Hindrances in Participation

While improvements, laws, policies, conventions, and agreements are in place, women still face significant challenges to participate in policymaking. Barriers to bringing gender equality to true fruition remain in the political domains, such as insufficient financial resources, prevailing sexism, and state repression, which serve as cultural and structural hurdles (Sinpeng and Savirani, 2022). Political parties emerge as pivotal gatekeepers, determining candidate selection, rankings, and electoral constituencies, often favoring male candidates due to deep-rooted biases and systemic preferences (Tan and Bong, 2022). Furthermore, women leaders encounter heightened instances of state repression, intimidation, and online harassment, particularly in countries with low levels of democracy, underscoring the pervasive nature of violence against women in politics (VAWP) (Casayuran, 2019).

Additionally, structural issues make these challenges worse. Factors like religion, income, and education strongly predict resistance to women in political leadership. Grassroots women leaders contend with additional barriers in accessing power and influence while facing heightened vulnerability to state and online violence, particularly with former Vice President Leni Robredo and former Senator Leila De Lima. Despite these obstacles, addressing VAWP is crucial to safeguarding women’s political rights and fostering inclusive governance in the Philippines. 

Advocating for Things That Matter

Gender inequalities hinder growth, development, and poverty reduction, requiring women’s equal participation and leadership in politics and public life to achieve sustainable progress and democracy. Filipina leaders tend to advocate for policies focused on education, social welfare, and public health, leading to advancements in women’s status and a more equitable society (Daffón, 2023). Thus, there is a need for increased female participation in decision-making roles to drive crucial policy changes for gender equality. 

Filipinas also play a unique­ role in leading environmental conse­rvation and climate action, which are key contributions to sustainable developme­nt. Wome­n often leads in sustainable re­source management practice­s (Fairman, 2016). Indigenous women prese­rve traditional ecological knowledge­. Their leadership and knowle­dge are crucial for transformational policies and conse­rvation practices. Therefore­, it is integral to promote women’s participation in politics and environmental sphe­res. It advances the fulfillment of the Sustainable­ Development Goals (SDGs) and e­nsures a more just and equitable­ future for all.

The substantial representation of Filipinas in policymaking holds the potential to serve as inspiration for neighboring countries within Southeast Asia. Integrating women political leaders into wider policy spaces is imperative for understanding the nuances of political leadership across the region. For instance, Women Parliamentarians of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (WAIPA), the Asian Women Parliamentarian Caucus, and the Women Parliamentarians in the recently concluded 31st Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum provide women opportunities to foster camaraderie and lead policy discussions.

While numerous countries in the Southeast Asian region exhibit autocratic tendencies, characterized by non-elected leaders wielding substantial power, it is noteworthy that grassroots civil society members often assume informal roles that wield considerable influence and can precipitate political transformations. Thus, despite formal structures, the informal influence wielded by grassroots civil society members remains crucial in shaping political dynamics and fostering change.