Bridging the gender gap beyond policy
Published Mar 7, 2020 12:00 am
By Vice President Leni Robredo
As Vice President, I am often asked: What is it like to be a woman in politics?
I always assume that the question is asked with good intentions in fact, usually, it comes from another woman.
Vice President Leni Robredo
(OVP / MANILA BULLETIN) Curiosity is, perhaps, the main motivation: about the situation I am in, and the challenges I face every day. Possibly wondering how a woman much like her could have taken on the role I currently hold. Curiosity that springs from more traditionally-held standards, long set by society, that still persist in viewing a woman in a leadership role as a novelty. These outdated standards have led a man to call me “incompetent and weak,” simply because I am a woman, or to talk about my legs at a public event just so he could give the crowd something to laugh about. They have paved the way for the unceasing attacks from a rabid troll army that insists on recycling rumors of numerous boyfriends and a now three-year-long pregnancy, as if I, as a woman, could and should only be defined by these things. They have emboldened a male official into telling me, in front of the media, to join anti-drug operations so I would know “what it’s like on the ground” – a challenge I am sure he would never ever think of giving the President, who has not gone on a single such operation himself. And I know I am not the only one. Women in business are distinguished as “lady boss” instead of, simply, the boss, and their presence in boardrooms is still sometimes based on an imposed quota. The sequin dress that US representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wore in a TV interview drew more attention in some quarters than the concrete policies she eloquently and courageously defends. Female aspirants for public office are often held to a much higher standard than their male opponents: they must exude both confidence and competence, but not too much, because then they will be dismissed as “shrill.” And even women artists who have reached the pinnacle of success in their careers, like Taylor Swift and Rihanna, must endure unending questions about which man they are dating, or which beauty and fitness regimens they follow, as if these were the most important and interesting aspects of their lives. Cultural biases dictate that this is still largely a man’s world, and women themselves have been conditioned to buy into this narrative. For instance, a study by leadership development experts Jack Zenger and Joseph Folkman showed that women in the corporate world “are not as generous” in rating themselves on core competencies and their effectiveness as leaders. Zenger and Folkman noted that this is rooted in a fundamental lack of confidence: based on their observations, women tend to be “more wary and less willing” to grab career opportunities, unless they are certain they meet most of the qualifications. This, even as the research highlighted how women are perceived to be “slightly more effective” in every level and at “virtually every functional area”—even by male managers. They are seen best for their initiative, resilience, and their drive for self-development and results. And while they develop, inspire, and motivate others, women can also be counted on for “high integrity and honesty,” “bold leadership,” and to “champion change.” Other studies assert that the world stands to gain more by fighting to give women more seats at the table—proving that the very stereotypes that cultural biases have confined us in are an invaluable pool of ability and strength. The World Economic Forum (WEF), citing a report from the McKinsey Global Institute, noted that advancing women’s equality could add $12 trillion to the global GDP by 2025, and that studies of economies around the world show that female participation in the economy “stimulate wider benefits” because they “generally devote more of the household budget to education, health, and nutrition than men.” Societies with greater gender equality, it said, “tend to grow faster and more equitably,” hence the need to empower women entrepreneurs and to place women “at the heart of global policymaking,” among others. Here in the Philippines, we take pride in the strides we have taken to advance the role of women in society. Though we slipped to 16th place in the 2020 Global Gender Gap Index, the WEF still noted major gains, which include Filipinas “outnumbering” men in leadership roles and professions, and closing the gap in terms of educational attainment and health and survival. But, as I pointed out previously, while these num- bers are encouraging, much still remains to be done in promoting genuine gender equality, particularly at the level of ordi- nary, day-to-day interactions. Economic empowerment Beyond these figures lie the everyday realities that many Filipinas still face as they deal with poverty, discrimination, and other challenges brought by double standards. I saw how such insecurities played out in the years that I spent working with abused women in our home city of Naga, and as a lone female lawyer in Bicol for the Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligal (SALIGAN). Being a woman did not make the task any easier. It meant being stood up by clients in court, after we spent sleepless nights preparing their cases; becoming the “enemy” of furious husbands who accused me of leading their wives astray; and watching in frustration as some of my clients would still go back to the husbands that had inflicted so much pain on them. Those years taught me about the unfortunate sacrifice that women feel they must make: The overwhelming weight of belief that the only choice was to endure the pain, humiliation, and suffering because their abusers provided for their family. These realities fueled my advocacy for women empowerment—one that begins by teaching women how to be financially independent. From this, we launched the Lakas ng Kababaihan ng Naga Federation, and later, an NGO called Bantay Familia. Not only do these groups serve to protect victims and survivors of violence in abusive relationships, but also provide training and livelihood opportunities. In turn, this economic empowerment makes these women more confident in their own abilities and in making their own choices. Lakas ng Kababaihan also takes part in the decision- making process of our local government, as part of the Naga City People’s Council. These experiences continue to be at the heart of the work that I do as Vice President. Under our flagship anti-poverty program, Angat Buhay, we have the Workshop for Aspiring Women Entrepreneurs (AB WAWE), which supports women in setting up businesses through capacity-building and seed grants. The ultimate goal of this initiative is to empower women economically, allowing them to take charge of their own lives. Here, we’ve heard stories of women as breadwinners and community leaders, of abused wives who turned to livelihood not only to provide for their kids but to heal their own wounds. With the help of our generous partners, this program has made a difference for women in Mindanao and Visayas, and this March—in line with Women’s Month—we are bringing the program to Luzon. Women power Another fruitful partnership we have entered into is the Angat Bayi Women’s Political Empowerment Program, which aims to help female local officials thrive through mentoring and other initiatives for a more gender-responsive form of governance. Following the success of its first run in 2018–2019, we recently opened Angat Bayito a second batch of elected women leaders from different parts of the country. We believe that this is an important step, not only in light of our drastic drop in closing the gap in terms of political empowerment, but also as a way to help our officials in crafting policies and programs at the local level, which will better address the actual, practical, and everyday concerns of their constituents, especially women. Through this, we hope that we can begin to cultivate a culture that opens doors for women to thrive, that empowers them to rise above the difficulties they face, whether at the home, at work, or in their respective communities. A society that lets women thrive is what we strive for, and one that I have continually pushed for—as a lawyer, a member of Congress, and now as Vice President—by both writing and advocating for legislation and creating programs that will allow all women to chart their own paths. But we must recognize that the challenge goes beyond our laws and our policies. The real gamechanger lies in thousands of little moments when we choose to consciously set aside these outdated standards that insist on a woman’s “place,” or prescribe behavior that is “proper.” It lies in the everyday conversations and interactions where we must establish, gradually yet inevitably, that women can be whoever they want to be. And it starts with each and every woman—regardless of background or occupation, education or economic capacity, personal ambition or relationship status—nurturing and bringing to bloom the belief that she should be defined not by her gender but by what she can do.
Vice President Leni Robredo(OVP / MANILA BULLETIN) Curiosity is, perhaps, the main motivation: about the situation I am in, and the challenges I face every day. Possibly wondering how a woman much like her could have taken on the role I currently hold. Curiosity that springs from more traditionally-held standards, long set by society, that still persist in viewing a woman in a leadership role as a novelty. These outdated standards have led a man to call me “incompetent and weak,” simply because I am a woman, or to talk about my legs at a public event just so he could give the crowd something to laugh about. They have paved the way for the unceasing attacks from a rabid troll army that insists on recycling rumors of numerous boyfriends and a now three-year-long pregnancy, as if I, as a woman, could and should only be defined by these things. They have emboldened a male official into telling me, in front of the media, to join anti-drug operations so I would know “what it’s like on the ground” – a challenge I am sure he would never ever think of giving the President, who has not gone on a single such operation himself. And I know I am not the only one. Women in business are distinguished as “lady boss” instead of, simply, the boss, and their presence in boardrooms is still sometimes based on an imposed quota. The sequin dress that US representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez wore in a TV interview drew more attention in some quarters than the concrete policies she eloquently and courageously defends. Female aspirants for public office are often held to a much higher standard than their male opponents: they must exude both confidence and competence, but not too much, because then they will be dismissed as “shrill.” And even women artists who have reached the pinnacle of success in their careers, like Taylor Swift and Rihanna, must endure unending questions about which man they are dating, or which beauty and fitness regimens they follow, as if these were the most important and interesting aspects of their lives. Cultural biases dictate that this is still largely a man’s world, and women themselves have been conditioned to buy into this narrative. For instance, a study by leadership development experts Jack Zenger and Joseph Folkman showed that women in the corporate world “are not as generous” in rating themselves on core competencies and their effectiveness as leaders. Zenger and Folkman noted that this is rooted in a fundamental lack of confidence: based on their observations, women tend to be “more wary and less willing” to grab career opportunities, unless they are certain they meet most of the qualifications. This, even as the research highlighted how women are perceived to be “slightly more effective” in every level and at “virtually every functional area”—even by male managers. They are seen best for their initiative, resilience, and their drive for self-development and results. And while they develop, inspire, and motivate others, women can also be counted on for “high integrity and honesty,” “bold leadership,” and to “champion change.” Other studies assert that the world stands to gain more by fighting to give women more seats at the table—proving that the very stereotypes that cultural biases have confined us in are an invaluable pool of ability and strength. The World Economic Forum (WEF), citing a report from the McKinsey Global Institute, noted that advancing women’s equality could add $12 trillion to the global GDP by 2025, and that studies of economies around the world show that female participation in the economy “stimulate wider benefits” because they “generally devote more of the household budget to education, health, and nutrition than men.” Societies with greater gender equality, it said, “tend to grow faster and more equitably,” hence the need to empower women entrepreneurs and to place women “at the heart of global policymaking,” among others. Here in the Philippines, we take pride in the strides we have taken to advance the role of women in society. Though we slipped to 16th place in the 2020 Global Gender Gap Index, the WEF still noted major gains, which include Filipinas “outnumbering” men in leadership roles and professions, and closing the gap in terms of educational attainment and health and survival. But, as I pointed out previously, while these num- bers are encouraging, much still remains to be done in promoting genuine gender equality, particularly at the level of ordi- nary, day-to-day interactions. Economic empowerment Beyond these figures lie the everyday realities that many Filipinas still face as they deal with poverty, discrimination, and other challenges brought by double standards. I saw how such insecurities played out in the years that I spent working with abused women in our home city of Naga, and as a lone female lawyer in Bicol for the Sentro ng Alternatibong Lingap Panligal (SALIGAN). Being a woman did not make the task any easier. It meant being stood up by clients in court, after we spent sleepless nights preparing their cases; becoming the “enemy” of furious husbands who accused me of leading their wives astray; and watching in frustration as some of my clients would still go back to the husbands that had inflicted so much pain on them. Those years taught me about the unfortunate sacrifice that women feel they must make: The overwhelming weight of belief that the only choice was to endure the pain, humiliation, and suffering because their abusers provided for their family. These realities fueled my advocacy for women empowerment—one that begins by teaching women how to be financially independent. From this, we launched the Lakas ng Kababaihan ng Naga Federation, and later, an NGO called Bantay Familia. Not only do these groups serve to protect victims and survivors of violence in abusive relationships, but also provide training and livelihood opportunities. In turn, this economic empowerment makes these women more confident in their own abilities and in making their own choices. Lakas ng Kababaihan also takes part in the decision- making process of our local government, as part of the Naga City People’s Council. These experiences continue to be at the heart of the work that I do as Vice President. Under our flagship anti-poverty program, Angat Buhay, we have the Workshop for Aspiring Women Entrepreneurs (AB WAWE), which supports women in setting up businesses through capacity-building and seed grants. The ultimate goal of this initiative is to empower women economically, allowing them to take charge of their own lives. Here, we’ve heard stories of women as breadwinners and community leaders, of abused wives who turned to livelihood not only to provide for their kids but to heal their own wounds. With the help of our generous partners, this program has made a difference for women in Mindanao and Visayas, and this March—in line with Women’s Month—we are bringing the program to Luzon. Women power Another fruitful partnership we have entered into is the Angat Bayi Women’s Political Empowerment Program, which aims to help female local officials thrive through mentoring and other initiatives for a more gender-responsive form of governance. Following the success of its first run in 2018–2019, we recently opened Angat Bayito a second batch of elected women leaders from different parts of the country. We believe that this is an important step, not only in light of our drastic drop in closing the gap in terms of political empowerment, but also as a way to help our officials in crafting policies and programs at the local level, which will better address the actual, practical, and everyday concerns of their constituents, especially women. Through this, we hope that we can begin to cultivate a culture that opens doors for women to thrive, that empowers them to rise above the difficulties they face, whether at the home, at work, or in their respective communities. A society that lets women thrive is what we strive for, and one that I have continually pushed for—as a lawyer, a member of Congress, and now as Vice President—by both writing and advocating for legislation and creating programs that will allow all women to chart their own paths. But we must recognize that the challenge goes beyond our laws and our policies. The real gamechanger lies in thousands of little moments when we choose to consciously set aside these outdated standards that insist on a woman’s “place,” or prescribe behavior that is “proper.” It lies in the everyday conversations and interactions where we must establish, gradually yet inevitably, that women can be whoever they want to be. And it starts with each and every woman—regardless of background or occupation, education or economic capacity, personal ambition or relationship status—nurturing and bringing to bloom the belief that she should be defined not by her gender but by what she can do.