Minister of Women and Gender Equity Judith Marín sent a letter to the editor of El Mercurio rejecting disparaging remarks by male politicians toward women in politics, according to CNN Chile. In the letter, she argued that her ministry must continue to exist.
"Political differences are legitimate, but they do not justify the disrespect toward women we saw this week," Marín wrote at the start of the letter.
The controversy began with Deputy Javier Olivares of the People's Party (PDG). The lawmaker questioned former President Michelle Bachelet’s announcement that she wanted to pursue a third presidential bid.
"She could follow in Mrs. Matthei’s footsteps, cook and make some good stews to teach people," Olivares said. The remark, which also referred to former Providencia Mayor Evelyn Matthei, drew criticism from various quarters.
Marín did not name Olivares. However, she responded directly to the substance of his remarks. "Cooking and caring for the family are valuable tasks and should not be belittled," she said. She added that using them as a response to a political opinion amounts to "seeking to dictate a woman’s place simply because she is a woman."
The minister supported her argument with data. Women make up about 51% of registered voters. Since March, they have held 33.5% of seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 32% in the Senate.
In municipalities, the gap widens. According to the letter, only about 17% of mayoral offices are held by women. On municipal councils, women account for barely a third of seats.
"Every time a woman in politics is disparaged, those barriers grow higher," Marín said. In her view, these episodes also discourage those who want to enter public life.
That was the basis for her defense of the institution. "Comments like those made this week show why the Ministry must continue to exist," she wrote. The source does not detail which proposals or debates currently call the ministry’s continued existence into question.
The episode comes as Bachelet and Matthei emerge as potential candidates for the 2029 presidential election. The minister closed her letter with a direct message: "We can disagree in our ideas, but respect must come before any difference. We women can be wherever we want to be."
