Puzzling Paradoxes in Philippine Feminism

November 21, 12:30pm - 2:00pm
Mānoa Campus, Saunders 637

The Philippines is generally characterized as a country of strong women. It has produced two female presidents (and one "de facto president") and has achieved significant advances in female participation in the major institutions of society, such as the bureaucracy, judiciary, school system, academia, media, churches, civil society, education, business, community and grassroots organizations, and other areas of human endeavor. Yet, the Philippines, which is the 12th largest country in the world, remains poor by modern standards. And the vast majority of Filipino women still live on the edge of economic survival. The "feminization of poverty" is easily discernible in the continuous mass exodus of Filipinas every year to overseas destinations in search of better opportunities and economic security. This presentation seeks to explain these puzzling paradoxes and contradictions in the status of Filipino women as a whole using illustrative examples from Philippine history and the political culture, which has been shaped over time by colonizing and "civilizing" forces that have repressed women's roles and prevented the kind of progressive change that would have brought women closer to the feminist goal of equality. For questions, please contact: Dr. Aquino at lyndy@hawaii.edu


Ticket Information
Free & Open to Public

Event Sponsor
Women's Studies Department, Mānoa Campus

More Information
Vijaya Perumal, (808) 956-7464, vperumal@hawaii.edu

Share by email