GENDER and EQUALITY

The long history of colonialism has embedded a patriarchal culture among Filipino. Many years
ago, we have this concept that women are only for household, serves their husband and families.
According to the article that I’ve read, women have fewer opportunities for economic participation than
men, less access to basic and higher education, greater health and safety risks, and less political
representation. Girls still make up a higher percentage of out-of-school children than boys. Women's
health and safety is another important area, HIV/AIDS is becoming an increasingly impactful issue for
women. This can be related to women having fewer opportunities for health education, unequal power in
sexual partnership, or as a result of gender-based violence. Globally, no country has fully attained gender
equality. Nonetheless, the United Nation is now focusing its global development work on the recently-
developed 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) . Women have a critical role to play in all of the
SDGs, with many targets specifically recognizing women’s equality and empowerment as both the
objective, and as part of the solution.
The gender situation in the Philippines is characterized by sharp contradictions. It graphically
showcases samples of women’s advancement in politics, academic and professional excellence, and even
legislation. But this is contrasted by images of prostituted women, battered wives, economically
disadvantaged women and exploited migrant workers. After languishing for more than 10 years in three
different congresses, the Magna Carta of Women (Magna Carta), Republic Act 9710, was signed into
law by President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo of the Philippines on August 14, 2009, and came into effect
on September 15, 2009. The Magna Carta is invaluable to advancing justice and women's human rights in
the Philippines. Its passage marks a milestone in Philippines history and for the status of Filipino women.
The Magna Carta of Women is comprehensive women’s human rights law that seeks to eliminate
discrimination against women by recognizing, protecting, fulfilling and promoting the rights of Filipino
women, especially those in marginalized sector.
Gender equality is important not only from the intrinsic perspective that women should not be
denied well-being, but also from the policy perspective that empowering women has a positive effect on
other development outcomes. Women also can get a good education, and women also have a power to
change the world, for giving an opinion, and sharing what they feel about something. This may sound
cliché, but a lot of people is familiar with the saying, “behind every great man there is a great woman” I
see this one reason not to underestimate a woman’s capability just because she is a woman. Women are
powerful in their own way. Instead of demeaning and mistreating them, encourage and help women to
uplift their self-confidence and dignity.

References:
https://www.peacecorps.gov/educators/resources/global-issues-gender-equality-and-womens-
empowerment/
https://www.pewsocialtrends.org/2013/12/11/chapter-2-equal-treatment-for-men-and-women/
https://pcw.gov.ph/republic-act-9710-magna-carta-of-women/
https://www.un.org/en/sections/issues-depth/gender-equality/