The Filipinas are among the Top 10 way above the Danish women in terms of closing the gap between genders. The Philippines continues to be in the top way above the developed countries and the only Asian Country to be included in the survey conducted by the World Economic Forum.
Ever since the Swiss based World Economic Forum started their survey in 2005, the Philippines have been consistent in its Top 6 rank where Denmark rose from Rank 8 last year to rank 9 this year.
There 4 fundamental factors this study or survey were based from
· Economic participation and opportunity- female labour force over male
· Educational attainment – Literacy rate of women over male
· Political Empowerment- women with ministerial positions, members of the parliament or Senate and congress and head of state over the past 50 years leaders
· Health Survival- female life expectancy over male and sex ratio at birth
The gender gap index showed that Filipino women have achieved equality or surpassed men in educational attainment, healthy life expectancy and improving opportunities for skilled women professionals. The country’s scores on political empowerment also improved further as well as other economic indicators such as estimated income, labour force participation and income equality for similar work.
Top 10 Global Gender Gap Index
1. Norway
2. Finland
3. Sweden
4. Iceland
5. New Zealand
6. Philippines
7. Denmark
8. Ireland
9. Holland
10. Latvia
You can also download the pdf file of the report.
Source: World Economic Forum
The Filipinas and the Danish both got a top score when it comes to educational attainment, and more women in the Labour force as legislators, senior officials, and managers as well as professional and technical workers.
Some basic data between Denmark and the Philippines
|
|
Philippines |
Denmark |
|
Average marrying age |
24 |
31 |
|
Fertility rate |
3.3 |
1.8 |
|
Year women allowed to vote |
1937 |
1915 |
|
Length of paid maternity leave |
60 days |
126 days |
But if you look at the table above the Danish women fare much better with having twice the length of paid maternity leave of a Filipina.
Here in abroad sometimes when you say that you are from the Philippines they just nod their head and thinks that most of us are domestic helpers, care givers, entertainers, aupairs or just out to find a rich husbands we should be proud that we are world class because there is gender equality in our country.
We have big future ahead of us we are still young as a country in comparison with the other countries in the top 10. But thanks to the OFW’s ( the domestic helpers, the care givers, the aupairs, etc.) who are also a big factor why the Filipina women are on top positions and educational attainments because their remittance help finance the education or schooling of their families.
We still needs a lot of improvement in some areas like the maternity leave benefits which are far below the develop countries, more women in the congress and the Senate, reduce the infant mortality rate of 24 out 1000 birth and mortality rate of mother at birth of 230 out 1000. With the results of this survey I hope that the Philippine government will do something to close the gender gap to help reduce hunger and poverty.
Don’t you think it is amazing were Top 6 when it comes to gender equality?
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7 comments
1 ping
Marlene
Saturday, November 15, 2008 at 23:00 (UTC 1)
This is surprising! Philippines is going up in terms of gender equality. It’s maybe because we’re losing the tradition that women just stay at home and take care of the children. But now the economic situation needs both a husband and a wife should work. I like it this way, though.
Btw, did you change theme? I don’t remember you had this before. You have stuffs now on your sidebar and footer bar.
filipinamom
Saturday, November 15, 2008 at 23:53 (UTC 1)
@Marlene,
Yup, This is a good news. More and more women are proving to the world that we are not only good housekeepers and mother but can excel in administration and in the workforce.
I’m not so good with this web thing but I’m trying find a good theme and always tinkering with something but just as they release the official wp2.7 maybe I will try to personalize my site after my exam.
Forsat God weekend!!!
Owie ND
Sunday, November 16, 2008 at 11:51 (UTC 1)
hi ana,
nice that you came up with this issue. this is actually what i have been boasting and telling my husband about since they first came with the report in 2006. not so surprising, indeed! i have always thought about that we don’t have the same problems as other countries have despite poverty and economic problems. in reality our women have always had active and stronger roles inside and outside the house. you see, we are not suppressed as women. and we don’t have to make rules about gender equality (like in denmark or in sweden) to come about with gender equality in the society. it is just… WHAT IT IS! part of our nature as filipinos. of course there are still many things we need to learn and unlearn about our culture… but we are i think better, and for real, an egalitarian society!
take care. regards.
owie
filipinamom
Monday, November 17, 2008 at 22:21 (UTC 1)
@Owie,
I also saw that report and I thought to myself back then wow and galing pala natin. We don’t have a minister of gender equality like here in Denmark but you’re 100% right that Filipina women are considered equal to men because even in the old times when the woman stays at home, while the husband is the provider the wife is the manager. So you can see that the Filipino culture women plays a vital role in the society.
Thanks for taking part.
Regards
Marlene
Monday, November 17, 2008 at 22:43 (UTC 1)
Hi Ana, it’s me again. Sorry to bother you about a tag that I posted yesterday, hehee. Wala kasi akong mapapasahan. But don’t rush it, post it when it’s appropriate.
Maricris
Thursday, November 20, 2008 at 04:00 (UTC 1)
That is good to know. I guess we as Filipinas are setting a trend for all the women not just in Asia but abroad. It is uplifting.
filipinamom
Thursday, November 20, 2008 at 16:40 (UTC 1)
@Maricris,
It’s really uplifting, it means we are worldclass di ba.
Happy International Women’s Day 2009 | The Filipina Mom in Denmark
Wednesday, March 11, 2009 at 11:11 (UTC 1)
[...] Filipina women ahead of the danish women in closing gap on Gender equality [...]