Women leaders in the COVID-19 crisis
Are women world leaders better at managing the COVID-19 crisis than their male counterparts?
This question came up last year at the height of the pandemic. It’s back in light of a presidential comment heard the other day. In a televised speech, President Rodrigo Duterte mentioned about the presidency not being a woman’s job. That is why, according to him, he is discouraging his daughter Davao City Sara Duterte Carpio from running for the nation’s top post.
“Hindi ito pambabae,” (This is not for women) said the president, implying that the pressures of the job will crack any woman, “the emotional setup of a woman and a man is totally different,” he added.
The president’s view about women and leadership is so out of date it almost deserves to be ignored. But I would like to look at this issue in an empirical way – in other words, based on evidence.
Here’s an example. In a study published in the Politics & Gender journal published on July 30, 2020, Yale University professors Andrea S. Aldrich and Nicholas J. Lotito observed that women leaders around the globe have been touted in media as better in managing the COVID-19 crisis than their male counterparts, responding faster and communicating better about pandemic policies.
Particularly mentioned in the study were Angela Merkel of Germany and Jacinda Ardern of New Zealand. Also admired was Tsai Ing-Wen whose country Taiwan, along with New Zealand, has successfully eliminated or at least kept at bay the spread of COVID-19 since last year.
However, by examining empirical data on the timing of policy responses from a coronavirus government response tracker, the Aldrich and Lotito study found no statistical evidence supporting such popular claims in the media that women leaders responded more competently and effectively than men to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Differences in performance during a crisis can be attributed to many factors. Therefore, the study cautioned against making broad generalizations about women or men in leadership during this crisis. It is baseless to say that women leaders are better at handling this unprecedented crisis than men, and vice-versa.
However, it is likewise thoughtless to conclude that the crisis and its complex policy issues have no gender dimensions. Gender equality in society is a measure of progress and has implications on a society’s response to any crisis. Societies that treat women as inferior or second-class citizens generally miss out on a lot of things. Specifically, the study noted that more inclusive institutions bring people to office with different experiences, perspectives, and understandings of potential policy impacts.
What women leaders like Angela Merkel, Jacinda Ardern, and Tsai Ing-Wen, in fact, have shown to the world is that being a woman is not a hindrance to good leadership during a crisis. By listening to science, working proactively, and not calling attention to themselves nor burnishing their political image amid the contentious atmosphere generated by the crisis, these women leaders have demonstrated that it is ego, not one’s gender, which does not have a place in this battle.
Sexist views still existing today, and sometimes finding its way at the bully pulpit, are similar to the rants of yesteryears. In a clipping of Bag-ong Kusog dated November 7, 1918, shared in social media by my good friend Max Limpag, an article that may shock today’s generation proclaimed, “Si Inday, lider na sa piniliay.”
The unnamed author wrote: “Konó dunay balaod nga uyonan sa Legislatura aron pagtugot sa mga babayeng pilipinhon sa paglakip sa piniliay. Sa ato pa, makahimo sila sa pagpili sa mga kandidato ug mahimo usab nga sila ang piliong mga punoan.” (There is reportedly a proposed law in the legislature that will allow Filipino women to participate in elections. In other words, they will be allowed to vote for candidates and also run for office.)
“Akó dili kaaway sa mga babaye, apan mahitungud ning butanga iprenda ko ang akong kalag kang Satanas, aron lang sa pagsupak ning tuyoa. Nga ang babaye makalakip sa piniliay? ¡Hesus! ¡Hesus! ¡Hesus! Kadakung "escandalo" niana.” (I am not a foe of women, but on this issue I will wager my soul to the devil, just in order to oppose this proposal. That a woman can participate in elections? What a big “scandal” that is.)
We now incredulously laugh at those lines, perhaps in the same manner that today’s younger generations also cringe at statements like “Hindi ito pambabae.” (This is not for women.)
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