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Friday, March 22, 2013

Women and men should work together towards “Matuwid na Daan,” urges NGO chief

By Michael Vincent D. Cajulao

ZAMBOANGA CITY – For women to be the “guide” towards development, there should be mainstreaming of their participation and equality with men in all aspect of life and not be marginalized, said Ms. Maisie Faith Dagapioso of the “Katilingban Para sa Kalambuan” (Society for Progress) in yesterday’s forum held by the Philippine Information Agency (PIA) on women’s concerns.
Ms. Dagapioso further said “it is not enough that women serve as guide towards development but that they should work hand in hand with men, and be given more opportunity to participate in nation building.”

“We should not be on the sidelines watching while men do almost everything, for example, in state matters. We have 24 senators but only three are women. Majority of the heads of offices are still men. What we are saying is there should be equal opportunities for both men and women. This way we can be more productive and effective as guide to development,” pointed out Dagapioso, the program coordinator of the Katilingban Para sa Kalambuan, a non-government organization affiliated with the Zamboanga-Basilan Integrated Development Alliance, Inc.

Ms. Kates Allas of zambotimes.com, an online media outfit, also said that while women may be less strong physically than men, women are at par with men in other aspects.

“Admittedly, we are not as strong as men physically. But when it comes to mental strength and key aspects in everyday life, we are equal with men. That’s why we should be given opportunities to show what we are capable of,” Ms. Allas emphatically said.

Dagapioso also stressed the need for media to change its portrayal of women.

“Media plays a big role in influencing the public. Unfortunately, even in media, there are prejudices against women. Take for example, detergent soaps advertisements. Women are always portrayed as housewives, whose image is just to do the laundry, make things in order inside the house. In some liquor advertisements, women are used to attract men to buy such products, which is demeaning to us women. We are not empowered through media but it’s the other way around,” she rued.

The different perceptions on men and women, according to most forum participants, are cultural in nature. One participant summed it up in one simple statement when she said: “Both men and women are victims of culture”.

Filipino culture has taught us, especially those of the old times, that men should do the work, while women should stay home and tend her family’s needs. This belief has assigned roles to Filipinos based on gender which leans toward the empowerment of men, but has limited women’s role in the family and society in general.

Dagapioso emphasized that this should not be the case now, as she talked about this year’s women’s month’s theme, “Kababaihan: Gabay Tungo sa Matuwid Na Daan”.

“How can we help guide in achieving development when we are marginalized? When we are not empowered? We believe that for us to be effective, we should be empowered, be in the mainstream, and participate in decision-making, policy formulation and everything concerning our community or country. We should be working side by side with men,” she espoused. (PIA9)