Philippine E-Journals

Voicing the Silenced: A Feminist Reading of Womanhood in Merlie Alunan’s Selected Poems

Judith Odfeminina | Rosalina Rara Sarabosing

Discipline: Education

 

Abstract:

This literary research explores The Tales of the Spiderwoman by Dr. Merlie M. Alunan, a poetry collection that presents layered female experiences through vivid and symbolic imagery. The study aimed to examine how selected poems—Woman of Many Words and Woman of No Account—reflect the roles, struggles, and inner lives of women within a patriarchal context. Using qualitative textual analysis grounded in feminist literary theory, the research analyzed the poems’ language, structure, and thematic elements. The study found that Woman of Many Words portrays a woman whose verbal expression symbolizes deep emotional labor and unacknowledged affection, while Woman of No Account exposes the silent suffering of a woman erased by cultural expectations from birth to death. Both poems highlight the complexity of feminine identity, revealing how women’s voices are often devalued, yet remain persistent and expressive forms of resistance. The study concludes that Alunan’s work affirms women’s lived realities and challenges traditional gender roles through poetic discourse. It is recommended that further research examine more works by Boholana poets to expand the understanding of regional feminist literature and its role in cultural and gender discourse.