Women in politics

HAVE WOMEN CHANGED THE FACE OF MODERN POLITICS? – In this year’s midterm elections scheduled for May, there are women vying for senate seats. There are also women running for positions in the House of Representatives. A good number of women are aspiring for governor, vice governor and members of the provincial board. Many other women are running for mayor, vice mayor or want to become councilors in the different cities and municipalities across the country.
Politics in a Philippine setting used to be the traditional domain of men in business, the landed genre and elite families. There was a time when all positions of power from top to bottom were exclusively dominated by men. However, time altered and reversed the tide. Since 1937 when women won the right to vote and be voted upon, there have been women who joined the political bandwagon. Many of them have been elected councilors, vice mayors, mayors, board members, vice governors, governors and members of both Houses of Congress.
President Corazon C. Aquino’s assumption to the presidency changed the face of modern politics. Women have become more vocal, more visible and gradually asserting more influence in running the affairs of government. There was a great discussion on the issues of women in power and politics. From then on, women make-up a large number securing a place in public office and the numbers keep on rising up to this time without any sign of slowing down.
There are a string of important questions during the upcoming midterm polls that require sufficient answers: “Have women politicians made a substantial impact on Philippine politics and what do their numbers mean or represent? Have they changed the system and the way of doing politics? Is there a so-called women’s vote now that our political structure is teeming with organizations and sectoral groups dealing on women’s rights?” Nonetheless, most veteran political analysts and noted legal experts presented diverse views about women in power and politics.
Some experts and women advocates argue that women constitute at least half of the population and should therefore be represented proportionately. Moreover, women’s interests on social concerns are identical those of men. With half of the population comprise of women, of course based rather on rough estimate, their potential talent and ability in public administration needs to be fully realized as provided under the Constitution. The participation of women in politics is urgently needed to advance and articulate their causes such as child care, sexuality, family planning and reproductive health and violence against women and children.
Even women candidates in the locality observed an increase in the number of women politicians in Davao City and the rest of the Davao Region. Women they say “are needed in politics because by nature they are multi-tasking, which make them great leaders.” Another lady aspirant likewise says “women are born nurturers, which is an important characteristic in politics because it can help build a strong connection between the leader and the constituents. They are also counting on a growing number of women leaders, not only in politics but in business, education and other field of endeavors as well.
But some of the more inquisitive political observers noticed that most women politicians with few exceptions are products of their rich and famous clans and clan politics, which dominate in many areas all over the country. Research and studies, as a matter of fact, have proven women politicians have taken over their husbands’ posts and how daughters and daughter-in-laws are drafted into politics after the term of their male relatives expire. Sad to lament, though, most women politicians are part of the displeasing set-up and clan-politics system. It is now a common run-through that women politicians have been carried to power and influence by the political machinery, logistics and organization of their respective clans.
What is extremely necessary during the May midterm elections and other electoral exercises thereafter are for women politicians to ensure that their causes are treated as among the nation’s pressing concerns. But in order to achieve their desired goal they must engage in scuffle against chauvinist politics and a political system that has long been dominated by filthy rich and powerful men. As the women advocates always love to say, women are now more visible and vocal in both government and the private sector than they have been before. Could this be a stern signal that women although slowly are starting to outstrip men in the political race? Well, tell that to our macho and over-bearing male leaders.