Breaking the Invisibility of Indigenous Women: A Grounded Theory Study on Lumad women in militarized communities under the Duterte Administration

Abstract

This study focuses on the experiences of Lumad women in militarized communities under the Duterte administration. While militarization of their communities has long existed prior to 2016, it has evidently worsened in the strongman’s term. There is established literature on Lumad education, land, and children when affected by land-grabbing and militarization, but this study sheds light on Lumad women’s plight given their intersectional identities. Following Grounded theory and Feminist Standpoint methodology, this study employed in-depth interviews to explore Lumad women’s experiences of violence under militarization, how they responded/resisted, and how people and policies can support their emancipation. Data was analyzed through open, axial, and selective coding until the core category was selected and a theoretical model was built. The emerging theory states that Lumad women are the forefront in mobilizing resistance and defending land, life, and their communities, all the while confronting the different forms of violence they experienced during the Duterte administration. They have a strong desire to change their conditions so they exhaust various means to clamor, seeking the help of allies, churches, concerned groups, government and non-governmental bodies. We echo the recommendation of Lumad women participants to policymakers: to abolish policies that legitimize human rights violations against indigenous people, women, and their communities. This study also recommends that Filipinos from other sectors listen to the stories of the Lumad. To future studies, we suggest more in-depth interviews and possibly focus-group discussions as well.