INTRODUCTION

Gender inequality has always been a big issue around the world as well

as in the Philippines. Women have always been either discriminated against

or underrepresented in the workplace, in education level, and even in

political arena. Although there have been some amelioration to this issue

recently, there are still a lot to do to overcome it in the Philippines as well as

in the world. Many polls and surveys on gender inequality administered

around the country had helped to sort out the truth behind this issue in our

society and provide enough evidence that such thing still exist.

Gender inequality or also known as gender stratification, is the unequal

distribution of a society’s wealth, power, and privilege between females and

males.1 It may also refer to the disparity between individuals due to gender.2

Gender inequality can also be defined as the obvious or hidden disparity

between male and female.3

Gender is constructed both socially through social interactions as well

as biologically through chromosomes, brain structure, and hormonal

differences.4 Gender inequality is amongst us all in any given society.

Although gender is not as simple as may seem, Gender comes into play

along with a number of different aspects such as sex, gender and gender

roles. Each of these aspects plays a significant part when speaking of the

different social problems encountered by men and women. Sex makes up

the biological differences; of male or female. Gender is the socially learned

behaviors that are attached to the sexes which create Gender Roles.5 Gender

roles constitute the attitudes and behaviors that are expected of males and

1 Scott and Schwartz, 2000, http://www.customwritings.com/blog/sample-essays/gender-inequality-essay.html2 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_inequality3 http://www.antiessays.com/free-essays/166227.html4 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gender_inequality. Wood, Julia. Gendered Lives. 6th. Belmont, CA: Wadsworth/Thomson Learning, 2005.5 Henslin, p. 32), http://www.customessaymeister.com/customessays/Sociology/16321.htm

females in a given culture of society. It is these gender roles that give the

impact of gender inequality amongst the male and the female sex.

The question on how gender inequality shapes peoples' life chances is

one that has been echoing widely through minds of modern society in the

recent decades. Historically sociologists have suggested, amongst various

other reasons that biological differences between men and women constitute

as one of the main reasons for males having better job opportunities.

In our time today gender inequality is manifested in different areas in

the society, such as, educational institution, work place, social services,

political and economic institutions. These problems are still rampant that

many feminist groups emerged that pressure the government in given equal

right between sexes.

Gender Inequality in Education

“Education is key to peace and Social Development”6. The educational

system is also one of the factors that disparity may be evident. The terrain of

gender inequalities in education has seen much change in recent decades.

The value of education is well-known and is widely acknowledged.7

Recognizing it as a crucial instrument in improving welfare and alleviating

poverty, countries all over the world have ranked it as a leading global

concern. Equal access to education makes possible the social and economic

mobility of the poor. By enhancing the skills of the underprivileged groups,

education is an important factor in putting a stop to poverty. Even though

most, if not all, countries identify education for all as an important factor in

economic progress, many countries are still far from achieving mass

participation. In recent years, especially in the international arena, increasing

attention has been paid to equity issues in education. As several of these

studies suggest, access to education among various groups in many

6 UNICEF Education and Peace building, http://www.unicef.org/education/index.php7 http://www.econ.upd.edu.ph/dp/index.php/dp/article/viewFile/66/58

countries is severely unequal.8 In fact, two-thirds of the world's children who

receive less than four years of education are girls. This might explain why 70%

of the 855 million illiterate adults in the world are female.9

In the case of the Philippines, difference in economic income and

geographical location makes education not attainable. Only children who are

in the urban area have the capacity to completely benefit from education.

The affluent and the elite are the only one who can propel their children to

school and eventually achieved proper education. Thus, people who reside in

rural areas that are poor can only send few of their children to school. Most

of this is boys, for they believe that girls in the family has obligation in the

household chores, hence, formal education is not necessary. Consequently,

gender inequality exists.

Gender Inequality in the Workplace

Back in the 1970s, only two (2) percent of executives were female.

Today, 52% of middle management is women.10 Obviously, great strides

have been made in the last few decades when it comes to women in the

workplace. Ever since it became the rule rather than the exception for

women to work outside of the home, the issue of discrimination in the

workplace has been a serious dilemma. Women have consistently been paid

less and promoted less often than men, and they have often been treated in

a more demeaning and less professional manner than their male counter-

parts.

Gender equality goes downhill once you enter the job market. A

woman earns only 80 cents for every dollar a man earns.11 This study

signifies that the status of woman in workplace is not given significance.

Employers tend to hire men in contrast to women in the sense that men do

8 Ibid., Thomas et al., 20019 UNFPA, I Protect the Children be a Peace Keeper., http://www.iamapeacekeeper.com/genderinequalityinsociety.htm10 http://robwrite.hubpages.com/hub/Gender-Equality-in-the-Workplace11 http://www.harvardindependent.com/2011/12/gender-inequality-in-the-workplace-education-does-not-equal-success-1201/

not have many benefits to be addressed, such as, maternity leave. Wherein,

the pregnant woman are given two (2) months leave with pay and other

benefits associated with the person.12 Although there are numerous laws that

prevent the prejudice of women in the workplace (RA 7322, RA 7600, RA 7192

and RA 7688); there is still a prevalent inequality between gender in the

government and private sector in the Philippines.

Gender Inequality in Social Institution

Social Institutions - defined as norms, cultural values and attitudes -

can hamper progress towards gender equality.13 Social institutions are key to

understanding gender equality. Although formal rights may be established,

women in many countries do not have equal access to inheritance, they

cannot own land or property, suffer from sexual assault or domestic violence,

and need to be accompanied by a male member of the family when leaving

the house. Another manifestation of gender inequality in our society is the

notion of marriage. Men are given a great deal of freedom to choose the

person they want to tie the knot and sometimes can marry more than two

women partners.

The status of women in the society is not given much significance that

it leads to intolerance and abuse. The government imposes certain laws to at

least deviate the situation. The RA 9262 of 2004 act Defining Violence

against Women and Their Children, Providing Protective Measures for Victims

and Prescribing Penalties is only one of the few that were implemented by

the government in response for woman protection.

Gender Inequality in Economic and Political Institution

12 RA 7322 (March 30, 1992), An Act Increasing Maternity Benefits in Favor of Women Workers in the Private Sector, Amending for the Purpose Section 14-A of Republic Act No. 1161, as Amended and for Other Purposes., http://www.smartparenting.com.ph/mom-dad/taking-care-of-mom/womens-rights-in-the-philippines-a-list-of-laws-protecting-women-and-mothers13 http://www.wikigender.org/index.php/Gender_inequality,_social_institutions_and_the_MDGs

While gender inequalities have diminished in some aspects of life, they

remain deeply rooted in others. In no country around the world do men and

women enjoy equality in economic and political participation, earnings,

educational attainment, general health, and physical security. Most of the

household in the Philippines, men are the one make a living, thus, they have

the dominance in financial matters in the house. Men also have more

purchasing power than women. They can buy things without the sanction of

their wives. This may be indicated on how men control the influx and outflow

of the money within the family.

In other hand, political disparity may also be visible among the

Filipinos. Barely few women are nominated and elected as government

officials. Merely a minority laws were passed in the legislative branch in

connection to women rights. A great number of these proposed laws (bills)

are under debate in the House of Representatives and the Senate. In

contrast, Gender equality is enshrined in the Constitution (1987),14 and forms

the basis of legislation and national development plans targeted at the

advancement and empowerment of women. But if we look at it, the

government is still lacking commitment and political-will to solve and

terminate this predicament.

CONCLUSION

“Gender equality is more than a goal in itself. It is a precondition for

meeting the challenge of reducing poverty, promoting sustainable

development and building good governance”, a quote given by Kofi Annan

a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the

United Nations and co-recipients of the 2001 Nobel Peace Prize. This quote

may summarize the factors that contribute to gender inequality not only in

the Philippines but all over the world.

14 Legal Frameworks for Gender Equality., http://www.unwomeneseasia.org/docs/factsheets/07%20PHILIPPINES%20factsheet.pdf

Gender Inequality is so rampant that people are ready to die and

sacrifice their lives in exchange of equality among humanity; men or woman,

black or white, rich or poor. Through this unequal treatment between people,

conflict emerges. It only means, “Washing one's hands of the conflict

between the powerful and the powerless means to side with the powerful

and not to be neutral.”15

The facts of gender inequality is that the restrictions placed on

women's choices, opportunities and participation - have direct and often

malign consequences for women's health and education, and for their social

and economic participation. Yet until recent years, these restrictions have

been considered either unimportant or non-existent, either accepted or

ignored. This is unfortunate for woman rights advocates who are willing to

make a change in the society. Women in our society are given less value

that leads to woman subordination – dominance of men over woman.

The existence of this problem only indicates that the government and

the society as a whole are still adhering to our historical tradition of having a

patriarchal society. Thus, this appears to be the case when it comes to the

influence of social and cultural norms on the status of women. Tradition is a

guide and not a jailer. The Philippines along with the society that it possesses

should go through the process of transformation from a patriarchal to a more

gender friendly environment.

Therefore, the countries that possess equality among men are a nation

of wealth – a true and genuine freedom for all.

SAMAR COLLEGE Inc.

Catbalogan City, Samar

COLLEGE OF EDUCATION

Social Dimension of Education

(TTH 4:00 – 5:30)

15 Paulo Freire., http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/inequality

Men and Women:

Humanity, equality & freedom

(A research paper about Gender Inequality)

Submitted by:

OBREGON, Ma. Angelica C.

12-9009

BSeD – 3 Social Studies (CIT)

Submitted to:

Mrs. Rosario Nacar

Prof. Ed. Instructor