The Price of ‘Machismo Populism’ in the Philippines
Ana P.
Santos, The Atlantic, june 7, 2018
Santos, The Atlantic, june 7, 2018
Rodrigo
Duterte and his supporters pass off his behavior as innocent. But it says
something deeper about how he governs.
Duterte and his supporters pass off his behavior as innocent. But it says
something deeper about how he governs.
The kiss
drew outrage and disgust, but not surprise. At a gathering of Filipino migrant
workers in South Korea, Rodrigo Duterte, the president of the Philippines,
unexpectedly kissed Bea Kim, a Filipino migrant worker, on the lips. Kim, who
is married to a Korean national, later gave an interview to a state-run
television network in which she said the kiss was meant only to entertain and
titillate the crowd of mostly Duterte supporters and fans like her. “There was
no malice in it. For me, for him, it didn’t mean anything,” Kim said in the interview. Harry Roque,
the president’s spokesperson, said “obviously, there is no offended party here.
The lady who was kissed has clearly expressed the view that she was honored
with the kiss.”
drew outrage and disgust, but not surprise. At a gathering of Filipino migrant
workers in South Korea, Rodrigo Duterte, the president of the Philippines,
unexpectedly kissed Bea Kim, a Filipino migrant worker, on the lips. Kim, who
is married to a Korean national, later gave an interview to a state-run
television network in which she said the kiss was meant only to entertain and
titillate the crowd of mostly Duterte supporters and fans like her. “There was
no malice in it. For me, for him, it didn’t mean anything,” Kim said in the interview. Harry Roque,
the president’s spokesperson, said “obviously, there is no offended party here.
The lady who was kissed has clearly expressed the view that she was honored
with the kiss.”
Women’s-rights
groups and activists slammed the incident as a “despicable display of sexism.”
“Even if the act was consensual, it was the president, possessed of awesome,
even intimidating, power, who initiated it. It was not a meeting of two
consenting individuals on equal terms. Uneven power relations were clearly at
play. And President Duterte took advantage of that severe power disparity,”
Senator Risa Hontiveros said in a statement.
groups and activists slammed the incident as a “despicable display of sexism.”
“Even if the act was consensual, it was the president, possessed of awesome,
even intimidating, power, who initiated it. It was not a meeting of two
consenting individuals on equal terms. Uneven power relations were clearly at
play. And President Duterte took advantage of that severe power disparity,”
Senator Risa Hontiveros said in a statement.
Displays
of sexism are nothing new for the 73-year-old Duterte, who often flaunts his
machismo. During the 2016 campaign, he was often photographed with young women
sitting on his lap, and sometimes kissed them on the cheek or lips. Later, he
drew repeated condemnation for his insults and misogynistic remarks: A rape joke
about an Australian nun, and another joke about ordering soldiers to shoot
female rebels in the vagina because “they are nothing without it,” an assurance
to soldiers fighting ISIS affiliates in southern Philippines that they could rape
up to three women and he would protect them.
of sexism are nothing new for the 73-year-old Duterte, who often flaunts his
machismo. During the 2016 campaign, he was often photographed with young women
sitting on his lap, and sometimes kissed them on the cheek or lips. Later, he
drew repeated condemnation for his insults and misogynistic remarks: A rape joke
about an Australian nun, and another joke about ordering soldiers to shoot
female rebels in the vagina because “they are nothing without it,” an assurance
to soldiers fighting ISIS affiliates in southern Philippines that they could rape
up to three women and he would protect them.
Yet
Duterte also tried to project the image of a sweet-talking Casanova, often
talking about how much he loved women—a foul-mouthed bad boy with a soft side.
Most of his followers, who proudly call themselves DDS (Die-hard Duterte
Supporters), view him as a father figure. Many affectionately called him by the
nickname Tatay Digong, or “Daddy Digong.”
Duterte also tried to project the image of a sweet-talking Casanova, often
talking about how much he loved women—a foul-mouthed bad boy with a soft side.
Most of his followers, who proudly call themselves DDS (Die-hard Duterte
Supporters), view him as a father figure. Many affectionately called him by the
nickname Tatay Digong, or “Daddy Digong.”
But
Duterte’s two-year-old presidency has revealed Daddy Digong’s vindictive side,
one he tends to show when women have dared to call out his crude behavior or
oppose the controversial policies like his brutal war on drugs, which has left
thousands of suspected drug users and pushers dead.
Duterte’s two-year-old presidency has revealed Daddy Digong’s vindictive side,
one he tends to show when women have dared to call out his crude behavior or
oppose the controversial policies like his brutal war on drugs, which has left
thousands of suspected drug users and pushers dead.
When
Senator Leila de Lima, one of Duterte’s most vocal critics, called for an
investigation into the drug war, the president relentlessly vilified her in his
speeches, promising
to “destroy her, make her cry and let her rot in jail.” In early 2017, de Lima
was charged with drug trafficking—an unbailable offense—and detained. She
denied the charges but remains in detention, awaiting a trial that may never
come, at least while Duterte remains in office.
Senator Leila de Lima, one of Duterte’s most vocal critics, called for an
investigation into the drug war, the president relentlessly vilified her in his
speeches, promising
to “destroy her, make her cry and let her rot in jail.” In early 2017, de Lima
was charged with drug trafficking—an unbailable offense—and detained. She
denied the charges but remains in detention, awaiting a trial that may never
come, at least while Duterte remains in office.
Most
recently, Lourdes Sereno, the Philippines’ first woman chief justice, faced
impeachment for allegedly evading taxes and failing to declare her assets. Like
De Lima, Sereno opposed Duterte’s drug war and his declaration of martial law
in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, which was overrun by
ISIS-affiliated terrorists in May 2017. Sereno claimed that the move against
her had “the imprimatur of the president;” in response, Duterte declared her
his enemy, and promised he would have her immediately impeached. Following a
vote from her fellow justices, Sereno was removed
from her post.
recently, Lourdes Sereno, the Philippines’ first woman chief justice, faced
impeachment for allegedly evading taxes and failing to declare her assets. Like
De Lima, Sereno opposed Duterte’s drug war and his declaration of martial law
in the southern Philippine island of Mindanao, which was overrun by
ISIS-affiliated terrorists in May 2017. Sereno claimed that the move against
her had “the imprimatur of the president;” in response, Duterte declared her
his enemy, and promised he would have her immediately impeached. Following a
vote from her fellow justices, Sereno was removed
from her post.
For many
political analysts, Sereno’s removal was not just an act of vindication for
Duterte: It represented the collapse of an independent
judiciary, and the further consolidation of power under Duterte, who
has said he will not choose a woman to succeed Sereno.
political analysts, Sereno’s removal was not just an act of vindication for
Duterte: It represented the collapse of an independent
judiciary, and the further consolidation of power under Duterte, who
has said he will not choose a woman to succeed Sereno.
Duterte’s
blatant sexism and misogyny, and the way his supporters applaud it and other
Filipinos seems to tolerate or ignore it, come into direct tension with the
advancements of women in Philippine society. Two women have served as president
of the Philippines, an achievement that many developed nations cannot claim.
(Both came into power by overthrowing a sitting male president.) A recent
McKinsey Global Institute report also showed that the Philippines leads the
Asia-Pacific Region on gender equality in the workplace.
The country has also consistently ranked among the top 10 countries
in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap report, which recognizes gender
equality in labor force participation, education, health, and political
empowerment.
blatant sexism and misogyny, and the way his supporters applaud it and other
Filipinos seems to tolerate or ignore it, come into direct tension with the
advancements of women in Philippine society. Two women have served as president
of the Philippines, an achievement that many developed nations cannot claim.
(Both came into power by overthrowing a sitting male president.) A recent
McKinsey Global Institute report also showed that the Philippines leads the
Asia-Pacific Region on gender equality in the workplace.
The country has also consistently ranked among the top 10 countries
in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap report, which recognizes gender
equality in labor force participation, education, health, and political
empowerment.
And yet:
Duterte managed to tap into a sexist strain that has long festered just beneath
the surface.
Duterte managed to tap into a sexist strain that has long festered just beneath
the surface.
While
Duterte’s crude displays are unprecedented for national politicians, they are
not a radical departure for the male archetype that many Filipino women have
grown up with. In their country’s conservative, devout Catholic culture, elders
are often accorded an almost-unquestionable respect, which may explain
why supporters have embraced Duterte as a father figure, as Daddy Digong. “I
suspect it’s easy to blur the lines about consent when you shift the context to
‘elder relative and younger relative.’ It’s not far-reaching to apply this to
Duterte given the way his followers have embraced him as a father figure and
laugh off his sleazy behavior the way they laugh off a creepy Uncle,” said
Marla Darwin, one of the founders of the feminist group Grrrl Gang Manila.
Duterte’s crude displays are unprecedented for national politicians, they are
not a radical departure for the male archetype that many Filipino women have
grown up with. In their country’s conservative, devout Catholic culture, elders
are often accorded an almost-unquestionable respect, which may explain
why supporters have embraced Duterte as a father figure, as Daddy Digong. “I
suspect it’s easy to blur the lines about consent when you shift the context to
‘elder relative and younger relative.’ It’s not far-reaching to apply this to
Duterte given the way his followers have embraced him as a father figure and
laugh off his sleazy behavior the way they laugh off a creepy Uncle,” said
Marla Darwin, one of the founders of the feminist group Grrrl Gang Manila.
One line
of defense
used by presidential spokesperson Harry Roque to justify Duterte’s kiss: It was
“a playful act” and showed “a light moment that is acceptable in Filipino
culture.” Darwin has heard many stories from girlfriends about unwanted
advances from men, passed off as seemingly innocuous moments. “My girlhood was
littered with stories of older male relatives sticking their tongues into
mouths and ears of young girls—or worse—and having to recap these uncomfortable
stories in whispers when we’re older. There is still this societal familial
expectation to laugh it off, keep it under wraps, and to essentially let it go
because ‘boys will be boys,’’” she said.
of defense
used by presidential spokesperson Harry Roque to justify Duterte’s kiss: It was
“a playful act” and showed “a light moment that is acceptable in Filipino
culture.” Darwin has heard many stories from girlfriends about unwanted
advances from men, passed off as seemingly innocuous moments. “My girlhood was
littered with stories of older male relatives sticking their tongues into
mouths and ears of young girls—or worse—and having to recap these uncomfortable
stories in whispers when we’re older. There is still this societal familial
expectation to laugh it off, keep it under wraps, and to essentially let it go
because ‘boys will be boys,’’” she said.
Male
action stars popularized in Philippines’ cinema and telenovelas who save the
day seemingly using nothing more than braggadocio, and noontime variety shows
where scantily clad women dance and male hosts flirt with them, glorify
machismo and normalize sexist behavior.
action stars popularized in Philippines’ cinema and telenovelas who save the
day seemingly using nothing more than braggadocio, and noontime variety shows
where scantily clad women dance and male hosts flirt with them, glorify
machismo and normalize sexist behavior.
Duterte
capitalizes on this.“Duterte’s brand of machismo is familiar to many Filipinos.
It is combination of a tough father who would fight until the end for his
family and a drunk uncle who is usually charming but would make people
uncomfortable in family reunions for his inane comments. The president’s
personality is both complex yet familiar, which perhaps explains why some
people give him a free pass because they have given a lot of other men a free
pass before,” explained the sociologist Nicole Curato.
capitalizes on this.“Duterte’s brand of machismo is familiar to many Filipinos.
It is combination of a tough father who would fight until the end for his
family and a drunk uncle who is usually charming but would make people
uncomfortable in family reunions for his inane comments. The president’s
personality is both complex yet familiar, which perhaps explains why some
people give him a free pass because they have given a lot of other men a free
pass before,” explained the sociologist Nicole Curato.
“Misogyny
is deeply entrenched in Philippine society and culture,” said Betty Romero, a
teacher and activist. Romero is one of the organizers of #BabaeAko (or “I am a
Woman”), an online campaign of women’s rights advocates and activists that
started in late May after Sereno’s removal. “We want to send a very clear
message that this attitude and this behavior is simply unacceptable,” Romero
added.
is deeply entrenched in Philippine society and culture,” said Betty Romero, a
teacher and activist. Romero is one of the organizers of #BabaeAko (or “I am a
Woman”), an online campaign of women’s rights advocates and activists that
started in late May after Sereno’s removal. “We want to send a very clear
message that this attitude and this behavior is simply unacceptable,” Romero
added.
Others
warn about the long-term impacts of letting Duterte’s behavior slide. “It is a
war of attrition—a lot of our fragile gains on women’s rights are being undone
and we are fighting to hold the line,” said Sharmila Parmanand, a Filipina who
is a gender studies PhD candidate at the University of Cambridge. She lamented
how the onslaught of insults and brash behavior from the highest official in the
land have unleashed the same kind of repulsive behavior from other government
officials.
warn about the long-term impacts of letting Duterte’s behavior slide. “It is a
war of attrition—a lot of our fragile gains on women’s rights are being undone
and we are fighting to hold the line,” said Sharmila Parmanand, a Filipina who
is a gender studies PhD candidate at the University of Cambridge. She lamented
how the onslaught of insults and brash behavior from the highest official in the
land have unleashed the same kind of repulsive behavior from other government
officials.
Women’s
rights activists, together with the University of the Philippines College
Department of Women and Development studies, have set up a Facebook page
called “Bantay Bastos” (roughly translated into “Vulgarity Watch”) where
citizens could report public figures for promoting comments and actions that
degrade and harm women. “We now have to go back to explain why rape jokes are
offensive and or that public officials shouldn’t use their authority to solicit
physical intimacy from women. People in power are making excuses for
these transgressions and we are spending more time firefighting against them,”
Parmanand said.
rights activists, together with the University of the Philippines College
Department of Women and Development studies, have set up a Facebook page
called “Bantay Bastos” (roughly translated into “Vulgarity Watch”) where
citizens could report public figures for promoting comments and actions that
degrade and harm women. “We now have to go back to explain why rape jokes are
offensive and or that public officials shouldn’t use their authority to solicit
physical intimacy from women. People in power are making excuses for
these transgressions and we are spending more time firefighting against them,”
Parmanand said.
There
have been other pockets of resistance from women’s groups, usually sparked by
Duterte’s actions against women. But feminist Ninotchka Rosca says what is
needed is a sustained campaign that will have both the traction and the clamor
to call out Duterte. “I surmise that with the pressure of relentless murders
and a barrage of insanity from Duterte supporters, women’s issues could have
been sidelined momentarily,” Rosca said.
have been other pockets of resistance from women’s groups, usually sparked by
Duterte’s actions against women. But feminist Ninotchka Rosca says what is
needed is a sustained campaign that will have both the traction and the clamor
to call out Duterte. “I surmise that with the pressure of relentless murders
and a barrage of insanity from Duterte supporters, women’s issues could have
been sidelined momentarily,” Rosca said.
This is
especially worrying in the current Philippine context, amid the chaos of the
drug war, geopolitical tensions caused by Duterte’s pivot to China, and
skyrocketing inflation. “The greatest tragedy of Duterte’s incontinence, often
with … sexual dimensions, is how it exhausts the national energy. It drives
the diplomatic and press teams constantly into overdrive and distracts the
country from real and complex policy challenges. Distraction from urgent
national concerns is the greatest price of machismo populism,” said the
political analyst Richard Heydarian.
especially worrying in the current Philippine context, amid the chaos of the
drug war, geopolitical tensions caused by Duterte’s pivot to China, and
skyrocketing inflation. “The greatest tragedy of Duterte’s incontinence, often
with … sexual dimensions, is how it exhausts the national energy. It drives
the diplomatic and press teams constantly into overdrive and distracts the
country from real and complex policy challenges. Distraction from urgent
national concerns is the greatest price of machismo populism,” said the
political analyst Richard Heydarian.
