1) Filipino women have historically played an important role in Filipino families and society, often holding significant power and responsibilities related to finances, childrearing, and community affairs.
2) During Spanish colonization, women's roles were relegated more to the domestic sphere, but Filipino culture and women resisted this reduction of status.
3) Under American rule and with education reforms, women regained recognition and opportunities, going on to work in professional fields.
4) Today, Filipino women continue to be major influences in the home and community as financial managers, religious guides, and support for their families.
2. Domestic Orientation on Women Women in the Philippines is explained based on the context of Filipino culture. The Philippines is described to be a nation of strong women, who directly and indirectly run the family unit, businesses, government agencies and haciendas. Filipino women live in a culture that is focused on the community, with the family as the main unit of the society. It’s in this framework of Philippines hierarchical structure, class differences, religious justifications, and living in a globally developing nation wherein Filipino women struggle for respect.
3. Pre-Colonial Status The bilateral kinship accorded Philippine women enormous power within a clan. Property Engage in trade Exercise their right to divorce her husband Village chiefs Before the arrival of the Spaniards, Filipino women could also attribute status as: Medicine women High priestess astrologers
4. Hispanic Philippines During the colonization of the Philippines, the Spaniards relegated the Filipinas to a secondary position in the society, while glorifying and assigning the Virgin Mary as a model of the Filipino women. Spaniards and Catholicism tried to fix the native Filipino women’s role to the church, the convent and the home, but only succeeded slightly. The Filipino women are always aware of their importance, power and equality with men.
5. American Influence When Spain lost the Spanish-American War in 1898, the Philippines was ceded to the United States of America. America introduced the public education system which provided opportunity to every child regardless of their gender. The Filipino women’s rights were once again recognized like the pre-colonial times. Through the American-patterned school system, Filipino women became professionals.
6. Contemporary Roles: Urban Setting Modern-day Philippine women play a decisive role in the Filipino families. They handle the money Religious mentors Arrange the marriages of sons and daughters, striving to improve the family’s dynastic connections In the past, firms and businesses generally hire women for less pay and secretarial functions, but at present, Filipino women are given the same opportunities as their male counterparts in the business realm.
7. Contemporary Roles: Urban Setting Since Filipino wife holds the money in the family, she has the access to the family’s finances. Therefore, she has the ability to help her family when the needs arise. In most cases, her own family has a better chance of financial access rather than her husband’s family. The husband do not care how the wife spends the money. His obligation is to bring money in the family, and it is the wife’s obligation to budget the money.
8. Contemporary Roles: Rural and Tribal Clan Setting In rural areas, the Filipino women belongs in the home. The children approach her for money and help. She is the family’s treasurer and supports the children’s educational needs. Juan Flavier, a former senator, described in his book, Doctor to the Barrios, that “whether some Filipino men admit it or not, rural women in the Philippines wield considerable authority.” Flavier also mentioned that, “in the Philippine barrio, the one responsible for the home and its management is the wife. She holds the key to household development.”
9. Filipino Women and Work Traditionally, rural and tribal women do all the household chores. The scope of their functions include: Cooking Cleaning Teaching the children Washing clothes Repairs Budgeting Helping in the farm In general, Filipino women find pride in their work. They don’t find themselves alienated from their chores because they work with, around, and for their families. This family-oriented mindset gives them a sense of dignity and responsibility. The family and the children are the primary priority in a Filipina’s life.
10. Filipino Women and Philippine Politics Compared to other countries, Filipino women have gained and enjoyed equal rights with men. They have became presidents, senators, mayors, congresswomen, etc. Filipino women have proven that they are capable of carrying out responsibilities and tasks as well as their male counterparts. Participation on Filipino women in the Philippine politics was encouraged during the Beijing Declaration in 1995 at the United Nations’ Fourth World Conference on Women.
