Women Empowerment

It has been said that women constitute the largest minority group in the world. Even if
they constitute a great portion of the worlds population, they are considered a minority group
because of the conditions imposed on them by society in which they live.
1
The selected informal
sector is the women and the desire agenda for the said informal sector would be one of the main
focuses of this paper. The paper would also discuss how the chosen informal sector was able to
advance their agenda and determine how effective their techniques in doing so. Also, the paper
would assess the challenges faced by this informal sector and will tries to find feasible solution
on how to address these challenges.
The Filipinas
Throughout Philippines history, women have always played an important role. Women
have always played a critical role in the clamor for progressive changes throughout history here
and abroad.
2
Filipino woman of today was said to be of the most empowered among other Asian
nations.
3
Filipino women have struggled so hard and for so long in able to achieve this kind of
status, in order for them to recognize and eliminate the view of the world that they only fit for a
second class citizen. Despite this, Filipino women have achieved much. They fought for their
country's independence alongside their men, and when that independence was achieved, they
have contributed to the best of their ability to the building of their nation.
4

But until today, many issues in the Philippine that women still demand for a solution.
Women are still unsatisfied based from what they are still seeing now. This paper would study

1
Nolasco, C. (1991). The Woman Problem: Gender, Class & State Oppression. In M. J. Mananzan (Ed.),
Essays on women (pp. 83-92). Manila: Institute of Women's Studies.
2
Lanot, M. (1991). The Filipinas Have Come and They're still coming. In M. J. Mananzan (Ed.), Essays on
women (pp. 69-82). Manila: Institute of Women Studies.
3
United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Human Development Report 2004. New York: UNDP,2004

4
Philippine Women's studies. (n.d.). Retrieved October 1, 2012, from Filipiniana.net:
http://www.filipiniana.net/collections/index/philippine-womens-studies/12841041977395

the journey of the Filipino women and how they were able to manage to reach the kind of status
they have.
Her Status, her role, her Agenda from the past to present
Currently, there are many issues confronting Filipino women despite having success of
getting equality with men. Inadequate political participation, unfair treatment or discrimination
in the family and in the workplace and sexual abuse are some of the issues Filipino women are
facing.
5

In pre-colonial times, Filipino women played a major role in the community. They were
the only women in Asia who enjoyed equality with men in all aspects of life, from ownership
and administration of property to leadership. The arrival of colonization made to introduce the
patriarchal society, women were made subordinate to men.
6
But even though the situation was
like that, when women during the Spanish period were tied to the house and their roles were
confined exclusively to housekeeping and child rearing, a group of young women in Malolos,
Bulacan participated in a peaceful movement for educational reforms during the second half of
the century.
7
The effort of the Women of Malolos is recognized as one of the most important
events that contributed to the development of feminist movement in the country.
8
They still
make themselves heard and able to achieve the educational reform they want and were able to
change the destiny imposed to them by the society.
From 1906 to 1935, a movement carried by various womens leagues and auxiliary
womens organization of political parties for womens suffrage.
9
During the American

5
Atienza, M. E., & Luistro Rico, R. (2006). Women and Politics in the Philippines. In E.-T. T, & N. Morada
(Eds.), Philippine Politics and Governance: Challenges to Democratization & Development. Quezon
City: Department of Political Science, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of the
Philippines.
6
Philippine Women's studies. (n.d.). Retrieved October 1, 2012, from Filipiniana.net:
http://www.filipiniana.net/collections/index/philippine-womens-studies/12841041977395

7
Tiongson, N. (2004). The Women of Malolos. Quezon City: Ateneo de Manila University Press.

8
Ibid.

9
Bailey-Wiebecke, I. (1995). Women, Developmen, and Human Rights: The Philippine Experience.
Philippine Studies, 43(2), 260-266.
occupation of the Philippines, Filipino women advocated for the right to vote, making them the
first Asian women to win the right of suffrage.
10

In the present times, the recognition of the Filipino women is reflected in the1987
Constitution. In Section 14, article II affirms that The State recognizes the role of women in
nation-building, and shall ensure the fundamental equality before the law of women and men.
11

It can be concluded that Filipino women are better off compared to other women of Asian
countries from past to present. Physical symbols that attached to womens oppression such as in
China where womens feet used to be bound in iron, in Iran where women have to be wrapped
in chador and in the olden days of India where women had to be thrown into their husbands
funeral pyre do not exist in Philippines society.
12
But still, women were confronted issues as
stated above. Filipino women still cannot participate fully with happiness in Philippine social
life.
13
There is still current oppression these women are experiencing and this oppression
resulted to the shaping of these informal sectors agenda.
Women Empowerment
Today's Filipino women are active in all sectors of society. Filipino women are educators,
artists, writers, medical workers, business leaders, military personnel and political leaders.
14

From the first women president among Asian nation, Corazon Aquino to Shamcey Supsup who
placed 1
st
runner up in Ms. Universe, Filipino women have since begun making waves in and
around the globe. Together with men, women are side by side fighting with current problems the
country is facing. But despite these advantages of Filipino women, this sectors condition still

10
Philippine Women's studies. (n.d.). Retrieved October 1, 2012, from Filipiniana.net:
http://www.filipiniana.net/collections/index/philippine-womens-studies/12841041977395

11
Article II, Section 14, 1987 Constitution of the Philippines

12
Nolasco, C. (1991). The Woman Problem: Gender, Class & State Oppression. In M. J. Mananzan (Ed.),
Essays on women (pp. 83-92). Manila: Institute of Women's Studies

13
Ibid.
14
Philippine Women's studies. (n.d.). Retrieved October 1, 2012, from Filipiniana.net:
http://www.filipiniana.net/collections/index/philippine-womens-studies/12841041977395

shows gender inequalities and discrimination against women still persist.
15
The Filipino women
still cries for gender equality. The violence against women pervades this sector.
16
Based on
the statistics, the NDHS revealed that one in five women aged 15-49 has experienced physical
violence since age 15; 14.4 percent of married women have experienced physical abuse from
their husbands; and more than one-third (37%) of separated or widowed women have
experienced physical violence, implying that domestic violence could be the reason for
separation or annulment. One in twenty five women age 15-49 who have ever had sex ever
experienced forced first sexual intercourse.
17
Women persist to fight for genuine equality in all
areas of society.
18

This sectors agenda is to push women empowerment, change the status and view of the
society to women, show that the world is equally dominated by men and women.
Yes, may empowerment pero hindi satisfied lahat ng babae kasi as stated above,
mayroon pa rin mga conditions na nagpapakita na naooppress pa rin ang mga kababaihan tulad
ng mga namention above. At ibat ibang paraan ang ginawa nila to affect change and advance the
women. Yung mga methods na ito, di lang nagsprout ngayon, as stated earlier, may role ng
ginagampanan ang mga pilipina. Mula sa history, sinusubukan na ng mga pilinang iforward kung
ano ang dapat na para sa kanila.

(CHALLENGES : CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM) A source of interconnected circumstances
that constitute one integral social reality that is responsible for the present exploitation and
oppression of women in the country.

15
Atienza, M. E., & Luistro Rico, R. (2006). Women and Politics in the Philippines. In E.-T. T, & N. Morada
(Eds.), Philippine Politics and Governance: Challenges to Democratization & Development. Quezon
City: Department of Political Science, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of the
Philippines.

16
Ibid.

17
The 2008 National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS)

18
Atienza, M. E., & Luistro Rico, R. (2006). Women and Politics in the Philippines. In E.-T. T, & N. Morada
(Eds.), Philippine Politics and Governance: Challenges to Democratization & Development. Quezon
City: Department of Political Science, College of Social Sciences and Philosophy, University of the
Philippines.