women are only valued within patriarchal norms.18 Duterte, with his crude
and sexist remarks toward women in politics and the media, show how
these leaders use misogyny as a tool to assert their dominance and
marginalize those who challenge their authority. Both leaders use their
public platforms to demean and undermine women, thereby legitimizing
broader societal violence against what is perceived as the ‘feminine’ or
feminist.19
In this context, misogyny is not only personal but is a strategic element
of these leaders’ broader fascist agendas. The ‘feminine’ is weaponized
– praised when it conforms to sexist expectations and vilified when it
threatens the status quo.
18
Kaul, N. (2021). The misogyny of authoritarians in contemporary democracies. International Studies Review, 23(4),
1619–1638. https://doi.org/10.1093/isr/viab037
19
Ibid.
16