“It is they who will focus their work so women’s issues are given the attention they deserve and see to it that problems are addressed.”
The Philippine feminist movement has contributed much to the advancement of Filipino women’s rights. For many years, the country has been scoring quite high in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) Global Gender Gap Index. From 2006 to 2018, the Philippines consistently ranked among the world’s top ten (10) countries in addressing gender gap. We ranked 5th in 2013, 6th in 2006 to 2008, 7th in 2015 and 2016, 8th in 2011, 2012, and 2018, 9th in 2009, 2010, and 2014, and 10th in 2017. However, there have been significant drops in our ranking from 2019 and 2020 (16th) and 2021 (17th).
The country’s very impressive showing in previous years was not due to luck or coincidence. Those who possess historical memory of the Philippine feminist movements in the late 80s to early 2000s may attribute the country’s great showing to the relentless work done by women’s rights organizations (WROs) and the support to addressing women’s issues by the international development community. This was during the period following the United Nation’s World Conference on Women in Beijing where Filipino feminist leadership was showcased. Several Filipina feminist leaders were among the movers and shakers of this important UN conference.
The Philippines’ case is proof that investing in women works. Money for WROs is money well-spent, not only for the women themselves, but also for the country’s international image, at the very least. Feminists, or those who recognize the existing inequalities between women and men and are working to change the situation, have succeeded in some ways in advancing women’s status in society.
When democratic space reopened after the 1986 EDSA revolt, WROs mushroomed. These groups started addressing long-neglected women’s problems. Feminist groups embarked on organizing grassroots and community women and those in marginalized sectors like workers, farmers, urban poor, youth, and indigenous peoples. Feminist coalitions used legislative advocacy as a major strategy to pursue women’s rights.
These resulted in vibrant and robust feminist movements that worked for the passage of significant women’s rights laws including the anti-sexual harassment, rape, violence against women and their children, and trafficking in persons laws. Pro-women programs were also initiated especially during the UN Decade for Women. These include feminist counseling; safe houses, legal, and medical assistance for VAW victims/survivors; and livelihood and other support programs for grassroots and urban poor women.
Feminists were also the first to question gender inequality in families and personal relationships. WROs were leading the way in countering a patriarchal culture toward women’s empowerment and gender equality.
The results of these initiatives bore fruit as Filipino women started enjoying more rights in their personal, socio-economic, and political lives. It was then when the country got increasing attention from the world as evidenced by the Gender Gap Index ratings.
However, after the UN Decade for Women, support for WROs’ work significantly dwindled as the international strategy to address women’s issues shifted to gender mainstreaming. In the Philippines, since patriarchal culture is widely entrenched and deeply rooted, the work of feminists was far from over. Over time because of difficulty to survive, many WROs have ceased to exist and many of those that remained had to downsize operations. Organizations find it very difficult to do significant work because of extreme funding limitations. Thus, in general, the Philippine feminist movements weakened. This is a major problem.
Notwithstanding the challenges, feminist groups that survived remain on track in their work. Their continuous advocacy has led to the passage of the Magna Carta of Women, Reproductive Health, Expanded Maternity Leave, and Safe Spaces laws. These I know because of my personal involvement in all these successful advocacies.
Since 2016 however, the country’s political climate has greatly changed. The present administration manifests strong authoritarian tendencies and does not care much for human and women’s rights. Anti-women officials, and even ordinary people, are emboldened by what they see and hear from the highest official of the country himself. Sexism and misogyny are reinforced that women’s rights are violated and the gains of the feminist movements are dissipating. The feminists’ work has become even more complicated and difficult.
Alongside these political changes, the country’s ranking in the Gender Gap Index has significantly slid down. This may be attributed to, amongs, the weak implementation of pro-women laws, the obvious attacks on their rights, and the absence of a vibrant feminist movement to adequately counter these attacks.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in making life more difficult for everyone but more so for poor community women. Too many suffer from extreme poverty due to loss of jobs and livelihood, many are abused and violated, their unpaid care work has become heavier, and their access to basic services like health has become more problematic. Even in terms of participation in online activities that can benefit them, poor women are seriously hampered with lack of access to gadgets, internet, and knowledge on digital technology use. Poor community women are marginalized twice over.
It is during times like this that the work of WROs is even more important. It is the feminists who will focus their work so women’s issues are given the attention they deserve and see to it that problems are addressed.
Feminism matters during this time, it is crucial.
@bethangsioco on Twitter; Elizabeth Angsioco on Facebook