UNIVERSITY OF CEBU

College of Law

Reaction Paper on the Movie

Iron Jawed Angels

Submitted to:
Atty. Judiel M. Pareja

Submitted by:
Maria Ludica Oja
 I. Abstract

This paper is about how the movie Iron Jawed Angels depicted the struggle for womens suffrage in
the United States and the historical and political circumstances that led to the granting of such right. In
correlation to Philippine setting, the author also seek to establish that women suffrage in the country was
given as a right by our Constitution yet seldom is it appreciated nor exercised based on the low number of
women vying for higher positions in the government1.

II. Synopsis

The movie was primarily about the fight of the suffragists in the United States of America in order to
give women the right to vote. The fight for this right was supported by a significant number of well-connected
and well-educated women, and the National American Woman Suffrage Association (NAWSA). However,
previous suffragist movements and the efforts of the NAWSA proved to be too conventional and
conservative, thus making little impact in the political climate of the United States. States at that time were
allowed to determine the qualifications of voters, but only a handful of States gave women the right to vote.

Alice Paul, the primary character of the movie, then led a more liberal stance in the issue. She led
national campaign to pressure the then US President Woodrow Wilson to influence Congress to make an
amendment in the US Constitution to allow women to vote. Alice Paul, together with Lucy Burns and other
suffragists from the NAWSA first started their national efforts by holding a parade the day prior to the
inauguration of President Wilson. The parade got the attention of the country and the media. However, it
also gained the frown of NAWSA who disagreed with the methods employed by Alice Paul and her group.

Due to the increasing clash in the methods of NAWSA and Alice Paul, the latter then decided to form
the National Women's Party (NWP) to do their own lobbying efforts in Congress and to put pressure on
President Wilson. The group amassed a lot of attention especially when they started their picketing efforts
in front of the White House. The group remained undaunted even with the joining of the US in the First
World War.

When Alice Paul, Lucy Burns, and several others from NWP were arrested for their continued picketing,
Alice Paul went on a hunger strike. This is a form of non-violent protest even while being confined, to give
more impact to their fight for suffrage for women. While in prison, the NWP women were beaten and treated
harshly. Alice Paul was also moved to the psychiatric ward of the prison complex and was even force fed
with raw eggs.

When news got out about how the women were being treated in jail, President Wilson and the
government got bad publicity. The women were then released from jail. Eventually, President Wilson saw
the light in the matter and gave a speech in Congress urging them to give women their right to vote.
Eventually, the amendment got the requisite number of votes and the movie ended with suffrage being
granted to women in the United States as a basic constitutional right.

III. Discussion

Women suffrage in the Philippines

A persons right to vote can sometimes be overlooked, especially with the excuse that the people
running for office are not the ideal candidates they want to vote for. It can easily be forgotten how difficult it
was for many to accord us with this right. The movie is a good reminder of the importance of our right to
vote, not only of women, but of all people.

Prior to the movie, I have had little appreciation of the right to vote, especially because of the patronage
politics evident in the Philippines2. It seemed futile to vote when in the end, politicians will remain corrupt
and the government, inefficient. However, because of the movie, I became convinced about the essence
of the right to vote, and how we can use it to effect change in the government. It is a very powerful tool, and
one that should not be taken lightly. It should never be taken for granted. Many Filipinos treat their right to
vote lightly. They either allow their votes to be bought, or they do not cast their votes at all. Such actions
are manifestations of the blatant disregard for the right of suffrage, the right viciously fought for by the
women in the movie.

The women in the movie struggled hard and endured torturous conditions just to gain sufficient political
support to give them the amendment they needed so women can be given the right to vote. Meanwhile, in
the modern world, and in the Philippines, the right to suffrage is already enshrined in the Constitution 3 and
as a basic right of every citizen all over the world. We did not need to fight for it, yet we are the ones who
do not know how to appreciate it. It is true what they say, that people take for granted the things that are

1 Selma Cruz. 1998. Mabuhay ang Filipina! Mabuhay ang Kalayaan! Retrieved from http://www.kababaihan.org

2 Antonio P. Contreras, Study Group on Women and Men as Agents of Change in Political Decision-Making Country
Report: The Philippines, September 2002
3 The 1987 Constitution. Article V.
 right before them and appreciate them only when they are gone. Maybe only when the people are deprived
of their right to vote would they learn to appreciate its importance.

Equal protection and Women Vying for High Position in Election 2016

The movie clearly depicted the gender bias that most people had during that period. I am thankful that
I now live in an era without such gender bias patent and palpable. Men during such era thought of women
as merely creatures of the home. They think that women properly belong to the domestic realm only and
should not enter the political arena. They think that the nation would be at risk if women would be given the
right to vote because women are deemed to be too emotional, illogical, and impulsive.

It is a foreign notion to us now that many had to revolt in one way or another, in order for the right to be
given. The movie shows some of the events that originally took place at the time when the movement for
womens suffrage was afoot. It is shown how sexism prevented women from exercising their rights. This
prevents women from participating in government because in the first place they cannot elect those in office
and much more be in office themselves. Although the Philippines appears to be ahead of its neighboring
countries by having 2 women presidents already, major hurdles are still in place for women to gain a firmer
foothold in politics4. It is still basically an elite-male dominated political landscape. According to Phil
Commission on Women, the number of women who filed candidacy for the election period was only 7,925
or 17.83 percent of the total number of candidates 5. While there is a perceptible increase in the number of
women elected into government posts, assumption to institutional leadership does not necessarily translate
into the expected degree of political clout.

If we look at the at our women candidates vying for top positions in 2016 are not up to standard for
those of us who want a greater gender equality in politics. I refer to Grace Poe, Leni Robredo and Miriam
Santiago.

Of the three women candidates, Miriam Santiago comes closest to what I regard as a woman in politics
even if I do not agree with some of her positions. Miriam Santiago would have been a good woman
candidate. She is intelligent, she is experienced and would be prepared to take up issues that can shape a
party program. Unfortunately, she is also very sick and if she were to run with Bongbong Marcos as her
vice president what comes to mind is that she will be merely making way for a Marcos to return as president
of the Philippines. The big issue for me against the return of the Marcoses in power is impunity. The familys
return to power is an admission that politicians can get away from graft and corruption, and serious crime.

Leni Robredo, the widow of Jess Robredo, is often described as a good woman and promises to
concentrate on her work for the poor. But she, too, is hampered by being a good cover-up for the evils of
Aquino IIIs government. Her main asset she said was her work with NGOs for the poor 6. Accordingly, it
would have been futile to question her about her stand on constitutional reform because she would not
depart from the Aquino-Roxas position that we do not need constitutional reform. This coming elections, as
far as I was concerned is how to restructure politics and government in our country so the poor and marginal
sectors would get in mainstream politics. Leni Robredo does not have the preparation nor the will to take
up the struggle for those reforms. To my mind she was the good wife of Jess Robredo and that is not
enough for a woman to qualify for a top position in government.

The third woman candidate, Grace Poe, I am afraid, is the worse of the lot for the May presidential
candidates. At the outset, she is a person made to use her adoptive fathers name as her sole basis for
asking Filipinos to vote for her as president. Some have even compared her to the incumbent presidents
qualification as the son of heroes despite lacking any traits or experience to run government. No, never
again, they said. But the publicists in the Liberal Party think that with enough money and publicity, she could
win just as President Noynoy Aquino won. Indeed, she was the chosen candidate by the Liberal Party not
just as vice president but even as the president even if her qualifications to run is still in dispute.

IV. Conclusions

The Philippine elections and the role in women as leaders in governance for our country is in a mediocre
plight, true to the speech of Wilson towards the end of the movie, women have the sensibilities that allow
better governance owing to their ability to manage homes and children. I think this is part of what makes
diversity important because the values and capabilities of each person and each group of people, be it in
race, sex or creed differ. Each one has an important input they can contribute and they can be useful to the
growth of a people and of a government. The values of women differ from those of men. The values of the
youth differ from those more advanced in age. This difference in values allows for a wider coverage in
policies. It would be a disservice to a nation if not all the major considerations are factored in.

4 Hega, Mylene. (2013) Participation of Women in Philippine Politics and Society: A Situationer. Paper written by
Mylene Hega, Secretary General of MAKALAYA (Women Workers Network) for the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung
Philippine Office, March 2003,p. 5-7.
5 Webmaster. (2014, May 2013) Women Participation in Politics and Governance. Retrieved from

http://www.pcw.gov.ph/statistics/201405/women-participation-politics-and-governance.
6
Domini M. Torrevillas (January 21, 2016) Women for Leni Robredo Movement. From the Stands. The Philippine
Star p. 10
 We should all be thankful for the sacrifices of the women portrayed in the movie because of the right
they fought for. It did not benefit only them but all people. And I am especially touched and am agreeable
how one member said that she joined the movement for her children. Her situation echoed what many
women are going through, feeling like chattels because they had to do according to their husband or fathers
will so they are supported. She saw how being able to vote would enable women to have more say in their
respective lives and as a group.

The women endured the abuse and even forgone the usual leisure and companionships to achieve
what we are enjoying now. Just looking at their experience already pains us and this makes us value our
rights even more. Participation in elections is important then, given that it is one that so many suffered for
and fought for, for a good portion of their lives.

To participate in elections means to have a say on the direction of our nation and our direction as a
people. It is thus important for us to exercise our right and it starts with registration and eventually choosing
the leaders. But a right is coupled with a responsibility. I think our responsibility when it comes to elections
is for us to study what policies the candidates are pushing for. This is for us to install only those who are
capable and have in their hearts what is best for the entire population. We should condemn vote buying
and smear campaign because they will not help us elect the best leaders.

From the purviews of women activists, this is mediocre and the examples for local women politicians
are quite unfortunate. Women have to work harder, and participate as much as they can in government.
Although there are notable women leaders like Angela Merkel and Margaret Thatcher it is a hard climb to
the top and the May elections 2016 in the Philippines demonstrate the difficulties.

At the end of the day, we should not only stop at appreciating what we have now but also ensure that
we exercise the right properly. We are responsible for our future. Let us make sure our rights are exercised
for good use.

V. References

Law

Article V The 1987 Constitution

News/Magazine Articles

Contreras, Antonio P. Study Group on Women and Men as Agents of Change in Political Decision-Making
Country Report: The Philippines, September 2002

Hega, Mylene. (2013) Participation of Women in Philippine Politics and Society: A Situationer. Paper written
by Mylene Hega, Secretary General of MAKALAYA (Women Workers Network) for the Friedrich-Ebert-
Stiftung Philippine Office, March 2003,p. 5-7.

Torrevillas, Domini M. (January 21, 2016) Women for Leni Robredo Movement. From the Stands. The
Philippine Star p. 10

Websites

Cruz, Selma. 1998. Mabuhay ang Filipina! Mabuhay ang Kalayaan! Retrieved from
http://www.kababaihan.org

Webmaster. (2014, May 2013) Women Participation in Politics and Governance. Retrieved from
http://www.pcw.gov.ph/statistics/201405/women-participation-politics-and-governance.