Amplifying Women’s Voices

One Billion Rising | CMFR File Photo

CHEERS TO online news site Rappler and ABS-CBN 2’s Bandila for amplifying the voice of women against the misogynistic tirades and sexist comments of President Rodrigo Duterte. While most media ignored the social media campaign #BabaeAko (I am a woman) when this was launched May 20, the two organizations reported the event, as the rest of media should have done.

Two years in office, Duterte has been given the widest latitude to demonstrate his offensive outlook toward women: He joked about rape during his campaign, catcalled a reporter, and instructed soldiers to shoot female rebels in their vaginas. He would resort to dirty jokes, made light of the womanizing of soldiers or police, even expressing approval of their having many wives. Numerous occasions had him calling out women, making fun of whatever he chose to joke about, objectifying females as though they were not human.

Media reporting on his speeches note this retrograde view of women as though there were nothing wrong with it, presenting it as a new norm that, such reporting tends to suggest, Filipinos have no choice but to accept.

Speaking to Palace reporters on May 16, Duterte commented on outgoing Ombudsman Conchita Carpio Morales who is set to retire in July and ousted Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. The President said on the qualifications of the next Ombudsman and Chief Justice, “I want someone whose integrity people believe in. Of course, it could not be a politician, especially not a woman.” This proclamation along with his string of anti-women remarks in the past prompted different individual and women organizations to join together to launch #BabaeAko (I am a Woman), a social media platform and campaign. This has gained following not just from women but also from men.

#BabaeAko started as a video campaign. The videos begin with a short introduction about the person in the video followed by a message to the President. All videos end with an assertion, “#LalabanAko” (I will fight).

The campaign has evolved since it was launched as people started posting photos, memes and statuses in Facebook and Twitter as a form of protest. As of press time, the hashtag was used in 701 posts in Twitter and has made 4,674,519 impressions.

Rappler explained in its May 21 report that the campaign aims to fight back against the misogynistic and sexist behavior of the President and his allies. Rappler asked in the end of its story, “As a Filipina, what would you like to tell the President Duterte about his treatment of women?” — an open call to discuss the issue with their audience and to support the ongoing campaign (“#BabaeAko campaign: Filipino women fight back against Duterte’s misogyny“).

Bandila, on May 22, interviewed journalist Inday Varona who said that women should unite to challenge how the President treat and view women. Other prominent figures who joined the campaign were Senator Leila De Lima, Former DSWD Secretary Judy Taguiwalo who was appointed by Duterte and activist Mae Paner (Juana Change) (“#BabaeAko laban sa umano’y pang-aalipusta ni Duterte sa kababaihan, inilunsad“).

Other media organizations reported the campaign only after Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque and Special Assistant to the President Bong Go reacted to it. Bong Go said that the campaign was “unfair” and “clearly political.” Roque, on the other hand, said that the President’s remarks were “mere play of words” and that key cabinet positions in the government were given to women. Sadly, these responses were reported, without providing adequate information about the campaign itself.

Just days after the campaign gained traction in social media, Duterte made yet another anti-women sentiment on his speech in Davao when he said women can’t stand threats and intimidation. In the same speech he also aired his reservations on deploying female soldiers and police because women are “prim and proper,” and are not used to violence and combat as men are.

#BabaeAko campaign continues. In a country where women are assaulted and threatened despite existing laws protecting their rights, media should continue to report about women, their issues and their efforts to uphold their rights. Even the journalists need to check their gender quotient (GQ) as they gather and report news. The president’s misogynistic tendencies, the patriarchal outlook of leaders as well as the pull of the “macho” culture needs to be constantly checked and challenged. And the media should do its part.