Women in the Philippines

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(c.1875).
(c.1875).

The role of women in the Philippines is explained based on the context of Filipino culture, standards, and mindsets. The Philippines is described to be a nation of strong women, who directly and indirectly run the family unit, businesses, government agencies and haciendas. Although they generally define themselves in the milieu of a masculine dominated post-colonial Asian Catholic society, Filipino women live in a culture that is focused on the community, with the family as the main unit of society. It is in this framework of Philippine hierarchical structure, class differences, religious justifications, and living in a globally developing nation wherein Filipino women struggle for respect. Compared to other parts of Southeast Asia, women in Philippine society have always enjoyed a greater share of legal equality.[1][2][3][4]

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[edit] Pre-colonial status

A Tagalog woman (right) as depicted in the Boxer Codex of the 16th century.
A Tagalog woman (right) as depicted in the Boxer Codex of the 16th century.

The pre-colonial social structure of the Philippines gave equal importance to maternal and paternal lineage. This bilateral kinship system accorded Philippine women enormous power within a clan. They were entitled to property, engage in a trade and could exercise their right to divorce her husband. They could also become village chiefs in the absence of a male heir. Before the arrival of the Spaniards, Filipino women could also achieve status as medicine women or high-priestesses and astrologers.[4][5][6][7]

[edit] Hispanic Philippines

During the colonization of the Philippines, the Spaniards relegated the Filipinas to a secondary position in society, while glorifying and assigning the Virgin Mary as a model for Filipino women. The arrival of the Spaniards and Catholicism also fixed the native Filipino women's role to the church, the convent and the home.[4][5][6]

[edit] American influence

When Spain lost the Spanish-American War in 1898, the Philippines was ceded to the United States of America. America introduced the public education system, a catalyst for the change in women's roles in Philippine society. The democratic concepts of elections and political parties were also influential factors to the psyche of Filipino women. Through the American-patterned school system, Filipino women became professionals.[6][8]

[edit] Contemporary roles

Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (right), 2006.
Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo (right), 2006.

Modern-day Philippine women play a decisive role in Filipino families. They handle the money, act as religious mentors, and could also arrange the marriages of sons and daughters, striving to improve the family’s dynastic connections. The emergence of Corazon Aquino, Imelda Marcos and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as political figures shows that Filipino society respects women, in spite of its male chauvinism, and in spite of women being often portrayed as surrogates of their husbands.[5][6]

[edit] Urban setting

In the metropolitan work realm, firms and businesses generally hire Filipino women for less pay and lower positions. Typically, a man is hired for the professional position and the women for the secretarial position, despite their having an equal level of education. The Filipina will not only receive smaller wages, but also additional secretarial functions. This “servile mindset” begins in childhood. In school, boys are often elected to organizational positions such as president and vice-president, while the girls are either members or holding treasurer positions. Young girls try to justify their worth through hard work and by being responsible pupils. Compared to Filipino men, Philippine women carry the obligation of continuing to support their family financially after their school years and marriage. The man, on the other hand, keeps his salary and holds no obligation to the family.[1][8]

However, current trends in Human Resources Management paved the way in equalizing this perceived notion of inequality. As can be seen by a lot of women holding high ranking positions in both big and small organizations. There are a lot of women holding managerial positions in banks, government and even in multinational companies.

[edit] Rural and tribal clan setting

Imelda Marcos, 2006.
Imelda Marcos, 2006.

In rural areas, the Filipino woman belongs in the home. The children approach her for money and help. She is the family's treasurer. She supports the children’s educational needs. For non-family members who require support, the wife is the person to be approached. However, the wife is neither the person who makes the final decision or the person who hands out the money.[1][9]

[edit] Marriage and relationships

In rural areas, it is rare for a Filipino female to stay single. Permanent or prolonged singlehood is not always possible. It is only recently in ethnic communities that men and women have arranged their own marriages. Traditionally, the tribal council of elders and the family of the boy arranged the matches. The woman's family had little say, and the woman herself had no say at all. For example, based on Subanen tribal tradition, men can take on more than one wife, and the women are treated as property of men. But this interpersonal process is already undergoing change.[1]

In marriage, rural women, particularly those belonging to tribal communities, do not present their feelings to their husbands, particularly regarding love and sex. This is because, traditionally, the husband owns his wife and makes the decisions regarding her body. She can neither ask for nor deny her husband’s wishes. Because of this cultural “husband owns the wife” mindset, women in Philippine rural areas experience higher rates of domestic abuse than those from urban areas. Women have no control over the number of children they have. As a result, rural communities are confronted with the growing global reality of overpopulation. Socio-economically, there is not enough land or alternative means of living.[1]

Culturally, divorce is viewed as negative and destructive in the Philippines, because of a tradition that stipulates and emphasizes that the family is the core social unit, especially for the Filipino wife. Divorce is not perceived as a solution to any matrimonial-related problem because it hinders the development or progress of the basic community unit. Therefore, husband and wife are obligated to fix problems within the boundaries of marriage.[1]

Although it should always be noted that pre-colonial women in the Philippines enjoy equal status as men. Prior to colonization, both men and women can get a divorce for the following reasons: failure to meet family obligations, childlessness, and infidelity. Children regardless of sex and properties are equally divided. Since a man needs to pay a dowry to the woman's family, she is required to give it back should she be found at fault. If it is the man who is at fault, he then loses the right to get back his dowry.

The Pre-colonial society values offsprings regardless of sex. Female children are as valuable as male ones probably because of their economic implications, which is the family getting a dowry from suitors or prospective husbands and their capacity to help in the family's economic, social and political activities.

Change, influences and interventions although the Roman Catholic Church has changed its position on the role of women in marriage, the Filipina as a wife is still secondary to her husband. She is the “servant” and the "helper"

In Urban areas, single Filipinas have become liberal due to Western culture|western influences. Although it is still culturally unacceptable for a single Filipino woman to ask a man on a date or to show interest in a man, Filipinas have learned to use body language to show their interest and openness to a relationship.

In rural communities, Filipinas are still not allowed to be too liberal. They are required to stifle their personality and sexuality, and should show a total lack of interest in men to maintain reputation and self-respect.

[edit] Filipino women and work

Traditionally, rural and tribal women do all the work. The scope of their functions include cooking, cleaning, teaching the children, washing clothes, repairs, budgeting, and managing the farm. After the husband has finished tilling the farmland, the wife does the planting, the daily maintenance, the carrying of water, and the harvesting. Normally, the husband helps in the harvesting, but the tribal woman has the responsibility to find food for the family. She also acts as the mediator between her children and her husband. She manages practically everything but she does not have control over finances or in decision-making.[1]

In general, Filipino women find pride in their work. They do not find themselves alienated from their chores because they work with, around, and for their families. This family-oriented mindset gives them a sense of dignity and responsibility. The family and the children are the primary priority in a Filipina's life.[1]

[edit] Filipino women and Philippine politics

Corazon C. Aquino, 1992.
Corazon C. Aquino, 1992.

Despite the introduction of an American-based school system and the transformation of Filipino women into educated and professional members of Philippine society, their participation in Philippine politics was slow. This was primarily because engagement in politics is considered "dirty," and due to the traditional concept that holds that women cannot take positions higher than their husbands. But this idea introduced by colonization that Filipino women historically and traditionally belonged in the home, the church, or the convent, is also changing. A recent study revealed that there is a re-emergence of the empowerment of Filipino women through the political process, just as they were prior to the arrival of the ancient conquerors from Spain. Philippine women are rediscovering their strengths "even if they are not [directly engaged] in the electoral process." Filipino women had been successful in implementing policies by becoming executive staff members, advisers to politicians, and as advocates within non-governmental organizations.[6]

Modern-day Filipinas are making strides in electoral politics by initiating more female-oriented programs. They are performing well as leaders, although generally, Filipino women still often earn political seats by having fathers and husbands who are politically connected, a "dynasty system" that hinders other Filipino women from joining the electoral process. Other factors that prevent full-engagement of other well-qualified Filipinas from the Philippine political scene are the expense in politics and the importance of the family name.[6]

Participation of Filipino women in Philippine politics was encouraged during the Beijing Declaration in 1995 at the United Nations' Fourth World Conference on Women. In February 2005, however, a United Nations review on the progress of Philippine women and their role in politics revealed that despite "an increase in the quality of female politicians, there was not enough increase in" the number of women participants in government activities. From 1992 to 2001, Filipino women had been elected as local chief executives, functioning as mayors, governors, and captains of villages. One influential factor contributing to the increasing number of female politicians, is the elevation of Corazon Aquino and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo as Philippine women Presidents.[8][6]

[edit] Contributions to Philippine society

Promotion of a female-inclined agenda that is beneficial to the whole of Filipino society - instead of being "specifically geared toward the well-being of Filipino women" - had been the priority of female leaders. These empowered women focused on the needs of their constituents in general, including agricultural and employment issues. In particular, they created child-friendly communities that are equipped with adequate daycare facilities and nutritional provisions. They established provincial offices for women and raised funding for these projects. At the national level of Philippine society, women leaders made progressive changes which benefited Philippine women. Corazon Aquino's 1987 executive order, known as the Family Code. Aquino's Family Code "eliminated gender bias in adultery cases and introduced annulment into a country that did not permit civil divorces." Another code in 1991 suggested the creation of "sectoral representation in local councils" and the "creation of special seats" such as a representative for women and a representative for workers. However, despite of a non-implementation setback of this 1991 code, a 1992 bill was passed that allowed women to enter military academies and other male-dominated organizations. The 1992 bill also enabled Filipino women to establish credit and own land without the consent of a father or husband. Women now are also active in sports and outside activities, They are now free to engage in any activity which they think seem to fit their personalities and gain additional knowledge and skills. Before women are for closets only meaning they have to stay in the house to take care of the children, attend to all house chores. Now most of the Filipino women excel in any field they choose and prove to be a pride of the Philippine nation.[8][6]

[edit] References

[edit] Specific

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Clamonte, Nitz. Women in the Philippines, Compiled from Gender Awareness Seminars, developed and facilitated by Nitz Clamonte, Ozamiz.com (undated), retrieved on: 11 July 2007
  2. ^ The Role and Status of Women, U.S. Library of Congress, CountryStudies.us (undated), retrieved on: 11 July 2007
  3. ^ Laya, Jaime C.hi and Michael Van D. Yonzon, Through the Years, Brightly: The Tadtarin; and Joaquin, Nick. The Summer Solstice, PIA.gov (undated)],
  4. ^ a b c Vartti, Riitta (editor), “Women writers through the ages; The Spanish era”, The History of Filipino Women's Writings, an article from Firefly - Filipino Short Stories (Tulikärpänen - filippiiniläisiä novelleja), 2001 / 2007], retrieved on: April 12, 2008, "...Filipinas (i.e. Philippine women) enjoy a reputation of power and equality compared to most of their Asian neighbors..."; "...The Spaniards of the 1500s were horrified by the revolting liberty and too high social status of the woman, mujer indigena, in the islands just conquered by them. Women could own property and rule the people, act as leaders of rites and ceremonies of the society, and divorce their husbands..."; "The Conquistadors and the friars quickly changed this with the European model, where women's place was at home and not in prominent positions. As a consequence, during hundreds of years, education was given only to upper class girls, who were trained to become beautiful, submissive, capable to stitch embroidery, and suitable to marriage. The nun institution offered the only possibility for a career and teaching was the only educated occupation allowed to them..."
  5. ^ a b c Karnow, Stanley. In Our Image: America’s Empire in the Philippines, Ballantine Books, Random House, Inc., March 3, 1990, 536 pages, ISBN 0-345-32816-7
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Shah, Angilee. Women's Political Role on Rise in Philippines. UCLA International Institute. Retrieved on 2007-07-12.  (based on a lecture and election studies by Prosperina D. Tapales, professor of public administration at the University of the Philippines, Diliman, Quezon City, Philippines)
  7. ^ Proserpina D. Tapales (2005). Women in Contemporary Philippine Local Politics (pdf). UCLA International Institute: UCLA Center for Southeast Asian Studies. Retrieved on 2007-07-12.
  8. ^ a b c d Vartti, Riitta (editor), “Women writers through the ages; The U.S. Period”, The History of Filipino Women's Writings, an article from Firefly - Filipino Short Stories (Tulikärpänen - filippiiniläisiä novelleja), 2001 / 2007, retrieved on: April 12, 2008, "...They (i.e. Filipino women) were now, for the first time equally with men, accepted to study..."; "...Their problem was the resistance of the patriarchal society..."; "...The first woman president Corazon Aquino was elected to power..."; "Many women writers, especially those from the capital area, participated in the development of the media since the 1930s..."; "...In the turn of the 1970s began a period of cultural revolution, student movements and new rise of nationalism. For the women writers it meant social awakening, commitment and protest..."; "...The Filipinas now wanted to create their own images by themselves..."
  9. ^ Philippines: The Role and Status of the Filipina. Ecyclopedia of the Nations (June 1991). Retrieved on 2007-07-12.

[edit] General

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[edit] See also

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