Gender Equality in the World of Works

1. in the
World of
Works
Lourdes A. Reyes

3. is a political concept that emphasizes equality between genders. Gender equality is
typically defined as women and men enjoying the same opportunities, rights and
responsibilities within all areas of life.
UNICEF says gender equality "means that women and men, and girls and boys, enjoy
the same rights, resources, opportunities and protections. It does not require that girls
and boys, or women and men, be the same, or that they be treated exactly alike."

4. Gender equality is a basic human right and a necessary condition for the elimination
of poverty and attainment of national social and economic development. The
principle of basic human rights calls for equal civil, political, economic, social and
cultural rights for all individuals.

5. Where do Filipino women stand in
relation to gender equality in the
world of work?

6. Filipino women enjoy greater equality than those in other
parts of Southeast Asia, ranking seventh in the world
in the World Economic Forum Global Gender
Gap Index, as measured in terms of gender equality,
political empowerment, health and survival, economic
participation and opportunity.
It is ranked 17th worldwide and third in Asia in terms of
political empowerment, a category that measures the gap between
women and men at the highest level of political decision-making

7. What explains the gap between the
genders in employment rates?

8. 1. Gender discrimination.
According to the International Labor Organization (2013),
labor market participation of women is lower than men because of
“inadequate employment and decent work opportunities,
domestic labor and care constraints and social norms.”

9. 2. Cultural and Social barriers
Lack of child care facilities in the workplace hinders their opportunity to pursue
higher-paying jobs.
…high maternal and neonatal mortality rates and cultural and economic pressures
that compel educated women to stay home and care for the family.

10. In 2011, 31 percent of working-age Filipino
women were not in the labor force because of
family duties, ILO said. Only three percent of
men experienced the same.

11. 2018 Gender Statistics on Labor
and Employment

12. Based on the 2017 Global Gender Gap Report released by the World Economic Forum,
the Philippines ranked tenth (10th) among other countries in the
Global Gender Gap Index.
As such, the country placed second among countries in East Asia and Pacific. This implies that
the Philippines remains committed in promoting the gender equality specifically in the four
fundamental categories such as economic participation and opportunity; educational
attainment; health and survival; and political empowerment.

13. Rights-based approach in
promoting gender equality in
employment

14. • Ensuring full human resources development, through equal access to education and skills
development opportunities for youth
• Increasing employability of women and men through equal access to life-long learning and
productive resources
• Creating inclusive labour markets adaptable to changing economic realities, but with
equity and minimum employment and income security

15. Ways to Promote Gender Equality
in Daily Life

16.  FIGHT GENDER STEREOTYPES
• Children learn a lot from their immediate surroundings — families, friends, school, neighbourhood, media and books.
Stereotypes based on gender and its internalisation starts at an early age. Children, who grow up in gender-equitable
environments, tend to believe in gender stereotypes less than their peers, who grow up in a gender-inequitable
environment.
 PROMOTE GENDER EQUALITY AT HOME
• Parents are the first role models children have. It is important for parents to share household chores as well as
outside chores, participate equally in financial matters, exhibit joint decision making and treat each other with
respect.

17.  IMBIBE GENDER EQUALITY AND RESPECT AS CORE VALUES
• Mutual respect for all irrespective of their sex, caste, socio-economic status, religion, region and educational status.
These are core values which start getting ingrained in young minds from an early age.
 THE RIGHT GENDER MESSAGING — GENDER IS NOT SYNONYMOUS WITH WOMEN AND GIRLS
• Gender is often misrepresented as pertaining only to women and girls. It is important to create awareness that
society creates gender norms and stereotypes. Gender stereotypes impact all of us, yet affect women, girls and the
‘third gender’ more.

18.  TALK ABOUT GENDER ISSUES WITH AN AGE APPROPRIATE LENS
• It is important for parents to talk to children about gender-related issues in an age-appropriate manner so that they
grow up to be more gender-aware, gender-responsive and respectful.
 SHARE HOUSEHOLD CHORES AND CHILDCARE EQUALLY
• Household chores and children’s care are every adult’s responsibility.
 WATCH FOR SIGNS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
• Get some help and support if you know a friend or acquaintance is suffering from domestic violence or other abuse.
This type of violence is not restricted to physical aggression. Verbal attacks (curses and threats) and psychological
abuse (controlling, manipulative and intimidating behavior) also affect women.

19.  SUPPORT MOTHERS AND PARENTS
• Those responsible for children and teens need support in every society.
 REJECT CHAUVINIST AND RACIST ATTITUDES
• Do not make comments that ridicule, demean or humiliate women, black people, indigenous people, members of
the LGBTQI community or any other historically marginalized groups. And don’t keep quiet if you hear such
comments. Talk to your colleagues, friends and family frankly and tell them to stop with the chauvinist, racist,
homophobic and transphobic insults.
 LISTEN AND REFLECT
• “The brain and behavioral sciences have learned a lot about our unconscious biases. W​e all have them, based on race,
religion, sexual orientation and gender. The important thing is to be aware of our sexist assumptions and challenge
them,” explains Lise Eliot, a neuroscience professor at the Chicago Medical School of Rosalind Franklin University of
Medicine and Science.

20.  HIRE DIVERSITY
• Value, stimulate and hire diverse teams.
 SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND RACISM: ZERO TOLERANCE
• Employees must have a safe channel to report bullying, sexual harassment and racism without being exposed or
dismissed. Proven cases should be punished.
 PROVIDE (OR REQUEST) ANTI-BIAS TRAINING
• Racism and prejudice at work often affect people from historically marginalized groups in the form of
“microaggressions.” This means, jokes and offensive comments made without harmful intent, but that hurt people,
and generate stress.