SEVERAL PROMINENT women are actively engaged in perpetuating patriarchy, which leads me to question the notion of progressive feminism in the Philippines, particularly in the realm of politics.
Despite the Philippines’ conservative culture, women are seemingly succeeding in local and national politics compared to its Southeast Asian neighbors. A country that had two female presidents may appear progressive, but their impact on women’s empowerment is open to debate: do they truly represent the ideal embodiment of feminism for Filipino women?
In the 2023 Global Gender Gap Report, the Philippines ranks 16th out of 156 countries, marking substantial strides in narrowing the gender gap. Moreover, our country has a relatively higher female representation in its national legislatures, especially compared to a majority of Asian countries.
However, measuring the success of women’s involvement in Philippine politics should not be reduced to statistics and rankings. These numbers only indicate an increase in the number of seats occupied by women, while men still dominate the elected positions. Moreover, a significant portion of these elected women hail from political dynasties, where their reputation is often carried forward by their husbands or fathers.
Liberal feminism, with its focus on the pursuit of proportional representation in legislative bodies, is a prevailing approach in fixing gender disparities. However, it may inadvertently reinforce existing power dynamics and gender inequalities if implemented with a lack of intersectionality. Consequently, applying this approach to the Philippines may fail to address the needs of women in our country.
The Philippines is a developing nation. Some Filipino women lack the privilege to partake in the collective narrative of the well-off, whitewashed Filipinos who advocate for a narrow view of feminism, focused solely on gender equality. In reality, we cannot afford to limit our concerns to equality alone, especially when the patriarchy has inflicted severe abuse and suffering on lower-class women.
When feminism is divorced from the context of class struggle, individuals who commit morally reprehensible acts may be glorified to a status beyond reproach—creating a false impression of their superiority over men. Such is the case for two former female presidents: Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo and Corazon Aquino. Although both elections were branded as a win for women’s movements, Macapagal-Arroyo’s term was marred with electoral fraud and corruption, while the Aquino administration’s involvement in the Hacienda Luisita massacre has blemished her record.
At present, notable figures like Imee Marcos, Sara Duterte, and Cynthia Villar—along with other members of the lower house—perpetuate injustices and inequities. In an intersectional lens, these actions have far-reaching implications for the lives of Filipino women, particularly in their livelihoods and rights.
Particularly, the Villars continue to implement land grabbing and demolitions, considering their well-documented history of forcefully displacing local residents for commercial ventures. Meanwhile, Imee Marcos and Sara Duterte persist in seeking to distort the historical narrative surrounding the Marcos regime through subtle alterations to the educational curriculum. Their support for Rodrigo Duterte further underscores their willingness to pursue power, even at the cost of indifference toward the former president’s misogynistic remarks.
Thus, merely being a woman does not guarantee that they will advance women’s interests. Gender does not exempt anyone from accountability in perpetuating the patriarchal structure. Recognizing that individuals in positions of influence always possess the power and privilege to make possibly detrimental choices is of utmost importance in forwarding grounded and progressive feminism.
Achaiah is an AB Communication student who is expected to graduate from the Ateneo de Manila University in 2025. She advocates for women, children, and free education. She hopes to pursue a career in journalism and law to bring change in the lives of the marginalized and oppressed.
Editor’s Note: The views and opinions expressed by the opinion writer do not necessarily state or reflect those of the publication.
