Reflections on Misogyny and Women Doing Philosophy in the Philippines

Abstract

In this paper, I argue that despite the prominent and progressive structure of the discipline of philosophy, it is not exempt from the perpetuation of the gender-based form of oppression. The fortunate ratio of women doing philosophy today obscures the extent to which misogyny is seen and felt. Even in what seems to be a gender-egalitarian setting like academia, the subtle, indirect, and sometimes unintentional verbal and behavioral offenses against women function as a mechanism of systemic oppression. It is a manifestation of the restrained form of misogyny that enforces the hierarchical, patriarchal order in academia. In this light, I have three goals in mind. The first is to initiate a conversation about misogyny in academia further; the second is to better understand the lived experiences of misogyny and sexism of Filipina Philosophers through the work of Kate Manne—the logic of misogyny; and the third is to reflect upon the importance of the foundation of the Women Doing Philosophy group in the Philippines and their response against misogyny.