The ''Babae Ako'' movement ( movement; stylized as #BabaeAko) is a

women's rights Women's rights are the rights and entitlements claimed for women and girls worldwide. They formed the basis for the women's rights movement in the 19th century and the feminist movements during the 20th and 21st centuries. In some countries, ...

movement in the Philippines. It was launched on May 20, 2018 as a social media campaign when twelve women of various political persuasions got together to launch a public campaign calling out what they perceived as anti-women remarks made by President Rodrigo Duterte. The social media campaign eventually took the form of live protests later held under the movement. The founders of the movement were included among the "25 Most Influential People on the Internet in 2018" list by ''

Time Time is the continued sequence of existence and events that occurs in an apparently irreversible succession from the past, through the present, into the future. It is a component quantity of various measurements used to sequence events, ...

''.

History

The Babae Ako movement started out as an

online campaign A protest (also called a demonstration, remonstration or remonstrance) is a public expression of objection, disapproval or dissent towards an idea or action, typically a political one. Protests can be thought of as acts of coopera ...

in May 2018. It was a response to President Rodrigo Duterte's various remarks which was seen as misogynist by critics. Among these statements was President Duterte's ruling out any female successor to outgoing Ombudsman

Conchita Carpio-Morales Conchita Carpio-Morales (; born Conchita Claudio Carpio; June 19, 1941) is a former Ombudsman of the Philippines serving from 2011 to 2018. Prior to her appointment as Ombudsman, she held the post of Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the ...

who was to retire on July 26, 2018, and said that he wanted a person with integrity but preferably not a woman to succeed

Maria Lourdes Sereno Maria Lourdes "Meilou" Aranal Sereno (; born Maria Lourdes Punzalan Aranal; July 2, 1960) is a Filipina lawyer and judge who served as de facto chief justice of the Supreme Court of the Philippines from 2012 until her removal in 2018. Appoin ...

, who was removed from her post in a quo warranto petition. Days after Duterte made the remark on the Ombudsman post, Babae Ako convenors launched the social media campaign which also drew in the participation of former Social Welfare Secretary Judy Taguiwalo. Convenors of Babae Ako include journalist Inday Espina-Varona, actress Mae Paner, Socorro Reyes of Baigani, Edna Aquino of LODI,

Coalition Against Trafficking in Women The Coalition Against Trafficking in Women (CATW) is an international non-governmental organization opposing human trafficking, prostitution, and other forms of commercial sex. Views CATW is rooted in a feminist point of view. Its definition of ...

chief for Asia Pacific Jean Enriquez, Zena Bernardo of Bahay Amihan, lawyer Susan Villanueva, Annelle Gumihid-Sabanal of Christians for Life and Democracy (CLAD), Melba Magay and Fhabi Fajardo of the Institute for Studies in Asian Church and Culture (ISACC), Sharon Cabusao-Silva of Voices of Women for Justice and Peace (VoWJP), Gert Ranjo-Libang of the

Gabriela Women's Party The Gabriela Women's Party (General Assembly Binding Women for Integrity, Reform, Equality, Leadership and Action) or simply GABRIELA, is a progressive Filipino political party that advocates for women's issues and represents Filipino women in th ...

and Marielle Rugas of Girls for Peace. The movement was a concept originally proposed by Bernardo. In response to President Rodrigo Duterte kissing a married Filipino woman in South Korea amidst applause from supporters on June 3, 2018, Babae Ako mobilized its supporters and encouraged women to post video messages addressed to Duterte followed by a pledge of "lalaban ako" (). The online campaign later led to in-person activism, as demonstrators marching under the Babae Ako movement organized a protest during Independence Day on June 12, 2018. The protest was attended by 1,000 to 1,500 people, including men.

Political positions

Women in politics

The Babae Ako movement has condemned President Rodrigo Duterte's remarks on his preference in hiring a successor to former Chief Justice

, who was removed from her post in a quo warranto petition. He has said that Sereno's successor should have integrity, and be "especially not a woman."

Reception

Daughter of President Rodrigo Duterte, Sara Duterte said that the movement is doomed to failure because she believes her father is not a

misogynist Misogyny () is hatred of, contempt for, or prejudice against women. It is a form of sexism that is used to keep women at a lower social status than men, thus maintaining the societal roles of patriarchy. Misogyny has been widely practiced f ...

. A few weeks later, the people behind the Babae Ako movement were named as among the "25 Most Influential People on the Internet in 2018" by ''Time''.

References

External links