DR. MARIA D.

PASTRANA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

GENDER EQUALITY: STRIVING
FOR BALANCE IN ROLES

A Title Proposal
Presented to
THE FACULTY
Senior High School Department
Dr. Maria D. Pastrana National High School
Mauban, Quezon

In partial fulfillment
Of the requirements for
Practical Research 1
In HUMANITIES AND SOCIAL SCIENCES

Calucin, Troy Zander E.

Cena, Charles Earlwin C.
Diaz, Eitrious J.
Ursolino, Jen Rose L.

Mr. Herbert P. Sancho

Research Adviser

March 2024
DR. MARIA D. PASTRANA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Introduction

The last decades of the twentieth century were characterized by a reduction

in many aspects of gender inequalities in developed countries. During this period, the

pay gap narrowed as well as the gender gap in labor force participation, women

caught up with men in terms of college attendance and graduation rates. Even the

concept of “gendered occupations” lost part of its meaning (see Goldin, 2006).

Nevertheless, despite these evolutions and an apparent political voluntarism, gender

equality is not a reality yet and some inequalities between men and women seem to

persist over time. Women remain under-represented in the highest paid occupations

(see Bertrand and Hallock, 2001 or Wolfers, 2006) and their life cycle earnings after

having completed an MBA are significantly lower than those of men with a similar

educational attainment (see Bertrand et al., 2010). In many countries the female

labor force participation (FLFP hereafter) remains low, especially for mothers having

young children (see, for instance, Fortin, 2005 or Del Boca and Sauer, 2009). Gemici

and Wiswall (2014) also underline that the drop in the gender gap in college

graduation hides important inequalities with women significantly less likely than men

to major in business or science.

An important literature investigates the roots of changes and permanence in

gender inequality and the role played by cultural aspects constitutes the central focus

of a growing number of papers. Recent research in experimental economics

highlights the existence of gender differences in preferences, concluding that women

tend to adopt less risky and less competitive behaviors than men (see Croson and
DR. MARIA D. PASTRANA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
Gneezy, 2009 for an extensive survey) and hypothesizing that these differences may

partly explain the persistence of gender inequality.1 Another strand of the literature

convincingly relates the labor market outcomes of women to the prevailing cultural

definition of gender roles within the society (Fortin, 2005, Fernández, 2007,

Fernández and Fogli, 2009 or Giavazzi et al., 2013). As a striking illustration of such

a link, some studies conclude that the FLFP may differ widely between populations

who share a quite similar economic and institutional environment. In particular,

Steinhauer (2013) shows that, within Swiss states, mothers participate more to the

labor market on the French-speaking side compared to the German-speaking one

despite a common institutional setting and a well integrated labor market.

Background of the Study

The present article relates to research on the endogenous evolution of

gender roles. Hazan and Maoz (2002), Fernández et al. (2004) or Hiller (2014)

consider that cultural norms regarding those roles are directly shaped by the

participation of women to the labor market. In turn, those norms affect the FLFP by

determining the magnitude of the social stigma against working women (Hazan and

Maoz, 2002, Fernández et al., 2004) or the weight that parents give to the education

of their daughters (Hiller, 2014). Two recent papers (Fogli and Veldkamp, 2011,

Fernández, 2013) make a step further by explicitly modeling cultural evolutions as

arising from a process of learning: Bayesian updating allows women to learn the

impact that their decision to work on the market have on their children or their

marriage. While in this cultural norms literature gender roles are defined at the

household level, we consider that cultural views about those roles may differ
DR. MARIA D. PASTRANA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
between males and females. Fernández and Fogli (2009) document that it is indeed

the case and, as far as we know, this possibility has not heretofore been

investigated.

We also depart from the cultural norms literature in the way we introduce the

evolution of gender roles. In our model, cultural traits are intentionally transmitted by

parents to their children in line with the cultural transmission literature initiated by

Bisin and Verdier (2001). Hence, our framework may be useful to analyze the

dynamics of gender differences in preferences up to the evolution of gender roles.

With regard to the cultural transmission literature, we are close to Escriche (2007)

and Escriche et al. (2004) who are interested in the evolution of family-related

preferences among women.

Statement of the Problem

1.How does culture influence gender inequality?

2.What are the negative effects of gender inequality?

3.How is gender related to popular culture?

Personal Bases

The evolution of gender roles are extraordinary that is why the researchers

would like to know about more of the affects of Cultural inequality towards gender,

some cultures have embraced more egalitarian views on gender roles, while others

maintain more traditional divisions of labor and expectations. These cultures often

adhere to strict patriarchal norms, where men are expected to be the primary
DR. MARIA D. PASTRANA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
providers and decision-makers, while women are expected to prioritize domestic

duties and caregiving.

Studying the evolution of gender roles in different cultures is fascinating

because it illuminates the complex relationship between society, history, and

individual identity. Growing up in a multicultural environment, I witnessed firsthand

the diverse ways in which gender is perceived and enacted in different societies.

Exploring this topic allows me to deepen my understanding of human behavior,

challenge societal norms, and advocate for equality and unity on a global scale.

Additionally, studying the evolution of gender roles allows one to appreciate the

complexities of cultural dynamics and fosters empathy and respect for diverse

perspectives.

Local Bases

I have personally been pressured to behave and dress in more traditionally

feminine ways by my mother and sisters. This often goes against my nerdy,

tomboyish nature, especially since I do not enjoy wearing things like earrings, high-

heels, (most) bright colors, or frilly clothes – the types of things that are equated to

femininity. I also do not often act as elegant or passive as my mother would prefer,

but rather I am generally blunt, cynical, awkward, and geeky. These characteristics

do not really fall under the clear-cut generalizations for females; they are somewhere

in between male and female characteristics. Many people still stick to traditional

ideas that men and women should behave in ways that fall into specific categories
DR. MARIA D. PASTRANA NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL
determined solely on their gender. However, male or female gender-specific

identities are irrelevant in modern, civilized society.

Legal Bases

Section 14, Article 2 of the 1987 Philippine Constitution provides that the

State recognizes the role of women in nation-building, and shall ensure the

fundamental equality before the law of women and men.

References
Introduction
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165489616300609
Background of the study
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0165489616300609
Local Bases
https://www.oneworldeducation.org/our-students-writing/gender-roles-in-modern-
society/
Legal Bases
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/constitutions/the-1987-constitution-of-the-republic-
of-the-philippines/the-1987-constitution-of-the-republic-of-the-philippines-article-ii/