Measuring Women’s Empowerment
and Women’s Autonomy in the Philippines1
by
____________________________________
Abstract
The Philippines is committed to improving the socioeconomic conditions for women. Based on the
Global Gender Gap Report 20132 of the World Economic Forum, the Philippines ranks 5 th out of 136
countries with the score of 0.783, succeeding Iceland, Finland, Norway and Sweden. The Philippines is
the only country in Asia and the Pacific that has fully closed the gender gap, specifically, in education
and health. However, despite the country’s very high rank in the global gender gap, the Philippines
ranks 77th out of 186 countries in 2012 with the score of 0.418 on the Gender Inequality Index 3 (GII) of
the Human Development Report (HDR) 2013 of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
Further, in the 2009 HDR, the Philippines ranks 59 th out of 109 countries with the score of 0.560 on
Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM), which measures gender inequality from an economic and
political perspective.
Given the above international rankings, the country continues to monitor the status of women and
implement laws and programs to empower them and promote gender equality. In 2009, the Magna
Carta of Women (MCW)4 was signed into law, which prohibits the discrimination against women and
recognizes, promotes and protects their rights. Aside from the MCW, the Philippines also called for the
inclusion of gender equality and empowerment of women as a stand-alone goal in the post-2015
development agenda at the United Nations. The country has very strong commitment to promoting
gender equality as highlighted in the Philippine Development Plan (PDP) for 2011-2016. The PDP
includes gender-related targets and strategies toward achieving inclusive growth.
Empowerment of women is essential for the achievement of sustainable development. The full
participation and partnership of both women and men is required in productive and reproductive life,
including shared responsibilities for the care and nurturing of children and maintaining the household.
Further, women’s empowerment raises the level of participation, which enable women to make
decisions based on their own views and perspectives.
The National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) explores women’s empowerment in terms
of employment, type of earnings, control over cash and earnings, and freedom of movement. These
information are used to estimate women’s participation in household decision making and women’s
acceptance of wife beating. On the other hand, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has data on
1
A paper to be presented by Interim Deputy National Statistician Lina V. Castro on the High-Level Panel: Use of data for
monitoring effectiveness of gender equality and women’s empowerment policies and programmes at the 5 th Global Forum on
Gender Statistics in Mexico on 4-5 November 2014.
2
The Global Gender Gap Report 2013 benchmarks national gender gaps of 136 countries on economic, political, education
and health-based criteria. It was developed in 2006, partially to address the need for a consistent and comprehensive measure
of gender equality that can track a country’s progress over time.
3
A composite measure reflecting inequality in achievements between women and men in three dimensions: reproductive
health, empowerment and the labour market. A low value indicates low inequality between women and men.
4
It was signed into law in August 2009.
women clients accessing entrepreneurial development trainings, accessing small and medium
enterprises (SME) services and other DTI program related activities.
Gender equality in decision making at the household level by which resources are allocated is
important for the family/household as well as for the society. Collection of these indicators should be
done regularly to be able to assess if gender equality is achieved. Further, other areas of decision
making and women’s empowerment can be explored in the succeeding surveys.
This paper uses the results of the 2008 and 2013 NDHS and existing administrative data on
entrepreneurship to present the monitoring of gender equality in the household and women’s economic
empowerment done by the Philippine Statistical System (PSS) and the DTI. This paper aims to aid the
policy- and decision-makers to implement programs to further promote women’s empowerment and
gender equality.
Keywords: National Demographic and Health Survey, women’s empowerment, women’s autonomy,
Magna Carta of Women
I. Introduction
The Global Gender Gap Index is first introduced by the World Economic Forum (WEF) in
its 2006 Global Gender Gap Report. It examines the gap between women and men in four
categories: economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and
survival, and political empowerment. Based on the latest report 5, the Philippines ranks 5th out
of 136 countries with the score of 0.783, succeeding Iceland, Finland, Norway and Sweden.
It is the only country in Asia and the Pacific that has fully closed the gender gap, specifically,
in education and health. Further, the Philippines is consistently in the top 10 since the Index
has been included in the Report in 20066.
However, despite the country’s very high rank in the global gender gap, the
Philippines ranks 77th out of 186 countries in 2012 with the score of 0.418 and 78 th out of
187 countries in 20137 with the score of 0.406 on the Gender Inequality Index 8 (GII) of
the Human Development Report (HDR) of the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP). Further, in the 2009 HDR, the Philippines ranks 59 th out of 109 countries with
the score of 0.560 on Gender Empowerment Measure (GEM), which measures gender
inequality from an economic and political perspective.
5
The Global Gender Gap Report 2013 is published by the WEF. The Global Gender Gap Index 2013 is the result of
collaboration with the faculties of Harvard University and the University of California, Berkeley.
6
The Philippines ranks as follows: 8th in 2011 - 2012, 9th in 2009 - 2010, and 6th in 2006 – 2008.
7
The 2012 and 2013 rankings are published in the 2013 and 2014 HDRs, respectively.
8
A composite measure reflecting inequality in achievements between women and men in three dimensions: reproductive
health, empowerment and the labour market. A low value indicates low inequality between women and men.
Given the above international rankings, the country continues to monitor the status of
women and implement laws and programs to empower them and promote gender equality.
The country is also committed to improving the socioeconomic conditions for women. In
2009, the Republic Act 9710 or An Act Providing for the Magna Carta of Women (MCW) was
signed into law. It seeks to eliminate discrimination through the recognition, protection,
fulfillment and promotion of the rights of Filipino women, especially those belonging in the
marginalized sectors of the society. It also establishes the responsibility of the government to
take actions in order to end discrimination against women and to ensure equality of women
and men.
Aside from the MCW, the Philippines also called for the inclusion of gender equality and
empowerment of women as a standalone goal in the elaboration of the post-2015
development agenda at the United Nations (UN). The country has strong commitment to
promoting gender equality as highlighted in the President’s Social Contract with the Filipino
People, to wit: “From a lack of concern for gender disparities and shortfalls, to the promotion
of equal gender opportunity in all spheres of public policies and programs.” Further, the
Philippine Development Plan (PDP) for 2011-2016 9 includes gender-related targets and
strategies toward achieving inclusive growth.
Empowerment of women is essential for the achievement of sustainable development.
The full participation and partnership of both women and men is required in productive and
reproductive life, including shared responsibilities for the care and nurturing of children and
maintaining the household. Further, women’s empowerment raises the level of participation,
which enable women to make decisions based on their own views and perspectives.
The National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), conducted every five years,
explores women’s empowerment in terms of employment, type of earnings, control over
cash and earnings, and freedom of movement. These information are used to estimate
women’s participation in household decision making and women’s acceptance of wife
beating. On the other hand, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) has data on women
clients accessing entrepreneurial development trainings, accessing small and medium
enterprises (SME) services and other DTI program related activities.
9
The Philippine Development Plan 2011 – 2016 adopts a framework of inclusive growth, generates mass employment and
reduces poverty. It will serve as a guide in formulating policies and implementing development programs.
Gender equality in decision making at the household level by which resources
are allocated is important for the family/household as well as for the society.
Collection of these indicators should be done regularly to be able to assess if gender
equality is achieved. Further, other areas of decision making and women’s
empowerment can be explored in the succeeding surveys.
II. Data and Indicators
The National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS) explores women’s
empowerment in terms of employment, type of earnings, control over cash and
earnings, and freedom of movement.
Specifically, the 2008 and 2013 NDHS collected information on other measures of
women’s autonomy and status, particularly women’s roles in making household
decisions.
The information collected in the survey is used to estimate two indicators of women’s
empowerment: women’s participation in household decision making and women’s
acceptance of wife beating.
The Women’s Questionnaire of the NDHS collected information on general background
characteristics including age, education, and household wealth status, for women age
15-49.
III. Results and discussions
The NDHS results focus on the following:
1. Employment and cash earnings of currently married women;
2. Control over women’s cash earnings and relative magnitude of women’s earnings;
3. Control over men’s cash earnings;
4. Women’s control over their own earnings and the earnings of their husband;
5. Women’s participation in decision-making;
6. Attitudes Towards Wife Beating;
7. Indicators of women’s empowerment; and
8. Current use of contraception by women’s status.
Discussions and tables will be presented based on the above-mentioned topics.
[Link] and Way Forward
Gender equality in decision-making at household level by which resources are allocated
is important for a family/household and society.
Explore other areas of decision-making and women’s empowerment in succeeding
surveys.
Regular collection of information on this area to assess if gender equality, at least at the
household level, is achieved.
Policies and programs must be established/implemented to promote women’s
empowerment and gender equality.
References
Human Development Report 2009 Overcoming barriers: Human mobility and development.
United Nations Development Program.
[Link]
Human Development Report 2013 The Rise of the South: Human Progress in a Diverse
World. United Nations Development Program.
[Link]
English/HDR2013%20Report%[Link]
The Global Gender Gap Report 2013. World Economic Forum.
[Link] WEF_GenderGap_Report_2013.pdf
