Gender roles in the Philippines are found in school systems, dating, marriage,
and emphasized in their families. From birth, Filipinos are expected to assume a
role, specific to to their gender. Gender differences determine what they are
suppose to do as an individual of that sex and what they are not supposed
to do, where each gender has a set of social norms they follow. The women attain
less dominating roles in their societies where men assume more dominating
roles in society. Men are raised to take after their fathers or the elder man in
their life. They are typically defined as being more confident, accomplished,
and well-rounded. Within urban areas in the Philippines, men predominantly work
in construction and machinery and women predominantly work as teachers, clerks,
produce sellers and health care providers. However, some women also serve as
attorneys, doctors and lawyers. In rural areas, men cultivate the land and women
work in gardens and take care of the house, children, and farm animals.
Concerning family life, though Filipino families wish for male children, women
have a right to equality and a right to share the family inheritance with
male siblings. Therefore, women are established as the familial money managers.
The oldest daughter is expected to provide money for the education of younger
siblings and for the needs of elder family members. Since personal relationships and wealth are seen as ways to attain success, women have an equal opportunity to achieve. However, winners of beauty pageants are likely to succeed in the business and professional world, especially if the pageant was at
an international level. Thus, Filipinos place a large emphasis on external
beauty and use that concept to reinforce subordination of women to men.
Concerning dating, the women’s parents meet the man in a meeting first before
allowing the man to take her out. The man is expected to pay for the date. Even
if the couple were just friends, the men is expected to pay for
the women. Women are not to wear a skirt or shorts that are above the knee cap. This is due
to the fact that Filipino men “like their females to look presentable and
classy” (Rico). Though arranged marriages have not been part of Filipino life,
men are expected to marry and if a man has not married by his late twenties,
female relatives begin searching for potential brides for him. When married, the
couple becomes established in their respective jobs, the couple pays for the
education of younger siblings, and purchases items for the house. A woman who
reaches thirty-two without marrying is considered past the acceptable age for
marriage. Women believe that marriage to a wealthy man or a foreigner will
guarantee happiness. Therefore, reliance on a male figure once again
subordinates Filipino women. However, once married, Jeanne Illo argues that:
“authority in the home, the Civil Law of the Philippines notwithstanding, is not
solely vested on the husband-father; rather, it is one which he shares with his
wife.” Therefore, Filipino homes consider womens' contributions to the
household. Additionally, many local communities acknowledge that the woman has
the right to disagree with her husband's decisions. Therefore, "all suggest that
the concept of a singular, male household head is indeed an illusion which is
perpetuated only in law and in other formal institutions" (Rico). Defying
subordinated gender norms in the Philippines, Corazon Cojuanco-Aquino was the
first woman president to take office in 1986. This was a huge milestone in the
Philippines because there were protests and to have a woman run for president because people did not know what to think. Donald Rico, native Filipino, talked about gender differences and how the Philippines are a “male’s world.” Therefore, if women in the Philippines strive to break from these norms,
they can achieve an equal, if not more, amount of success as Filipino men.
and emphasized in their families. From birth, Filipinos are expected to assume a
role, specific to to their gender. Gender differences determine what they are
suppose to do as an individual of that sex and what they are not supposed
to do, where each gender has a set of social norms they follow. The women attain
less dominating roles in their societies where men assume more dominating
roles in society. Men are raised to take after their fathers or the elder man in
their life. They are typically defined as being more confident, accomplished,
and well-rounded. Within urban areas in the Philippines, men predominantly work
in construction and machinery and women predominantly work as teachers, clerks,
produce sellers and health care providers. However, some women also serve as
attorneys, doctors and lawyers. In rural areas, men cultivate the land and women
work in gardens and take care of the house, children, and farm animals.
Concerning family life, though Filipino families wish for male children, women
have a right to equality and a right to share the family inheritance with
male siblings. Therefore, women are established as the familial money managers.
The oldest daughter is expected to provide money for the education of younger
siblings and for the needs of elder family members. Since personal relationships and wealth are seen as ways to attain success, women have an equal opportunity to achieve. However, winners of beauty pageants are likely to succeed in the business and professional world, especially if the pageant was at
an international level. Thus, Filipinos place a large emphasis on external
beauty and use that concept to reinforce subordination of women to men.
Concerning dating, the women’s parents meet the man in a meeting first before
allowing the man to take her out. The man is expected to pay for the date. Even
if the couple were just friends, the men is expected to pay for
the women. Women are not to wear a skirt or shorts that are above the knee cap. This is due
to the fact that Filipino men “like their females to look presentable and
classy” (Rico). Though arranged marriages have not been part of Filipino life,
men are expected to marry and if a man has not married by his late twenties,
female relatives begin searching for potential brides for him. When married, the
couple becomes established in their respective jobs, the couple pays for the
education of younger siblings, and purchases items for the house. A woman who
reaches thirty-two without marrying is considered past the acceptable age for
marriage. Women believe that marriage to a wealthy man or a foreigner will
guarantee happiness. Therefore, reliance on a male figure once again
subordinates Filipino women. However, once married, Jeanne Illo argues that:
“authority in the home, the Civil Law of the Philippines notwithstanding, is not
solely vested on the husband-father; rather, it is one which he shares with his
wife.” Therefore, Filipino homes consider womens' contributions to the
household. Additionally, many local communities acknowledge that the woman has
the right to disagree with her husband's decisions. Therefore, "all suggest that
the concept of a singular, male household head is indeed an illusion which is
perpetuated only in law and in other formal institutions" (Rico). Defying
subordinated gender norms in the Philippines, Corazon Cojuanco-Aquino was the
first woman president to take office in 1986. This was a huge milestone in the
Philippines because there were protests and to have a woman run for president because people did not know what to think. Donald Rico, native Filipino, talked about gender differences and how the Philippines are a “male’s world.” Therefore, if women in the Philippines strive to break from these norms,
they can achieve an equal, if not more, amount of success as Filipino men.