Feminists Ahead Of Their Time Analysis

Feminists Ahead of their Time: Veronica Franco and Leona Florentino
I found several feminist themes in the works of both Franco and Florentino. The works of Veronica Franco were more laden with feminist themes than that of Florentino. Although both writers produced their work in times where the feminist movement had not yet been established, their works address and promote issues of women, which I will discuss further in this chapter.
Franco and Florentino sighted feministic themes repeatedly throughout their work. Themes against stereotyping, discrimination, oppression and patriarchy were sighted. Also, reflections on women empowerment were also stated.

AGAINST STEREOTYPING
Franco is apt to use the labels that are assigned to women during
(C24 L4-L6)

But if you think us inferior to you, C24 L16

Women are often regarded as nimble beings, having lesser power than that of men. In C16 L6-L9, Franco asserts that women by nature are just as agile as men
C16 L6-L9 though a woman, born to milder tasks; and, blade in hand, I learned warrior's skills, so that, by handling weapons, I learned that women by nature are no less agile than men…

A woman, as likened by the speaker to a dried jasmine flower, has a fading beauty. This is a stereotype labelled to women as they grow older.
PP L1-L4
Lantang hasmin ang makakatulad,
Pag byente-otso na ang iyong edad,
Kaya tunay lamang at karapat-dapat,
Ang pagtanda mo'y ikabagabag.

AGAINST DISCRIMINATION
Franco asks the man to see the merits of women and see how wrong it is to insult women:
C24 L1-L3
Look with the eyes of your good
EMPOWERMENT
Franco argues that women are not “less agile than men” because like even though she is born to tasks that are not as heavy as men, she have learned warrior skills with the help of her brother to fight against attackers. C16 L6-L9 though a woman, born to milder tasks; and, blade in hand, I learned warrior's skills, so that, by handling weapons, I learned that women by nature are no less agile than men....

Franco is confident enough as she duels with a challenger because of the fact that she is intellectually gifted and highly educated
C16 L25-L27 choose the language that you prefer, for I am equally happy with them all, since I have learned them for exactly this purpose.
Franco gives a statement of empowerment as she argues that it is never the fault of women to be born as women. She argues that just equally like men, women have a mind and intellect to compel with men.
C24 L7-L9
But this has certainly been no fault of ours, because, if we are not as strong as men, like men we have a mind and intellect.
Franco asserts that it is not about bodily strength to measure viture but rather, it is in “the vigor of the soul and mind”
C24