THE PERSONAL is political—this is a slogan popularized by Carol Hanisch, a second-wave feminist. This is one of my favorite quotes as it highlights how women, who have always been excluded from the political and public sphere, experience politics and power even in the so-called private sphere.

This realization would not have been possible if women had not fought for public space, visibility, and the recognition of the oppression they experience privately. However, despite this recognition, women continue to be victims of repression.

Policies protecting women, especially in the Philippines, are scarce. Given that women experience oppression in both public and private spheres, one would think that we would have more laws and policies protecting this marginalized sector.

Yet, we continue to turn a blind eye as their struggles are mostly masked under social expectations, gender norms, roles, and stereotypes. For women, this means less social protection, public influence, and even control of their personal decisions.

One of the ways women are being controlled and restricted is through access to reproductive and sexual health care. I understood this predicament more after giving birth.

After my follow-up checkup with my obstetrician (OB), I asked for birth control prescriptions. She told me she does not prescribe any form of birth control as it goes against her faith. I understood and just opted to find another doctor. Strike 1.

Luckily, our local health center offered me a free implant. I was glad, as this shows that women now have more free and available options, despite some unsolicited side comments. I was told “‘wag mo agad ipapatanggal ‘yan, mahal yan, ‘wag mong sayangin.”

After a year, the negative side effects of the implant started to show, so I had to find another OB. I went to this specialized clinic promoting a safe space for women to get their reproductive and sexual health services. I thought, why not try it, maybe I would find a more progressive doctor. Unfortunately, I was wrong.

The female doctor, instead of listening to me and respecting my bodily autonomy, insisted that I take out my implant, as it was the “best time” to have another child and that the “best gift” I could give my child is a sibling. Despite telling her about my plans for myself, my husband, and our family, she still strongly insisted. Strike 2. So much for advocating for sexual and reproductive health.

Instead of coming back, I became uncomfortable with the clinic and did not want to continue arguing about my right to decide for my family and me.

On my third attempt, I went to a hospital I was familiar with and tried my luck with a doctor suggested by the information desk. This new OB was generally okay, despite a new set of side comments about having another child and my weight. What surprised me was how expensive it was to have the implant removed. I was also asked by the OB to undergo pap smear—a routine checkup women my age need. However, it came with a hefty price. For that single OB visit, I had to shell out Php 13,000. Strike 3.

This whole experience made me realize two things: 1) finding an OB-Gyne that would respect a woman’s bodily autonomy is difficult, and 2) reproductive and sexual health services are expensive, and usually not covered by health insurance. The personal is indeed controlled by politics—access to even the most basic services is heavily affected by policies and those who make them.

Despite the passage of the RH Law, women’s access to sexual and reproductive health services is still restricted and controlled. Most women are still unfamiliar with this law and what services should be free for them.

At the same time, the budget allocated for reproductive and sexual health services cannot fully cover most of the services women, especially indigent ones, need. Moreover, young women continue to be judged when they try to access sexual health services like birth control pills or when they want to explore the topic of sexuality. This treatment makes women vulnerable to sexually transmitted diseases and unwanted early pregnancies.

The personal is, indeed, political. Politics greatly impacts even the most personal decisions and choices of women, so stop saying that women should stay away from politics, or that women have no business meddling in it. Women need to make their presence known and be instrumental in continuously improving their condition and position in society. Remember, girls just want to have fun…damental human rights.

Mariel is an Instructor at the Ateneo de Manila University Political Science Department. She obtained her Master of Arts in Women and Development from the University of the Philippines – Diliman, and Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at the University of the Philippines – Manila. Her advocacies are on sexual and reproductive health rights, adolescent reproductive health rights, care policies, and gender and women’s rights.

Editor’s Note: The views and opinions expressed by the opinion writer do not necessarily state or reflect those of the publication.