Conclusion

The phenomenological study come up with (3) master themes in the lived experience of femme

lesbians. The master themes are the following:

1. “Ito na’ko, hindi na ‘to mababago” preserving their identity

The master theme addresses the subordinate of the co-researcher’s life by living as femme

lesbians and the issues that they face being considered as third sex gender. This master

theme contains four subordinate themes; (1) Chances, pertains mainly to the possibility for

the femme lesbians to cope with a conservative country like the Philippines and people

often don’t understand or even accept them. The co-researchers also prefer to be a femme

lesbian rather than a butch for them to have a greater chance to be socially accept by the

society. (2) Faith, The idea that no matter what their gender is the co-researchers are still

have faith in many aspects in life, just like the socially accepted genders, they have also

faith that someday they will be accepted even though it is inevitable that they will encounter

discrimination. (3) Delightful, the co-researchers feel as congenial because they have

friends that they can trust. Some in a relationship lesbian couples that are contented enough

with their relationship, but as every relationship had, they also experienced a lot of

struggles and insecurities. (4) Commitment, to discuss their chances of being a femme

lesbian, the co-researchers are committed on what they are right now and they are not

entertaining the idea of being a straight woman someday. This subordinate themes

supported the idea of preserving their identity as a femme lesbians.

2. “ mahirap pero kailangan tanggapin” on managing struggles

The master theme addresses on how femme lesbians manage the struggles that they faced.

This master theme contains two subordinate themes; (1) Flexible, the idea of how they are

coping with the people they encounter and how to deal with the society wherein they are

not generally accepted. The co-researchers also faced some problems within their family

because of the changes happened to them. (2) Positive, for a discriminatory gender where

people inevitably criticized for what they are, but they always try to be positive in life

regardless of the problems that they facing just like a normal individual. Identity crisis is a

real problem for them because they hesitate to change because the co-researchers feel that

theirs the possibility of unwelcomed ideas from people and the society itself. The

subordinate themes could be concluded as reasons that helped the co-researchers to manage

their struggles.

3. “Tao pa din ako, hanggat wala akong tinatapakan na tao” on being prideful for their

identity

This master theme addresses the frame of mind of co-researchers of being a femme

lesbians. This master theme contains three subordinate themes; (1) Tough, since they are

manly and set to the ideas of being a man, they feels much tougher as they should be and

the co-researchers sometimes sees it as a struggle. (2) Rights, they are entitled to have

rights just like the normal individuals. The individual rights must be exercise with all

gender not only for those who are generally accepted gender. (3) Morality, wherein they

are morally capable of being a good individual regardless of what their gender orientation

they are in. The idea of being morally good do not enclosed on being a straight man o
straight woman it will always encompasses each and every individual. This subordinate

themes concluded as the ideas of what femme lesbians deserve to have and the attitude in

it.