Trigger warning: This piece contains an account of sexual assault.

IN POLITICS, women are forced to compete in a two-fold race. They do not only have to fight for a seat in office; they also often have to go the extra mile to “prove” themselves and surpass the unfair limitations imposed by gender bias. This barrier subsequently affects the potential of women to enact change, as their voice becomes drowned out in society’s partiality toward males.

During election season, this misogyny comes in the form of political mudslinging, wherein gender stereotypes are utilized as a form of defamation, implying that women’s abilities are inferior to those of men.

In the last Philippine elections, former Vice President Leni Robredo was subjected to this disinformation campaign with trolls twisting her words to make her appear incompetent. These attacks on her reputation even targeted her children with alleged sexual scandals spreading through social media.

Meanwhile, Vice President Sara Duterte was ridiculed for her experience of being raped, with her own father dismissing her as a “drama queen.”

With the approaching 2025 Midterm Elections, wherein women take up one-sixth of the senatorial candidate list, discourse on sexism and misogyny becomes crucial once again in the political scene.

Wearing the pants

The Philippine political landscape was not always patriarchal. Before Western colonization, Filipino women held high status through various roles, from serving as Babaylans to holding political office in the Sultanate.

To this day, their fights persist in the halls of legislation. In 2024, women now make up 30.4% of the Senate and 28% percent of the House of Representatives. Although both chambers remain largely male-dominated, women’s presence is steadily rising, signaling a shift toward gender balance.

As a result, issues central to women now have more voices advocating for them, leading to the eventual passage of laws that better their living conditions. This surge in support has led to critical advancements in women’s rights, including the expansion of maternity leave, the strengthening of policies against sexual harassment, and the enhancement of reproductive health rights.

These efforts highlight the true impact of gendered representation. The more women take part in shaping policies, the more legislation reflects the realities they face—ensuring protections, opportunities, and rights that were long overlooked. This change underscores the undeniable role of women in politics, as they bring unique perspectives only they can contribute.

Still a man’s world

While policies mark progress, their lasting impact still hinges on the man in power and the woman who must work within the confines of the patriarchy to be heard.

In this environment, gendered politics in the Philippines becomes a battleground for women to forcibly align with masculine values to succeed. Women who often adopt the same hard-line tactics as their male peers are seen as more capable leaders—reflecting how conformity to patriarchal standards continues to be rewarded.

This tendency was evident in Filipinos’ preference for Sara Duterte during the 2022 elections, wherein her masculine demeanor and strongman politics were deemed as assertive.

While people are quick to accept her strongman politics, women’s masculinity still holds certain bounds, as their behavior leaning towards either masculine or feminine extremities invites criticism. During the last elections, Duterte was called names such as “tomboy” for being too tough, while Robredo was deemed “too feminine.”

In particular, Robredo’s motherly nature led some to label her as an “extraordinary housewife.” In such cases, stereotypes are leveraged as an insult to reduce women’s capabilities to gender norms, limiting their credibility in difficult political environments. However, many female leaders like Robredo have consistently shown how they are capable of maximizing their impact despite being confined to limited spaces to grow and effect change.

Across the country, women are constantly expected to uphold a certain “standard”—one that exists within a threshold of femininity and masculinity. With this belief having been culturally ingrained into the people, performing contrary to this ideal would ostracize women from traditionalists who believe that gender must not exist on a spectrum.

Sharing the load

Undeniably, misogyny persists because too many accept the status quo without question. This pattern stands true even in Philippine politics, where patriarchy has always been apparent. It was particularly heightened during the presidency of Rodrigo Duterte, when hypermasculine forms of leadership dictated his strongman politics.

His most notorious policies, like the violent War on Drugs, embodied aggressive, conventionally masculine ideals. Beyond that, he fostered a culture of misogyny, normalizing it through paternalistic rule. This narrative not only deepened the acceptance of misogyny but also glorified it to the point where rejecting feminist ideals made one more popular with the masses.

Moreover, misogyny is not only a tool wielded by men; it is also weaponized by women against other women. Internalized misogyny—shaped by the patriarchal values women are conditioned to accept—pushes them to perpetuate the very stereotypes that hold them, and others, back.

This dynamic leads to a division among women, pitting them against one another and limiting their collective power. Women who refuse to conform to the hypermasculine mold are often shut out of the political arena. Meanwhile, those who embrace these patriarchal norms become complicit, reinforcing the very system that stifles gender equality.

The result is a fractured sisterhood that further cements their marginalization in a system that cannot accept their coexistence.

Ultimately, judging politicians by their gender must end. Scrutiny should instead be directed at their ability to create policies that uplift, empower, and represent all people. This shift is essential for true equality, where women leaders are held to the same standards as their male counterparts without being subjected to gendered double standards or biases.

The solution, however, is not simply to elect more women into power. It is to elect women who are willing to break free from the constraints of patriarchy and refuse to conform to its oppressive norms. Women leaders must challenge the system rather than replicate it—understanding that true change comes from disrupting the status quo, not upholding it.

Only then can a political landscape be built where women are not only included but truly empowered—where the glass ceiling does not only contain mere cracks but is completely shattered.