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Women’s representation in local politics: Evidence from The Philippines

Author

Listed:
  • Valente, Jordan
  • Moreno, Frede

Abstract

Although at the beginning of the 21st century, over 95 percent of all countries in the world have granted women the right to vote and the right to stand for election (Ballington & Karam, 2005), gender equality in terms of representation in political structures remains to be a challenge around the world. This study seeks to determine the level of political representation of women at the level of the smallest unit of Philippine government—the village or barangay. Data comparison—within a span of 11 years—using the results of the July 15, 2002 and October 28, 2013 barangay elections, shows an increase of women’s representation in the 98 barangays of Zamboanga City, Philippines. After the 2013 barangay elections, the total number of female Barangay Captains increased to 14 compared to 8 in the 2002 election results. A total of 159 female Barangay Councilors were also elected in 2013, an increase of 14 percent compared to the 139 female councilors who won in the 2002 elections. The increasing number of elected female barangay officials in 2013 reached 173 women (22 percent) compared to 147 (19 percent) in 2002. In year 2013, a total of 147 women (18.75 percent) were elected as barangay officials out of 784 barangay positions throughout the city. The study concludes that women’s participation in politics at the barangay level is directly and inversely proportional to the representation of men in the same political structures. While existing laws and pertinent public policies promoting women’s equal representation with men in local politics and the efforts to improve the political landscape for women around the world, still the political structures, even at the smallest unit of the government, is a male-dominated arena.

Suggested Citation

  • Valente, Jordan & Moreno, Frede, 2014. "Women’s representation in local politics: Evidence from The Philippines," MPRA Paper 57903, University Library of Munich, Germany, revised 13 Aug 2014.
  • Handle: RePEc:pra:mprapa:57903
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    File URL: https://mpra.ub.uni-muenchen.de/57903/1/MPRA_paper_57903.pdf
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mona Lena Krook & Pippa Norris, 2014. "Beyond Quotas: Strategies to Promote Gender Equality in Elected Office," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 62(1), pages 2-20, March.
    2. Mona Lena Krook & Pippa Norris, 2014. "Beyond Quotas: Strategies to Promote Gender Equality in Elected Office," Political Studies, Political Studies Association, vol. 62(1), pages 1-1, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

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    More about this item

    Keywords

    women; politics; gender; governance; election;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • I3 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty
    • I31 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - General Welfare, Well-Being
    • I38 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Government Programs; Provision and Effects of Welfare Programs
    • I39 - Health, Education, and Welfare - - Welfare, Well-Being, and Poverty - - - Other
    • L2 - Industrial Organization - - Firm Objectives, Organization, and Behavior
    • Y8 - Miscellaneous Categories - - Related Disciplines
    • Y80 - Miscellaneous Categories - - Related Disciplines - - - Related Disciplines
    • Z1 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics
    • Z13 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Economic Sociology; Economic Anthropology; Language; Social and Economic Stratification
    • Z18 - Other Special Topics - - Cultural Economics - - - Public Policy

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