Gender Issues in the Philippines Today

Gender Issues in the Philippines

 Gender inequality in the labor market
 Gender disparities among persons with disability
 Gender responsive budgeting

Causes of Gender Inequality

There is no such thing as a woman who doesn’t work. There is only a woman who isn’t paid for her work.
 Uneven access to education- Education is a great equalizer
 Lack of employment equality- Only 6 countries in the world give women the same legal work rights as men. They are
Belgium, Denmark,France, Latvia, Luxemborg and Sweden.
 Job segregation
 Lack of legal protection
 Lack of religious freedom.
 Poor medical care- Access to medicine that enables a woman to make choice is limited.
 Lack of political representation- There are still countries who would not allow women to exercise the right to suffrage and
to hold a political office.
 Lack of bodily autonomy- Cultures have designated women to bear children.
 Racism
 Societal Mindset

Why study gender & society?

Gender patterns, dynamics and biases can enhance the accuracy and scope of work in many fields.

Gender & Sexuality

 Sex of a Person
- Sex refers to a person’s anatomy, physical attributes such as external sex organs, sex chromosomes and internal
reproductive structures. There can only be two sexes – male and female.

Sexual Orientation & Gender Identity

 Sexual orientation is about who you’re attracted to and who you feel drawn to romantically, emotionally, and sexually.
 Gender identity refers to you are – male, female, gay, lesbian, gender queer, etc.
 Gender Expression- expression can be defined as the way we show our gender to the world around us. Societal expectations
of gender expression are reinforced in almost every area of life. Even very young children are clear about the gendered
choices that boys and girls are “supposed to” make in relation to toys, colors, clothes, games, and activities.
 Gender Spectrum
 A spectrum model not only makes room for people who are gender-expansive but for
those who are perceived to be more typical as well.
 A spectrum provides an avenue to a deeper understanding of the separate yet interrelated concepts of biological sex, gender
identity, gender expression and sexual orientation.

Embracing a spectrum model

Binary notions of gender, biology and sexual orientation exclude large swaths of human diversity. Spectra make room for
anyone whose experiences do not narrowly fit into binary choices such as man/woman, feminine/masculine or straight/gay.
Gender-expansive and genderqueer are two of many terms used by people to describe themselves as somewhere on a gender
spectrum—outside of the either/or choicesrelating to sex and gender.

Gender Stereotyping Defined

 Gender stereotyping refers to the practice of ascribing to an individual woman or man specific attributes, characteristics, or
roles by reason only of her or his membership in the social group of women or men.
 Gender stereotyping is wrongful when it results in a violation or violations of human rights and fundamental freedoms.
 A gender stereotype is a generalized view or preconception about attributes or characteristics, or the roles that are or ought to
be possessed by, or performed by, women and men.
 Gender stereotypes compounded and intersecting with other stereotypes have a disproportionate negative impact on certain
groups of women, such as women from minority or indigenous groups, women with disabilities, women from lower caste
groups or with lower economic status, migrant women, etc.
 Wrongful gender stereotyping is a frequent cause of discrimination against women. It is a contributing factor in violations of
a vast array of rights such as the right to health, adequate standard of living, education, marriage and family relations, work,
freedom of expression, freedom of movement, political participation and representation, effective remedy, and freedom from
gender-based violence.
SOGIESC
Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, Gender Expression and Sex Characteristics.
People with diverse SOGIESC. This umbrella term for all people whose sexual orientation, gender identities,, gender
expressions and/or sex characteristics place them outside culturally mainstream catergories – LGBTIQ+ ( Lesbian Gay
Bisexual Transgender Intersex Questioning)

SOGIE EQUALITY BILL

 The SOGIE Equality Bill recognizes the fundamental rights of every person regardless of sexual orientation and gender
identity. At its core, it aims to provide fair and equal opportunities for everyone in accessing basic social services,
opportunities, healthcare, protection, and justice while acknowledging and breaking down the barriers that exist for people
with diverse SOGIESC.
 In 2022, the SOGIE Equality Bill passed through the Senate Committee on Women, Children, Family Relations, and Gender
Equality and is set to move forward, with 19 out of 24 senators signing the committee report. Although signifying a potential
progress towards a legislation, opposing lawmakers, such as Senate Majority Leader Joel Villanueva, continue to mar any
headway by aggressive delaying tactics and deliberate misinformation and propaganda.
 Amnesty is determined to see the passage of the SOGIE Equality Bill, and is working with our members, and LGBTQIA+
activists and groups such as Philippine Anti-Discrimination Alliance of Youth Leaders (PANTAY) and the Stop the
Discrimination Coalition (STDC) to amplify the calls and push the legislation forward.

Comprehensive Anti – Discrimination Bill (CADB)

 Alongside the SOGIE Equality Bill, Amnesty Philippines is also working with the Stop the Discrimination Coalition (STDC)
for the passage of Comprehensive Anti-Discrimination Bill (CADB). This proposed measure will make any form of
discrimination against vulnerable groups–indigenous peoples, youth, people with disabilities, and the LGBTQIA+
community–illegal specially when accessing basic services and seeking protection.
 In lieu of a legislation, Amnesty is supporting groups and communities in various cities including Iloilo, Caloocan, and
Baguio (with the Amianan Pride Council) in advocating for the creation and proper implementation of Anti-Discrimination
Ordinances in their respective localities.

Understanding SOGIESC
What does sexual orientation mean?
 A person’s sexual orientation refers to who they are attracted to and form relationships with. Everyone’s sexual orientation is
personal and it’s up to them to decide how – and if – they want to define it, and for some people this changes over time.
 Sexual orientations include lesbian (women who are attracted to women), gay (usually men who are attracted to other men,
bisexual (attracted to men and women), pansexual (attracted to individuals, regardless of gender), asexual (not sexually
attracted to anyone).
What does transgender mean?
 Transgender (or trans) people are individuals whose gender identity or gender expression is different from typical
expectations of the gender they were assigned at birth.
 Not all transgender people identify as male or female. Some identify as more than one gender or no gender at all.
 Some trans people decide to transition, which is the process of living your life as your true gender. There is no single
transitioning process. Some people may adopt new pronouns, change their name, apply for legal gender recognition, and/or
undergo gender affirming surgery or hormone therapy.
 Being transgender has nothing to do with a person’s sexual orientation. You can be a trans man and be gay – or be a trans
woman and be lesbian.
What does intersex mean?
 When someone is born with sex characteristics that differ from what is typically seen as female or male traits, they are known
as intersex. For instance, in some cases, a person’s body has both male and female characteristics. Another instance is where
a person’s chromosomal make-up is neither typically male nor female. These characteristics might be present at birth or
become more apparent during or after puberty.
 Many intersex people are subjected to invasive, non-emergency and irreversible “normalizing” surgeries, often when they are
children but sometimes later in life. These procedures leave people with devastating and long-term physical or mental
difficulties.
What does Non Binary mean?
 Non-Binary is a gender identity and an umbrella term for people whose identity falls outside the gender binary. Some people
do not identify wholly or at all with the gender they were assigned at birth – some people have no gender at all. Your anatomy
doesn’t determine your gender identity and neither does the “gender binary”.
 Gender binary is the idea that there are only two genders – male and female. In reality, gender is much more like a spectrum –
it isn’t set in stone and some people have fluid or fluctuating gender identities.