Women in Power on Gender Sensitivity and Equality

-within the context of the Philippines

-in line with Millennium Development Goal#3: Promote Gender Equality and Empower Women

-2-3 women in power (in governance, in philanthropy)

- gender and development (GAD)

- The gender roles framework (GRF)

-World Development Report 2012,

-relating current trends and issues that are being addressed by women in power in the Philippines:
gender biases, women who stay at home are marginalized, multiple roles of women, abuse towards
women and children

Characteristics of gender

 CONTEXT SPECIFIC: There are variations in gender roles and gender relations depending on the
context: ethnic group, socio-economic group, culture etc., underlining the need to incorporate a
perspective of diversity in gender analysis.

 INSTITUTIONAL: It is institutionally structured because it refers not only to the relations

between women and men at the personal and private level, but to a social system that is
supported by values, legislation, religion, etc.

Social/Biological Issues

 Recognition of social factors is crucial to an analysis of this interrelationship in order to identify

the differential disadvantages and/or advantages for men and women's health

In HEALTH, advantage and disadvantage can be measured by:

1. Probability of maintaining health, or becoming ill or dying from preventable causes

2. Equity of access to and control of resources, responsibilities and rewards in health work

Social Institutions:The State

 Creates laws and policies that ensure the maintenance of the system.

 Instrumental in passing laws that are discriminatory to women.

 Ex: the Civil Code has several provisions that tilt more in favor of men as in

- infidelity

- property relations

- decisions

Manifestations of Gender Bias

Manifestation Root Forms

Marginalization
economic Low wages, last-hired-
first-fired , little or no access to loans.

Subordination political Women conc. in low positions in

bureaucracy; few women in policy-
making level; less women in the
elective/appointive govt. office

Double/Multiple Socio-cultural Childcare & household responsibilities

Burden shouldered by women on top of

regular working hrs. outside the home
Gender Stereotyping Socio-cultural Women portrayed either as homema-

kers/virgins or as temptress/sinners in
most advertisements and TV, movies

and radio programs, newspaper

stories.

Violence Socio-cultural Wife-beating cuts across classes; still

not considered a crime and regarded

as a private family matter; cases of

rape, incest, sexual harassment inc.

Personal Socio-cultural Low self-esteem, lack of control over

one’s reproductive rights

Liberal Feminism Concepts:

• Women ought to be accepted in equal terms with men in the public realm

• Women are abrogated to the private sphere while men are on the public sphere

Liberal Feminism Problem Areas:

• Women might gave the SAME POTENTIALS but have DIFFERENT

ENGAGEMENTS

• There is no STRICT GAP between the public and private sphere

Cornerstones of Gender Mainstreaming

-The “capacity to do” implies a wide range of human activities and situations in which a person can participate in
the pursuit of a better life. These activities include: to do productive and satisfying work; to have control over
one’s income; to enjoy nature and the natural environment; to care for others; and to travel in search of other
opportunities

- The “capacity to be” implies that a person, given the range of opportunities and resources available, has the
capacity to attain his or her objectives for a better life. A person has to have the following capabilities: to be
knowledgeable and skillful; to be well-nourished; and to be confident of one’s abilities and achievements.

- Underlying these capabilities is the freedom of choice. Thus, development is also expanding the available
choices. But because certain conditions in society can make it difficult for women to gain access to these choices,
government should intervene to make the situation more equitable.

- To attain a people-centered development and to guarantee development for all, fairness and equity should be
the guiding principles of government and development institutions. This means that both women and men have
the same opportunities to achieve a better life. In our present reality, however, can we truly say that women and
men have the same opportunity to achieve a better life in terms of “capacities to do and to be?”

-The role of government, therefore, is to reduce inequality/inequity so that all members of society shall have the
capacity “to do” and “to be”. The integration of gender concerns in the development process is one of the
mechanisms through which government can achieve a better life for all.

ENTRY POINTS FOR GAD MAINSTREAMING

• POLICIES

• PERSONNEL

• ENABLING MECHANISMS

• PROGRAMS, PROJECTS, ACTIVITIES AND SERVICES

References:

GENDER SENSITIVITY Caster Palaganas November 26, 2011

GENDER MAINSTREAMING Caster Palaganas January 14, 2012

Lengermann and Niebrugge-Brantley,CONTEMPORARY FEMINIST THEORY In RITZER, George.

Sociological Theory pp. 447-493

Humm, Margie
FEMINISMS: A READER

passim