Local and national elections 2022: Is there such a thing as a ‘women’s vote’?

The yearly commemoration of March 8 as International Women’s Day is not merely about gender equality. It is also about ensuring the welfare of women, especially the poor and marginalized. It is about providing for their socioeconomic needs, opening more opportunities for their political participation, and empowering them for their life aspirations. The poor women, most particularly female industrial workers, have long struggled and stood boldly for justice in the face of state-sanctioned repression and exploitation of the working-class women. These women dared to challenge what was, and still is the normal working-class experience — of long working hours, low wages, and indecent working conditions.

Today, we are witnesses to the ballooning of unemployed women to 1.6 million under President DuterTe. We are reminded that in 1910, during the worldwide socialist party congress, the German socialist Clara Zetkin proposed March 8 as International Women’s Day. This specific date draws our memory to March 8, 1857, when garment workers in New York City picketed and marched to demand for better and humane working conditions. Yet they were brutally beaten by the police. It was only in 1975 that the United Nations declared March 8 as International Women’s Day.

What is the value of looking back? Today, majority of Filipino women — the poor, the peasants, and the workers — belong to those who are suffering most. They are like the women in the late 1800s who fought for better working conditions, the women who fought for “bread and roses.”

Today, women, most especially mothers, are heavily burdened with the increasing prices of basic commodities. Likewise, we are all too aware that water and electricity rates are increasing and always threaten to skyrocket. In contrast, the ordinary workers’ wages have had no substantial increase for a long time—none that could support a family’s decent survival.

At this point when so many women are suffering, especially in the time of pandemic, wouldn’t it be better to honor each Filipino woman by ensuring her access to basic social services and to provisions for her economic needs? Most importantly, we need a good government, one that opens the way to the best social services and economic opportunities.

Is there such a thing as a women’s vote? Women did not have the right to suffrage then. In the Philippines, as early as 1900s, women started to fight and work to claim their right to vote. The historic day was April 30, 1937, when women gained victory as they claimed their right to suffrage and to run for public office. It was the product of women’s courage and political will to participate in the political life of the country. It was not the “prim and proper” ways expected by a patriarchal system on women that gained this political right; it was hard-earned triumph.

What makes the woman’s vote distinct? Not only will a woman look for a female leader or female leaders. She will cast her ballot for a woman and a man, for women and men who recognize that a woman’s place is in the struggle for people’s welfare and national redemption. She will cast her ballot with pride, for a leader, and leaders, who can lead us in the program of good governance. She will not entrust the nation and the future of our children to the unrepentant descendants of dictators. She will not cast her votes to corrupt liars and plunderers.

In the name of our foremothers who taught us how to struggle for our liberation, may we be guided these elections and beyond.

NORMA P. DOLLAGE
Kasimbayan Women’s Collective
kasimbayan@yahoo.com.ph