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 History By the tenth century the inhabitants of the Philippines had formed settlements, usually of relatives. Each settlement had a Datu, or chieftain, to create to local laws of the settlement. This chieftain could be a man or woman. Women were religious as well as political leaders. Men also walked behind women out of respect. Beginning in the sixteenth century Spain began to colonize the Philippines. The Spaniards brought several changes for women. Women became the family decision maker and treasurer. They were in charge of investing, saving, and spending the family’s money. But the Spanish also brought with them the Catholic ideal of subordination of women. Women, who had once been independent, now had to defer to their fathers and husbands. Present Political The appearance of women in important positions in the Philippines is common and is not new. Women in the Philippines have been senators, cabinet officers, Supreme Court justices, and even President (Corazon Aquino). President Aquino went into office right after the former dictator, Ferdinand Marcos, fled the country. Aquino is one of the world best-known women. But her being president was not outside tradition. Imelda Marcos was governor of Manila, minister of human settlements, and participant in the United Nations. Marcos ran for president in 1992 and came very close to winning, despite the lack of support from a major political party. Women in the Philippines attained the right to vote in 1937 and have been active in politics ever since. Society A woman in Filipino culture is expected to be demure, modest, shy, loyal, and self-effacing. This does not mean that a woman is socially inferior. A woman’s right to legal equality has never been questioned. There are no political laws prohibiting equality between men and women in the Philippines, but the there are some social rules that may cause some differences. A sexually aggressive, or provocative woman is rare and may be looked down upon. A woman who is confident and assertive is also not consistent with cultural norms. For instance, in courtship young women are supposed to play hard to get. While their male counterparts are expected to go about it aggressively, making it plainly clear what their feelings are, sending flowers, gifts, and calling every night. Two major problems in the Philippines are domestic violence and rape. In the past the traditional culture controlled this behavior. But as time goes on these old customs are disappearing. The Philippine Family Code does allow grounds for legal separation and suspension of parental custody in the case of domestic violence. But a woman must endure habitual violence before attaining a separation decree. There are complaints that the courts do not deal with child abuse cases in a timely manner and that rapist are dealt with too leniently. The traditional Filipino society consists of strong men and demure women. But it also called for respect to both parties. At present not all of these traditions are held to their fullest. Domestics As a wife, a woman is responsible for keeping her marriage together. If a wife were to complain about her husband she is degrading her own family and will lose respect. In the Philippines divorce is not legal. There are however specific cases for legal separation. Either way, it is not uncommon and is social acceptable for a married man to have mistresses. It is often looked at as the wife’s fault. If she were a good wife than her husband wouldn’t need a mistress. A man may have several children by his mistress, whom he supports and regards as important as his legitimate children. Many Filipinos have two or more families on the side. A good wife in Filipino standards is one who looks out for the best interest of her husband. The wife is in charge of household matters, cooking and cleaning for example, as well as rearing any children. The husband usually has nothing to do with the household chores and doesn’t get really involved with the children until their teenage years. Once his children are older he will help with their discipline. A mother is much more emotionally close to her children than a father is. She also controls how the house is run, including financial matters. A wife can even influence the husband’s choice of friends. Each partner in a marriage has their own sphere of power, they are different, but not necessarily unequal. Education/Economy In 1990 the education and literacy levels for women were higher than those for men. Women represented 64% of graduate students. However at the same time women held only 158 of 982 executive positions in the civil service. And women held only 15% of top-level positions in the private sector. According to the Institute of Labor Studies, women in the Philippines earn only 30% of what men earn for similar work. This gap grows larger in the more established firms. There is a law forbidding discrimination in the workplace based on solely sex. But this law has apparently had little effect. |
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