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Violence against Women and Gender Equality in the Philippines: Are they
Related?
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Abstract
The Philippine Commission on Women furthered campaign in promoting gender equality
in the Philippines which has been a socio-cultural issue over the past years. The strict
implementation of the law may have caused Filipino women to speak up and report abuses
against them. The study determined the model for the trends, a sample forecast for the next 10
years, and relatedness of the reported crime of violence against women and the Gender Gap
Index (GGI) in the Philippines. It retrieved data from the reports of the Philippines Statistics
Authority and of the World Economic Forum from 2006 to 2017 through data mining. This
study employed descriptive methods via time trend analyses using Minitab
R and Symbolic
Regression using Eureqa Pro
. R Using time trend analysis, the reported cases of violence
against women fits the Quadratic Trend Model (MAD=1968) while the quality of gender
equality in the Philippines fits the Linear Trend Model (MAD=0.00306). Both reports are
forecasted to be increasing for the next 10 years. The symbolic regression analysis provided
a forecasted relatedness of the reported cases of violence against women (R=0.9958,
R2=0.9911, MAE=0.00067) to GGI. The reported cases of violence against women have
a 73% positive association of increasing GGI. Such disclosure supports the necessity of
pragmatically real social action from governmental and non-governmental organizations which
prevent the occurrence of the crime of violence against women in the future and increase
gender equality to promote social welfare as part of the sustainable development goals.
Keywords: Gender and development; Social welfare; Sustainable development goals; Symbolic
regression; Time trend analysis
Index (GGI) Report in 2006. The GGI was reported crime of violence against women
presented by WEF to determine the magnitude and GGI in the Philippines through a time
of gender-based disparities among countries series analysis. Second, it provided a sample
worldwide (WEF, 2017). WEF provides forecast of the reported crime of violence
country rankings which are designed to create against women and GGI in the Philippines in
global awareness on gender equality and its the next 10 years. Thirdly, it determined the
progress over time. relatedness of the reported crime of violence
In the Philippine setting, issues on gender against women and GGI in the Philippines by
equality and violence against women are creating a model through symbolic regression
undeniable. The National Statistics Office (SR) analysis.
found out that one out of five women
suffered from physical violence with 14.4 Theoretical Framework
percent of married women being physically
abused or suffered domestic violence from The SDG on gender equality prompted
husbands (Philippine Commission on Women all members of UN to end all forms of
[PCW], 2009a). One-third of separated or discrimination against women which is a
widowed women also experienced violence necessary foundation, not only for upholding
which resulted in separation or annulment human rights but for a peaceful, prosperous
(PCW, 2009a). This long- established unequal and sustainable world (UNDP, 2018). As
relationship of men and women is very much consistently cited by Hopkins & Patel (2006),
concretized by the occurrence of violence Permanyer (2008), O’Connell (2011), Carlson
against women (VAW), as purported by the and Randell (2013), Winchester and Browning
Philippine Commission on Women (PCW, (2015), Loots and Walker (2015), Ponte and
2009b) and World Health Organization (WHO) Enriquez (2016), Lombardo, Meier and
(2010). The Philippines Statistics Authority Verloo (2016), Rosche (2016), Onditi and
(PSA) compiled these reported cases by the Odera (2016), and Cochrane and Rao
PNP on violence against women. (2018), violence against women became
Despite these sad realities, the Philippine an underpinning manifestation of the lack
Government is committed to the challenge of gender equality. Meanwhile, the lack of
of attaining the SDGs to promote gender gender equality is seen as an underlying
equality. As reported by the Senate of the determinant of violence against women
Philippines on Crime Statistics (2013), having which includes hierarchical structure based
a safe and secure community is vital and is on features such as gender, race or class
an important factor in adopting ventures and (Ridgeway, 2014; Nayak et al., 2003; Fanslow
economic growth. The Philippine government, et al., 2010), disproportionate experience
as a response to promote the SDG on gender of women as victims of violence (WHO,
equality, issued a policy statement informing 2005; Fulu et al., 2013), and women being
all government agencies to conduct data educationally disadvantaged (Jewkes, 2002).
monitoring on the performance of the country Further, society’s misinformed views on
with respect to the SDGs and responsibilities gender and sexuality may have contributed
of statistics agencies on reported cases of to these phenomena. As studied by Wall
violence against women in the Philippines (2014), the connection between gender
(Philippine Statistics Authority, n.d.). As a equality and violence against women requires
result, Philippines is ranked as 10th out of 144 a multi-dimensional perspective that goes
participating countries worldwide in the recent beyond economics like the relative social
2017 WEF report on Gender Gap Index (GGI). status of different groups, social norms, and
This paper has three main objectives. First, attitude. Wall added that the lack of research
it determined the model for the trends of the and data on gender equality and violence
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Deguma et al. JEHRD Vol.6, 2018
against women, despite obvious logic in reputable agencies and are readily available
the connection, added to the complexity for public consumption. The data include the
(Wall, 2014). It is necessary to look at the reported cases of violence against women
correlation of these variables for achieving in the Philippines, as presented in Table 1
sustainable development and to uplift human of the annual Philippines Statistics Authority
rights through enhancing social welfare of (PSA, 2017). The Philippines Statistics
the country since it was found out from Authority for the past 12 consecutive years,
previous related studies that social welfare is from 2006 to 2017, produces an annual
affected most by the quality of gender equality report which summarizes various statistics
(Bergqvist, 2016; Mandel & Semyonov, 2006; generated by PSA and other government
Korpi, 2000; Korpi, Ferarini & Englund, 2013; and private agencies. This report includes
Sipilä, Anttonen & Baldock, 2003). statistics on Crime and Delinquency based
on the reports given by Philippine National
Methodology Police (PNP) which reported cases of violence
against women, are recorded (PSA, 2017).
This study retrieved essential data used as
variables through data mining, a process While Table 2 depicts the GGI of the
of using datasets to ascertain patterns and Philippines as provided by the (WEF in 2017),
institute associations through data analysis WEF introduced the GGI in 2006 which
(Rouse, 2008; Witten, Eibe & Holmes 2011). served as a basis for apprehending the extent
Witten, Eibe and Holmes (2011) added that of gender-based inequalities and tracing
the benefit of data mining allows uncovering their progress over time WEF, 2017. The
hidden patterns and relationship which aids to Philippines is among the 144 countries which
make predictions. Davis and Patterson (2012) participated in the survey. Hausmann, Tyson
also assured data to be ethically neutral. and Zahidi (2010) reported that countries’
Republic Act 10173 (Data Privacy Act of ranking of Gender Gap Index is based on
2012), provides that information processed for the calculated gender gap between women
journalistic, artistic, and literary or research and men in four key areas: health and
purposes are valid grounds for the proper survival; educational attainment; economic
consumption and usage of available data participation; and political empowerment.
(National Privacy Commission , n.d.). Health and survival, as purported by
In this study, the data are reports from Hausmann, Tyson and Zahidi (2010) and
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Table 1. Reported cases of violence against Table 2. Gender Gap Index of Philippines from
women from 2006 to 2017 based on the 2006 to 2017 based on the World Economic
annual Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA) Forum report
report Year Philippine Gender Gap
Year Reported Cases of Index
Violence Against Women 2006 0.7516
2006 8,011 2007 0.7629
2007 7,383 2008 0.7568
2008 6,505 2009 0.7579
2009 5,889 2010 0.7654
2010 6,679 2011 0.7685
2011 7,456 2012 0.7757
2012 10,482 2013 0.7832
2013 15,789 2014 0.7814
2014 13,974 2015 0.79
2015 17,526 2016 0.786
2016 25,430 2017 0.79
2017 40,220
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Figure 2. Twelve-year time trend analysis of reported cases of violence against women
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Figure 3. Twelve-year time trend analysis of the Gender Gap Index of the Philippines
of the crime of violence against women in Table 3. Forecasted number of reported cases
the future and increase gender equality as of violence against women and Gender Gap
part of sustainable development goals. As Index of the Philippines in the next 10 years
consistently cited, strengthening gender Year Predicted Predicted
equality policies in every country in effect Number of Gender Gap
strengthens women’s desire to be empowered Reported Cases Index of the
(Villagomes, 2004; Stratigaki, 2005; Walby, of Violence Philippines
2005; Pease, 2008; Lombardo, Meier & against Women
in the
Verloo, 2016). Gender equality, as an
Philippines
ambition set as part of UN Agenda 2030
2018 43,121 0.7961
and SDG (Rosche, 2016; Ponte & Enriquez, 2019 52,017 0.7997
2016; Palmer, 2015; Razavi, 2016; Deacon, 2020 61,853 0.8034
2016; Bradshaw, Chant & Linneker, 2017) 2021 72,627 0.807
is significantly and positively affected when 2022 84,341 0.8107
women are empowered. 2023 96,993 0.8143
2024 110,585 0.8179
The study proceeded with investigating the 2025 125,115 0.8216
2026 140,585 0.8252
relatedness of the reported cases of violence
2027 156,993 0.8289
against women and GGI of the Philippines
through symbolic regression (SR) analyses
using Eureqa Pro
R
. Symbolic regression called generation. Through GP, SR structured
is a method that predicts relationship and patterns from a dataset of variables to find
connects variables while providing a model the “fittest” combination to model prediction
which is not assumed beforehand. According (Claveria, Monte & Torra, 2016).
to Barmpalexis et al. (2011), SR operates In the case of forecasting the association
through genetic programming (GP). GP between the reported cases of violence
generates populations of equations using the against women and gender gap index of
Darwinian principle of survival of the fittest the Philippines, the target expression used
(Koza, 1994; Koza et al., 2003; Barmpalexis to predict is as follows: y=f(x), whereas
et al., 2011). GP searches for the fittest Philippine Gender Gap Index (y) is affected
equation by setting a target expression and by the function of the reported cases of
after a series of runs in every cycle which is violence against women in the Philippines (x)
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Table 4. Variables used for symbolic an increase of the reported cases of violence
regression analysis against women may indicate an increase in the
Year Reported Philippine Gender Gap Index.
Cases of Gender Gap As claimed by Levinson (1989), the level of
Violence Index (y) women’s participation in society was a factor
Against that affected women empowerment. The
Women (x)
surge of violence against women reported
2006 8,011 0.7516
for the past 12 years suggests that there is
2007 7,383 0.7629
2008 6,505 0.7568 an increased awareness of women’s rights
2009 5,889 0.7579 as reflected in the improved GGI of the
2010 6,679 0.7654 Philippines. As purported by Lopez-Claros &
2011 7,456 0.7685 Zahidi (2005), global gender gap measures
2012 10,482 0.7757 the extent of awareness of women’s rights on
2013 15,789 0.7832 critical areas such as economic participation
2014 13,974 0.7814
and opportunity, political empowerment,
2015 17,526 0.79
2016 25,430 0.786 educational attainment, and health and
2017 40,220 0.79 well-being. As consistently cited by
Lopez-Claros and Zahidi (2005), Choe,
Cho and Kim (2016) and Hausmann, Tyson
as presented in Table 4. The result of symbolic and Zahidi (2010), women’s participation and
regression analysis for the target expression involvement measured awareness of women’s
provides a fit formula (Eqtn. 1). rights as reflected in these critical areas used
The result provided a quadratic trend as sub-indices of GGI.
manifested by the presence of x2 . The The report of WEF on GGI recognizes
presence of sine and cosine functions in strong gender equality as a manifestation
the equation indicated correction factors and of strong women empowerment efforts of
seasonal variations which contributed to the a country (Lopez-Claros & Zahidi, 2005).
accuracy of the formula used to predict the In the 2017 Gender Gap Report of WEF,
correlation of the reported cases of violence Philippines has been ranked and scored in
against women and GGI of the Philippines. the following sub-indices: in the health and
Moreover, the model has a strong positive survival sub-index, the country ranked 36th
correlation (R) of 0.9958. It has a goodness with a score of 0.979. The Philippines got the
of fit (R2 ) of 0.9911 and has a mean absolute 1st rank together with the other 27 countries
error (MAE) of 0.00067. Corollary to this including Australia, United States, and others,
forecasting, the reported cases of violence with a score of 1.000 in educational attainment
against women for the past 12 years had a sub-index. In the economic participation
positive association of 73 percent likelihood and political empowerment sub-indices, the
of increasing GGI as reflected in the variable country ranked 25th with a score of 0.764 and
sensitivity report. GGI will have 73 percent as 13th with a score of 0.416 respectively.
probability of continued increase provided that As an overall rating, the Philippines ranked
the same trend will occur on the reported as 10th with a GGI score of 0.790. Hence,
cases of VAW for the forthcoming years. Thus, Filipino women, having an increasing trend of
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Deguma et al. JEHRD Vol.6, 2018
GGI, are empowered in these five critical areas psycho-social support, and provide an
(Lopez-Claros & Zahidi, 2005). As reported by affirming environment to female survivors of
the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) domestic and intimate-relationship violence
regarding labor and employment (2009a, (United Nation Development Fund for Women,
2009b, 2009c, 2009d) , there is 0.1 percent 2001). Such undertakings promote social
increase in the labor force participation rate for welfare to Filipino women and are in harmony
females in 2013 from 2005. While an increase with the interventions proposed by WHO
of 1.57 percent of automated national and local (2009) namely school-based, community and
election turnouts was also seen for women media interventions.
political candidates from 18.4 percent in 2010 Also, the state is mandated by the Philippine
to 19.97 percent in 2013. 1987 Constitution under Article XIII, Section
Moreover, in the government bureaucracy, 14 to protect women for them to realize
Civil Service data as of 2004 provided their full potential (Family and Community
that 58.7 percent of government personnel Healing Center, n.d.). Other Philippine laws
(Professional Level) and 42 percent occupying protect women and children from violence, and
Career Execute Service (CES) position (3rd affirm the role of women in nation building
level position) are women. Based on the and ensure gender equality (FCHC, n.d.;
current projection (2010 to 2015) of life Crispin B. Beltran Resource Center, 2015).
expectancy, female life expectancy remained These include the RA 9208-An Act to Institute
higher at 73.14 years than men at 67.61 Policies to Eliminate Trafficking in Persons
years. In the educational opportunities, the Especially Women and Children; RA 7192 of
female basic literacy rate of 96.1 percent 1992-The Women in Development and Nation
is one percent higher compared to men Building Act; RA 8353-The Anti-Rape Law
literacy rate. Such reports coming from PCW of 1997; RA 9262-The Anti-Violence Against
may be associated in the passing of laws Women And Their Children Act Of 2004; RA
which protects women, a positive step of the 8972-The Solo Parents’ Welfare Act of 2000;
Philippine government in promoting gender and RA 9710-the Magna Carta of Women Act
equality. of 2009. PCW further asserts that continuous
Filipino women being aware of their rights information campaign on the law and its
could be a result of the implementation strict implementation may have caused more
of programs which promote women Filipino women to speak up and report abuse
empowerment. Rosche (2016) claimed since awareness on laws and services may be
that the SDG on gender equality and rising (PCW, 2009a).
women’s right becomes possible through Although strong legislation to protect women
advocacy undertakings of non-government from violence is necessary, addressing the
organizations. The establishment of problem at the grassroots level (home and
organizations such as Department of community) is indispensable (Carlson &
Social Welfare and Development through Randell, 2013). Hence, addressing gender
the Office of the Assistant Secretary for issues at the grassroots level which includes
Special Women’s and Children’s Concern, the school setting bequeathing a lasting
Bathaluman Crisis Centre Foundation impact on acquiring gender-sensitive attitude
Inc., Development of People’s Foundation, among students. As purported by Jewkes
Women’s Crisis Centre Institute, Harnessing (2002), education is consistently noted as
Self-Reliant Initiatives and Knowledge conferring social empowerment for both men
(HASIK) & Women’s Legal Bureau, and women. In the academe, gender equality,
Lihok Pilipina Foundation, GABRIELA, through gender-neutral procedure has been
and Philippine Commission on Women, part of the agenda of most universities in
promotes gender and development advocacy, policy making (Husu, 2000) while designing a
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Deguma et al. JEHRD Vol.6, 2018
mechanism to eliminate gender discrimination The government, however, must account and
and promote equal opportunity for women address the increasing number of reported
in the workplace (Winchester & Browning, cases through strict implementation of the
2015). existing laws. Ponte and Enriquez (2016),
proposed that policy space to fulfill women’s
rights could be potentially enlarged. Such
Conclusion and is critically needed if positive change is to
Recommendations happen for women (Ponte & Enriquez, 2016).
Strengthening gender and development
The study aimed to determine the model for activities in every school would effectively
the trend of reported cases of violence against make all students gender sensitive which puts
women and the GGI in the Philippines for forth gender equality on the right track from
the past twelve years. It also provided a the very beginning. Being aware of ones right
sample forecast of reported cases of violence must be supplemented by a genuine response
against women and the GGI in the Philippines from the government to protect women.
for the next 10 years. More so, through Some limitations considered in this study
symbolic regression, it identified the model that may guide future researchers, was that
that would best fit the relationship between the study used only the report of PNP on cases
the reported cases of violence against women of violence against women as compiled by
and GGI in the Philippines. It found out that the PSA. Hence, the study limits its inference
the reported cases of violence against women based on the reported cases which may not
followed a quadratic trend while the GGI in reflect the actual number of the occurrence
the Philippines followed a linear trend. It of the crime. Future researchers may utilize
also predicted that both reports continue to another data from reports of other agencies
increase in the next 10 years provided that the catering to similar issues on gender equality
same trend model will be used respectively in and violence against women. Conducting
forecasting. Furthermore, it established that similar studies using different methodologies
there is a positive relatedness between the two may be done to capture another significant
reports wherein an increase of the reported aspect of the same issue.
cases of violence against women may indicate
To totally eradicate this trend in the
an increase in the GGI in the Philippines.
Philippine setting is uncertain, but as long as
The association of these variables can provide
the efforts to fight crimes of violence against
implications on the effect of the reported cases
women are sustained, hope could be set high
of VAW on GGI in the country.
to improve life for the future generations.
Indeed, some mechanisms to empower
women were established. These include the
passing of laws that uphold women’s rights Acknowledgment
and the establishment of public and private
organizations that secure the protection of The researchers are grateful to Dr. Roberto
women under these laws. Hence, both public Padua who introduced his expertise to us
and private agencies’ effort to make women on Data Mining and the use of Symbolic
socially aware of their rights thereby becoming Regression Analysis as a method in doing
informed of the crime of violence against research. We are indebted to Dr. Padua in
them may have contributed to the increase of helping us with conceptualizing and rigorously
awareness and number of reported cases of and painstakingly revising our paper. The
violence against women. same appreciation is also extended to the
The increase of the reported cases is an CTU-Main Campus, College of Education
effect of women being aware of their rights. colleagues headed by Dr. Elpidio A. Melgo.
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