Family structure in the Philippines is different than the family structure in the United States. Families’ desire male children, but female children are appreciated to help care for the family. Males are considered head of the households. Females are considered the money managers of the family. The oldest female daughters are expected to be become an OSW to provide for the family. An OSW is an overseas worker (“Culture of the Philippines”, n.d.). There are established rights for women’s equality and share to the family inheritance with their male siblings.
In regards to labor the societal roles of men and women differs depending on the region of the Philippines you are in. In the Rural areas the Traditional gender rules tend to exist. This means that men are head of the households and women tend to domestic affairs. In rural communities males cultivate the land while the females tend to the gardens and care for the house and children ("Culture of the Philippines," n.d.). In Urban areas the gender lines are somewhat blurred. Men do work as nurses and teachers yet, a majority tend to work in construction and machine upkeep and truck drivers. A majority of women work as teachers, clerks, store owners and health care providers. Some women in the Provinces work as attorneys and doctors (“Culture of the Philippines,”n.d.).
In the Philippines personal relationships and wealth are considered the road to success (“Culture of the Philippines,”n.d. Filipino men are categorized into the more dominating roles in society (“Gender Roles within the Philippines,”n.d.). However, Beauty pageant winners are highly regarded in the business world and are offered many opportunities to achieve success. Giving females an opportunity to succeed in the professional world.
I find it interesting that women are regarded as equals and provided with the same social opportunities and educational opportunities as men. Yet, in rural areas traditional labor roles still exist and in urban areas women tend to gravitate towards “female professions” and men tend to gravitate towards “male professions”. I would not consider the gender lines to be as blurred as some might like to think in the Philippines. I think great progress is being made towards a more blurred line society considering that women can work in the professional world and are being viewed as more than just a domesticator in some rural areas. If this progress continues I would expect to see women becoming equally or more highly valued as men in the Filipino culture.
References:
Culture of the Philippines. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.everyculture.com/No-Sa/
The-Philippines.html
Gender roles within the Philippines. (n.d.). Retrieved October 6, 2015, from
https://voicelab9.wordpress.com/non-western-cultural-norms/gender-roles-within-the-philippines/
Culture of the Philippines. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.everyculture.com/No-Sa/
The-Philippines.html
Gender roles within the Philippines. (n.d.). Retrieved October 6, 2015, from
https://voicelab9.wordpress.com/non-western-cultural-norms/gender-roles-within-the-philippines/