Sunday Essays: Stereotyping women

Saturday, July 9, 2011

THE stereotype that women cannot handle big responsibilities remains. Even in the family, many women are not allowed to take the lead.

Former president, now Pampanga representative, Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo proved the stereotyping wrong. From being a vice-president to country’s president, and now congresswoman, she has experienced the ups and downs of politics.

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We remember the time when Arroyo became the new president. She got the position after the controversial resignation of then President Joseph Ejercito Estrada.

As the new president, she continued beneficial programs like Study Now, Pay Later for educational scholar, the Botika ng Bayan, which offered low price medicines; the RORO which helped people in shipping their products and other things. There were infrastructure developments projects too and many more.

As much as we remember her contributions, we also remember the issues that involved her. She was allegedly involved in the fertilizer scam, the ZTE contract, and the expensive dinner at Las Vegas with some of her cabinet members. And how can we forget about the Hello Garci scandal during the 2004 elections?

Evidences were shown that it was really her who called Garcia to ensure her victory. The phone conversation was recorded and shown on TV.

It was also under her administration where the issue about the shortage of rice was popular. There were hundreds of sacks of rice left in a compound when everybody else was hungry and miserable.

But she ruled the country and other women who are leaders in their own community. Now who said a woman cannot take responsibilities?

Arroyo and the rest of women entered the world of politics either to make or break it. Her journey continues as a congresswoman. Whether this woman becomes the greatest or worst leader, we will never know until her stint in government has ended and we get to assess everything she has done.

One thing that Arroyo proved to us though is that women are capable to handle big responsibilities.