Executive Summary
The enhancement of women's capabilities and opportunities to make choices is an important
element of human development. The gains attained by the Philippines in increasing women's access
to education and jobs in certain sectors, and participation in elections as voters and candidates
have been significant.
Gender literacy rate differentials have narrowed. By 1990, women's literacy rate stood at 93.2
percent, only slightly lower that men's literacy rate of 94 percent. And, while fewer women enrolled
in high school, 36 percent more women than men completed college (see
Table 4.1). Women's health has
also improved with the expansion of health care services, improved sanitation, and increasing
availability of modern medicine. They live longer (66 years vs. men's 62 years), and exhibit lower
mortality rates during childhood and adulthood than men. Women's economic contributions have also become
more visible. The labor force participation rate among women rose from 40 percent in 1956 to 48 percent
in 1990. Employed women have higher educational backgrounds compared to their male counterparts. In polity,
women have also taken a more active role. The number of women candidates running for public office has risen
in absolute and real terms. More women are in government bureaucracy as civil servants and in non-government
organizations as advocates of various causes.
While status of Filipino women have improved over the past few decades, they are still confronted by many
challenges. In education, the fields pursued by Filipino women are in the traditional areas of care-giving
and teaching. The incidences of anemia and malnutrition remain high, and factors related to pregnancy continue
to be a major cause of death for women of child-bearing age. Women have persistently suffered a higher rate of
employment than men. Many women are in low-paying and low-skilled jobs. Women's supportive role in the home has
carried over to the labor market such that they are relegated to home-like jobs and are not readily accepted
in top leadership positions in public and private offices (see
Table 4.4). In terms of income, women generally
receive lower remuneration than men. This despite the fact that women, both in urban and rural areas, put in
longer hours than men in labor market and home-making activities. The value of unpaid non-market productive
activities of women is about 40-60 percent of the gross national product.
A comparative study of male and female-headed households showed that, in general, the latter spent less on food,
tobacco/cigarette, alcohol and clothing, and spent more on real property, household durables (kitchen appliances,
furniture), education, medicine, personal effects, payment of loans and bank deposits. Female-headed households
also paid more income taxes, real property taxes, vehicle and direct taxes. This indicates that female heads of
households tend to be more concerned about the longer material security of their families. Their incomes also
tend to redound to the benefit of their households and their communities.
Women face many hazards in the home and the workplace. Work-related hazards include physical injury, ergonomic
problems, exposure to poisonous substance and unhealthy working conditions. Subcontracting, home-working and
other types of decentralized, unregulated work arrangements have contributed to the safety and health risks
faced by women workers. In addition, women are vulnerable to sexual harassment and domestic violence. More
than 11,000 women overseas contract workers complained of sexual harassment in 1994. One to six out of every
10 women face physical, sexual and psychological assaults in the home. A study of 1,000 documented cases of
family violence between 1994 and 1996 showed that 98 percent of the victims were women with an average age of
23 years old. The most common perpetrators were women's male spouses or partners.
While there are efforts from the government, academe and non-governmental organizations to address these
gender issues, much still need to be done. One of the initial steps that must be undertaken is to develop a
system of gender-disaggregated data gathering, collection, processing and dissemination at the agency/firm,
local and national levels to improve awareness and understanding of gender issues. There is also a need to assess
the economic policies and programs in terms of their gender-responsiveness and gender-based impact, and change
the deeply ingrained assumption of gender neutrality in the thinking of academics, policy advisers, lawmakers and
public officials.
---------------------------------------
The Human Development Index
Provincial HDIs Table 2.1
Top and Bottom Ten Provinces in HDI Table 2.3
Regional GDIs Table 2.7
