EMPOWERING WOMEN IN LOCAL LEGISLATION: A COMPARISON ON THE ORDINANCES AUTHORED BY MALE AND FEMALE CITY COUNCILORS

Women have been denied many rights throughout history that are fundamental to human dignity. Gender equality and true democracy are fundamentally dependent on women's political engagement. This research compares the ordinances that male and female councilors in the Philippines have authored. Using a qualitative narrative design, a semi-structured in-depth interview was conducted to understand women's political participation at the local legislative level. It also examines whether policies that support women's participation in society have become more common and whether gender directly influences policy decisions. The results of the research showed that there is no discernible connection between the number of female council members and their capacity to ratify ordinances. Even though they were a minority in the legislative council, female councilors were able to lead many committees and pass a number of ordinances. Furthermore, even though they are underrepresented, female councilors believe they are just as competent as their male counterparts despite having distinct approaches to legislative work. The findings of this study underscore the need for increased discourse regarding the gendered power dynamics within legislative processes. Additionally, it recommends that the local government work diligently to make it possible for more women to participate in active citizenship and run for office. This will give them more access to the legislative process and help the community become more accepting of people of different sexual orientations and pass more ordinances that will benefit all facets of the community.