Leila de Lima Sounds Alarm on the Quiet Attacks Women Face in Politics
Leila de Lima | Source: GMA Integrated News
At a regional democracy forum in Asia, lawmakers and political advocates warned that violence against women in politics does not always come in physical form. Instead, it often shows up through sexist attacks, online trolling, objectification, and pressure that quietly pushes women out of public life.
During the Council of Asian Liberals and Democrats forum, House Deputy Minority Leader Leila de Lima said women in Philippine politics may be visible, but many still move through a deeply patriarchal and masculine political system. She said that when she challenged former president Rodrigo Duterte's bloody anti-drug campaign, she was met with attacks rooted in sexism, slut-shaming, and hate speech.
De Lima argued that this kind of treatment is not just personal harm but a threat to democracy itself. When women are mocked, boxed in, or pushed out by structural barriers, she said public participation shrinks and institutions lose legitimacy because fewer citizens feel represented and protected.
Michelle Wu of Taiwan's Democratic Progressive Party added that women in politics are often forced into unfair choices between public service and motherhood. She said society still expects women to become wives or caretakers first, while male politicians are rarely made to face the same dilemma.
Thai political figure V Srivarathanabul echoed the point, saying women are still judged for looks, clothing, and behavior in ways that are framed as professional standards but were built around male norms. Their shared message was simple: democracy gets weaker when women are punished for showing up.
Source: GMA Integrated News
