Rica Salomon does not wish to redefine womanhood
Defining womanhood has turned into a tool to invalidate queer identities, especially those of trans women, and enable the normalization of violence against them.
Despite the growing understanding of gender as a spectrum, transphobes continue to reduce womanhood to body parts and reproductive functions, erasing lived experiences. Rather than recognizing womanhood as a deeply personal and profound journey, they cling to rigid and outdated frameworks to justify their prejudice.
As Simone de Beauvoir wrote, “One is not born, but rather becomes, a woman.” Womanhood is not just biology—it’s resilience, self-discovery, and, for many, breaking free from societal expectations. Trans women, in particular, navigate a world that demands both explanation and apology for their existence. Yet, they continue to live boldly and beautifully.
The Philippine STAR sat down with content creator and queer rights advocate Rica Salomon for an online interview on what it means to be a woman.
@rica.salomon SOGIESC 101! ??
♬ original sound - Rica Salomon ?️⚧️
The Philippine STAR: When did you start forming your own definition of a woman?
RICA SALOMON: Mulan was released when I was in second grade. I used to tell my classmates that, like Mulan, I was a girl pretending to be a boy. Even then, I already knew that, despite it not being reflected externally, I was a girl. I just didn’t have the vernacular for it yet.
Early on my transition, I thought that for my womanhood to be valid, I had to look and act a certain way. It was only after high school that I got to express my womanhood. It was me realizing that I get to decide what being a woman is because womanhood is a lived experience. I may be experiencing it differently than cis women, but it doesn't make it less valid.
I am not a boy who transitioned into a woman; I have always been one. It was like finding womanhood in myself and realizing that, “This is real, this is me, I am exactly where I’m supposed to be.”
How did this expand your definition of a woman?
At the start, my view of womanhood was catering to patriarchy— that women have to be feminine, soft, and even weak. Dapat ganito, ganyan. It was hard and I had to battle with dysphoria. I would think that my voice, my actions, hindi sila nakaka-vavae. Whenever I would look into the mirror, I would always see a man.
Through feminism, I realized that you get to define womanhood in your own terms, whatever that means to you. A woman can be strong (and) have muscles, and it won’t make you less of a woman. I don’t have to look like a woman to be one. Now, I’m more confident in who I am. I can be myself, enjoy things I want to enjoy, and nobody can take my womanhood away from me.
I have always seen you as empowered.
I know people take inspiration from my story, but I also want to point out that I have a lot of insecurities. I also have bad days. It’s really a journey. What helped me is the support system that I have.
How would you describe the conversations about womanhood that we’re having now?
We have a long way to go when it comes to understanding trans identities. Recently, during Women’s Month, there have been a lot of attacks against the trans community. I hope we see womanhood as more than just giving birth.
My womanhood does not take anything away from cis women’s experiences. It actually adds to it; it gives it more depth. I know I won’t relate to cis women one hundred percent but I offer unique experiences to womanhood that they won’t experience, like wanting to be badly recognized and seen as a woman because they never had to prove it to other people.
One way or another, however, we can still relate to each other. We’re both resilient—resilient amidst a society that categorizes and boxes us in labels. We’re defying gravity and breaking the wheel—going against society’s expectations of us. Isn’t feminism about reclaiming our womanhood?
What can you say about trans exclusionary radical feminists (TERFs)?
TERFs don’t only hurt trans women but also women who fail to complete checklists. When TERFs invalidate trans women because they aren’t capable of giving birth, it also attacks cis women who are not capable of giving birth. TERFs hurt the movement more than (they) strengthen it. You can not fight for one marginalized group while excluding another. Our issues, the things we fight for, are all intersectional.
So what if people know and I’m noticeably trans? I am still a woman.
To you, what does a truly inclusive womanhood look like?
In an inclusive world, you get to define what womanhood means to you because isn’t it the goal to have no expectations on what a woman should be? At the end of the day, your lived experience is yours alone. How you live as a woman should be at your own volition. You don’t need to become a woman, you already are one.
Women can be breadwinners. They can be leaders. In many ways, women can be anything, like Barbie.
@rica.salomon 1989 slaps!!!!! ??????
♬ original sound - Toria
What gives you hope in our fight for equality?
Seeing the new generation more vocal and open to equality.
What are the small daily resistances that you are doing?
Simply being trans is revolutionary. I feel like living my life and truth, sharing it through videos, one way or another, that’s already a way for me to resist society’s expectations of me. I always go back to my favorite quote from Laverne Cox: “It is revolutionary for any trans person to choose to be seen and visible in a world that tells us we should not exist.”
I used to be so afraid of people knowing I’m trans. My goal was to pass as a cis woman, but now, my goal is simply to be myself—to live my life as a proud trans woman. Regardless (of whether) I look trans, it doesn’t make me any less of a woman. So what if people know and I’m noticeably trans? I am still a woman.
If you have a message to trans girls, what would it be?
You are valid. You will constantly discover new things about yourself, and you don’t need to rush your transition. It’s all part of the journey. It’s not about changing or redefining womanhood. It’s about you realizing that womanhood has been in you all along.
