SSP 101c - Gender and Society
Gender, politics, and violence
SSP 101c – gender and
society
“Politics has no gender.
Politics is for men and women.
Politics is for all.”
Gender, Politics, and Violence
SSP 101c – gender and
society
The struggles of Filipino women have always been intimately linked with the
broad, popular struggles for social justice and sovereignty.
Gender, Politics, and Violence
SSP 101c – gender and
society
On the surface, the Philippines may be
mistaken for a male
chauvinist macho country, but it is in
essence a matriarchal society with
many women actually holding sway
over families, businesses and politics.
Gender, Politics, and Violence
SSP 101c – gender and
society
During the Spanish period, women joined
the underground resistance movement
KATIPUNAN in the struggle against
colonialism. They fought alongside the men
and acquired significant political skills and
know-how. Such struggle enabled women to
go beyond the traditional roles (i.e of
homemaker and caregiver) which the highly
patriarchal Spanish regime had imposed
upon them.
Gender, Politics, and Violence
SSP 101c – gender and
society
Teodora Alonzo, mother of national hero
Jose Rizal is recognized for her
independent political views which drew the
anger of the Spanish friars. For refusing to
pay land taxes, she was made to walk
under heavy guard for some 10 kilometers
to the provincial jail and imprisoned for two
and a half years.
Gender, Politics, and Violence
SSP 101c – gender and
society
The list of prominent Filipino women in history include Gabriela Silang,
Gregoria de Jesus, Agueda Kahabagan, Teresa Magbanua, Melchora Aquino,
Trinidad Tecson among others. These women did not only attend to the sick
and wounded or solicit food and money for the revolution; they also served in
the more dangerous tasks of transmitting messages and hiding documents. A
few actually fought and reached the rank of general in the revolutionary army.
Gender, Politics, and Violence
SSP 101c – gender and
society
Another key struggle was for women’s right to education, particularly for a
school where women could learn Spanish. Such school was deemed important
because the ability to speak Spanish was crucial to education mobility.
By the time of the American occupation (1940s), a significant number of Filipino
women had become educated. In the hope of further shedding off their status
as second-class citizens, these women enjoined and organized other women
to fight for the right to suffrage. Until then, only the literate men were allowed to
vote and run for office.
Gender, Politics, and Violence
SSP 101c – gender and
society
The Suffragist Movement provided inroads for women to get into politics. In
1937, women were finally granted the right to vote. The constitution of 1935
had stipulated that the right of suffrage would be extended to women only if
300,000 women voted in its favor during a national plebescite. A General
Council of Women (whose forerunner was the National Federation of Women’s
Clubs in the Philippines) was then established in Manila to direct the plebescite
campaign. Its aim was to draw the support of the broadest number of women
and launch various forms of campaign through media and personal
connections. As it turned out, 447,725 women voted yes in the 1937 plebescite.
Gender, Politics, and Violence
SSP 101c – gender and
society
When World War II broke out and the Japanese occupied the Philippines, women
again fought alongside the men. After the war, these same women attempted to
participate in the postwar government that was consolidated by the national
elections in April 1946 and the proclamation of Philippine Independence of July 4.
Not too many women, however, were visibly present in mainstream politics.
Between 1946 – 1971 (the last year of free elections before Martial Law), only 26
women were elected to public office: 11 Representatives, 7 senators, 6 governors
and 2 city mayors. In 1951, women attempted to form a National Political Party of
Women, but the project never got off the ground. Instead, in the same year, a
separate group launched the Women’s Magsaysay-for-President Movement to
support the presidential bid of Ramon Magsaysay.
Gender, Politics, and Violence
SSP 101c – gender and
society
In the early 70s, Filipino women joined the
popular resistance against Marcos’
dictatorial rule. By this time, more and more
women had become politicized. Quite a
good number even joined ideological
groups while others became combatants of
the rebel movements.
Gender, Politics, and Violence
SSP 101c – gender and
society
Gender Mainstreaming in Law
The Philippines is known for its very liberal and progressive Constitution that
was formulated during the euphoria of People Power Revolution in 1986.
Gender equality is a key element of this Charter and as enshrined in Article II
Section 14 of the 1987 Constitution, “the State recognizes the role of women in
nation-building and shall ensure the fundamental equality before the law of
women and men.”
Gender, Politics, and Violence
SSP 101c – gender and
society
Considering the unequal gender relations in the country, the Constitution
further provided for women representation (as one of the 9 marginalized
sectors) in the legislature through the party-list system (which should cover
20% of the lower house). Finally, Article 13 Section 14 specifically mentioned
that the “State shall protect working women by providing safe and healthful
working conditions, taking into account their maternal functions, and such
facilities and opportunities that will enhance their welfare and enable them to
realize their full potential in the service of the nation”.
Gender, Politics, and Violence
SSP 101c – gender and
society
This legal framework promoting gender equality is in turn elaborated in
various legislations and these include the following:
Local Government Code of 1991. Provides for the election of sectoral
representation, including women, in local legislative councils.
Party List Law. Provides for the creation of women-oriented or women-based
parties to compete under the party-list system. Women is one of the 9 sector
identified in the law.
Gender, Politics, and Violence
SSP 101c – gender and
society
Labor Code (1989)
Covers issues such as night work prohibition, specifies that employers must
provide special facilities for women, prohibition of discrimination against
women in respect to terms and conditions of employment, prohibition of
discrimination by reason of marriage of a woman worker.
Gender, Politics, and Violence
SSP 101c – gender and
society
Women in Nation Building Law. Republic Act 7192 (1991)
is an act promoting the integration of women as full and equal partners of men in
development and nation building. The law provides that a substantial portion of
government resources be utilized to support programs and activities for women. The law
also encourages the full participation and involvement of women in the development
process and to remove gender bias in all government regulations and procedures. In
relation to gender budgeting, the law specifically mandated all agencies to allocate a
minimum of 5%, increasing to 30%, of all official development funds in mainstreaming
gender concerns. Through executive directives however, this 5% allocation is further
expanded to cover the total budget appropriations, not only development funds, of all
government agencies and local government units in the country. This is known as the
Gender and Development Budget or GAD.
Gender, Politics, and Violence
SSP 101c – gender and
society
1988 Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Law
Gave Filipino women the right to own land that previously reverted to sons and other
male family members.
Republic Act 7688 (1994)
An act giving representation to women in social security commission.
1990 Day care Law (RA 6972) and 1996 Paternity Leave Act.
Both of which acknowledge that children is both a parental and state responsibility.
Gender, Politics, and Violence
SSP 101c – gender and
society
Anti-Sexual Harassment Law - RA 7877 (1995)
an act declaring sexual harassment unlawful in the employment, education or
training environment.
Republic Act 7822 (1995)
An act providing assistance to women engaging in micro and cottage business
enterprises.
Republic Act 8353 (1997)
An act expanding the definition of the crime of rape reclassifying the same as a
crime against persons.
Gender, Politics, and Violence
SSP 101c – gender and
society
While the constitutional and legal framework acknowledges the need for
gender mainstreaming, gender equality is indeed still a work in progress. Thus,
one can find a myriad of projects, initiatives, and processes on the gender
challenge that are corollary to gender-oriented legislations. This includes:
Philippine Plan for Gender Responsive Development (1995-2025).
The National Plan for Women that consolidates the action commitments of the
Philippines during the Beijing World Conference on Women. This is the over-all
frame that is also the point of reference for the discussions and monitoring of
gender mainstreaming.
Gender, Politics, and Violence
SSP 101c – gender and
society
Gender and Development Budget (GAD)
Integral to the national plan, it is aimed at “institutionalizing gender concerns in
the mainstream development process and agenda and not just peripheral
programs and projects of the government”. Concretely, it prescribes for the
allocation of 5% of the government agency’s/local government unit’s budget on
gender-responsive activities and projects. As a result, implementation of the
development programs and policies of government also 1means women
partaking a role in governance. As primarily stakeholders in the development
process, women have the right to maximize their involvement in governance,
be it at the local or national level
Gender, Politics, and Violence
SSP 101c – gender and
society
Framework Plan for Women (FPW)
This is part of the Philippine Plan for Women which the current administration
developed to focus on three thrust namely: promoting women’s economic
empowerment; advance and protect women human rights; and promote gender
responsive governance. This plan identifies the concrete gender issues that will
be addressed, pinpoint targets and indicators, name programs, formulates the
implementation plan, and set-up tools for monitoring and evaluation.
Gender, Politics, and Violence
SSP 101c – gender and
society
It is obvious that the Philippines has a well-developed legal framework for
gender equality. This is even reinforced by the ratification of international
instruments on women (e.g. Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of
Discrimination against Women or CEDAW) and clear commitments to the
outputs of the UN Women Conferences. This is already a good handle for
gender equality but their implementation and the “real politics” surrounding
these legal norms leave so much to be desired.
Gender, Politics, and Violence
SSP 101c – gender and
society
Gender, Politics, and Violence
SSP 101c – gender and
society
Gender, Politics, and Violence
SSP 101c – gender and
society
Gender, Politics, and Violence
SSP 101c – gender and
society
Gender, Politics, and Violence
SSP 101c – gender and
society
THANK YOU!
Gender, Politics, and Violence
