Discourse, Gender, and Power: Analyzing the Factors Affecting Filipino Women’s Political Participation through (Cultural Feminism)

Filipino women across different strata of society continue to struggle with deeply-rooted issues in patriarchy, supported by rigid heteronormative values that shape culture and governance. Despite considerable advances in feminist critique, activism, and shifting values in contemporary society, Filipino women are still often excluded from decision-making processes that have direct impacts on socio-political private and public spheres. Such exclusion reflects systemic inequalities that undermines democracy. This research examines the barriers and enablers of political participation among Filipino women in light of the cultural feminism framework, highlighting how gendered power relations disable them from participating actively in public service. Through critical discourse analysis (CDA), this paper explores how heteronormativity and patriarchal discourses produce exclusionary environments that disempower women, and traces lines of empowerment that challenge such limitations. Overall, this research argues that deconstructing the socio-political architecture that perpetuates women's underrepresentation is key to building an inclusive political culture that does not view women as passive stakeholders but as vital agents of governance and social change.