April 8, 2025
Manila – A sociologist said Monday that politicians’ “normalization” of discriminatory rhetoric could have adverse effects.
Brothers, professor of sociology. Clifford Sorita has won outrage in the mid-term polls of several local political candidates about gender discrimination and pointed to fierce hatred.
“Insensitivity to this kind of speech is the root cause of normalization,” Sorita told the inquirer.net in a text message.
On Monday, April 7, the Election Commission (COMELEC) issued two performance orders targeting Misamis Oriental Gubernatorial residents again as Deputy Mayor of Mataas Na Kahoy Town and Jay Ilagan, Batangas Governor candidate.
Unabia was asked to explain his unpleasant remarks about the “ugly” nurses and the Moroes, and Ilagan was ordered to do the same, this time in his remarks against his opponent Vilma Santos-Recto, who he called “Laos” (which was once), while suggesting her age.
Read: Comelec to Misamis Oriental Gov: Explain unpleasant remarks about Moro, women
Comelec first issued a show order against aspiring man Ian Sia, representing the Pasig City Lone area, to express his own comments, providing single mothers, especially those with “menstrual periods”.
Read: Sorry, not enough, Comelec person in charge told Pasig Bet
Solita said such remarks can make people insensitive, which may undermine their empathy, not just sympathy for marginalized groups of such discriminatory discourses, or even those around them.
“Desensitization can greatly undermine our ability to empathize with others and pose a serious threat to the overall well-being of those around us,” Solita said.
“Repeated exposure can lead to emotional insensitive and inappropriate responses,” he added. “This is especially common in social media and even mainstream media.”
“We cannot allow this behavior to flourish when it starts to violate the sensitivity of others,” he said.
Despite its normalization, such rhetoric has a poor relationship with many voters.
“Inference occurs when society realizes that 'one’s freedom ends and another’s freedom begins,’” he said.
