The rise of populist leaders, such as Rodrigo Duterte in the Philippines, is one of the recent challenges to feminist movements. Feminist response in the country, which has a long and continuing history of strong feminist movements, is therefore inevitable. This paper is thus interested in the feminist protests during the first half of Duterte's term of office, aiming to draw insights into his populism as it connects to patriarchy.
To answer this, a sample of feminist protest against events and issues connected to the Duterte administration between 2016 and 2019 in the Philippines were thematically analyzed. The following types of feminist issues were observed: public remarks and behavioral displays, major policies and their impacts, and political decisions. Meanwhile, protests came in the following forms: formal statements or speeches; demonstrations, rallies, and marches; and then campaigns, legal actions, direct assistance to affected communities. Finally, actors ranged from private citizens, government officials, and groups varying from independent organizations to large networks.
The data point to patriarchy as the substance of the Duterte administration and populism as the style, distinguishable but inextricable from each other. Feminist protests, actors, and the issues they raise effectively provide counter-narratives to both patriarchal assumptions and populist rhetoric. However, the paper posits that the current political moment should be considered a learning opportunity for the feminist movement as it reveals the fragility of
feminist gains over the years, as well as takes note of a new character of the feminist movement.