. So if the ones on top do not know how to differentiate a woman from a man, and the beauty of the man-who-looks-like-a-woman from the living beauty of the true and natural woman, then this very prestigious pageant, now filled with controversy, may not be as awesome as before. Soon, this competition may have the reputation of not having a good reputation anymore. Whatever the policies turn out to be and however the populace accept or reject these policies, the truth remains that these men, whose looks can be deceiving, are still not biologically women (however legally they may be). Miss Universe may get wider acceptance or reduced viewership, nevertheless, the dignity of women joining this pageant is lost, rather than promoted.

In the recent news that went into the airwaves, this new policy is up for gear next year. And before that time comes, brace yourselves with the headlines "Man defeats women in women's pageant" or "Man slams women's face in Miss-ter Universe".




[1] Photo of Jenna Talackova as a Boy Revealed. http://www.insideedition.com/news/7975/photo-of-jenna-talackova-as-a-boy-revealed.aspx Accessed April 18, 2012
[2] Jenna Talackova will not compete in the 2012 Miss Universe Canada competition. http://www.beautiesofcanada.com/muc/2012/03/jenna-talackova-will-no-longer-compete-in-the-2012-miss-universe-canada-competition/  Accessed April 18, 2012
[3] cf. Jill Serjeant. Miss Universe Changes Rules to Include Transgender Women. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/10/entertainment-us-missuniverse-transgende-idUSBRE8390N320120410  Accessesd April 18, 2012
[4] Miss Universe Organization -- Statement Regarding Jenna Talackova. http://www.beautiesofcanada.com/muc/2012/04/miss-universe-organization-statement-regarding-jenna-talackova/  Accessed April 18, 2012
[5] Jill Serjeant. Miss Universe Changes Rules to Include Transgender Women. http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/04/10/entertainment-us-missuniverse-transgende-idUSBRE8390N320120410  Accessesd April 18, 2012
[6] GLAAD, Miss Universe announce policy change to allow transgender women. http://globalbeauties.com/blog/2012/04/glaad-miss-universe-announce-policy-change-to-allow-transgender-women/  Accessed April 18, 2012