MODULE 4: GENDER AND

DEVELOPMENT

Introduction

The people-centered approach of development in the

Philippines involves participatory, empowering and
liberating strategies which encourage all people with
diverse sexual orientations, gender identities and
expressions to become agents of renewal and change of
structures, systems and ideologies which had established
binaries and gender differences.
The discussion of gender and development in this
session will help you realize better the relevance of
advocating actions and activities that would satisfy the
practical and strategic needs of men and women who come
from different cultures. It also widens your perspectives of
looking into issues and concerns that greatly affect the
realization of your full potentials as members of the
society.
 GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT

A. Desired Learning Outcomes

OutOutcome
 Explain the meaning and goals of GAD and how it started.
 Appreciate the efforts of GAD advocates to realize gender equality and
women empowerment.
 Defend and protect their rights as human beings and the rights of other
people.

B. Objectives
 Define GAD and explain its twin goals.
 Trace the beginning and development of Gender and Development.
 Identify the practical and strategic gender needs of human beings.
 Recognize all the laws that promote the rights and welfare of women.

C. Pre-Test
Identify if the concepts included below are related to Gender and Development (GAD),
practical gender needs (PGNs), and strategic gender needs (SGNs). Write your answers in the space
provided before each number.
________1. Gender equality and women empowerment (GEWE)
________2. Food
________3. Equal access to employment
________4. Capacity to do and capacity to be
________5. Housing/Shelter
________6. Protection from domestic violence
________7. RA 9262 or The Anti-VAWC Act of 2004
________8. Equal pay
________9. RA 9710 or The Magna Carta of Women
_______10. Health Services
_______11. Equal rights to education
_______12. Clean and adequate water supply
_______13. Legal rights of women
_______14. RA 11313 or The Safe Spaces Act
_______15. Political Mobilization

D. Key Concept

I. Definition of Gender and Development

Gender and Development
 promotes partnership between women and men not competition.
 makes visible women’s and men’s role as well as their contribution to development.
 promotes equality in terms of opportunities, access and control of resources.
 the GAD framework offers an alternative view of development that is gender-responsive and
revolves on the reexamination of the roles traditionally ascribed to women and men in society, and,
subsequently, a careful redirection of efforts to ensure a more relevant formulation of plans,
programs and projects.
 it is about removing explicit, implicit, actual and potential gender biases in the organizations and in
programs/projects/activities of those who are concerned with development.
 follows the principle that “Development is for ALL”

II. Herstory of Gender and Development

1. WOMEN IN DEVELOPMENT (WID)

 considers gender as a basic factor in the division of labour.

 women’s labour at home and on the farm generally under-reported.
 analyzed some of the reasons for regional differences (e.g. in different farming systems).
 related these to participation in off-farm employment and labour migration.
 highlighted the negative impacts of colonialism and the penetration of capitalism.
 women’s significant productive contribution was made visible, although their reproductive role was
downplayed.
 women’s subordination was seen in terms of their exclusion from the market sphere, and limited
access to and control over resources.
 programmes informed by a WID approach addressed women’s practical needs by, for example,
creating employment and income-generating opportunities, improving access to credit and to
education.
 the solutions to women’s problems were generally envisaged as “technological fixes” of one kind or
another.
 better integration of women into existing development initiatives.
 typical WID projects were income-generating activities with social and welfare components added.

2. WOMEN AND DEVELOPMENT (WAD)

 focused on analyzing women’s subordination within the structures of international dependency and
class inequality.
 both sexes are seen to be disadvantaged, insufficient attention was paid to the special features of
women’s situation, e.g. the role of ideology of patriarchy; the importance of the labour invested by
women in household reproduction and maintenance.
 3. GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT (GAD)

 emerged in the 1980s with roots in socialist feminism and feminist anthropology.
 focused on the social relations of gender, identifying the social construction of production and
reproduction as the basis of women’s oppression.
 combines an analysis of the impact of patriarchy.
 How are women’s and men’s roles and expectations constructed and assigned?
 Why are women systematically assigned inferior roles? How can they be empowered?
 Gender relations replace ‘women’ as the main category of analysis. Men are potential allies.
 focuses on gender relations rather than women per se.
 views women as active rather than passive agents of development, though they may be unaware of
the roots of their subordination.
 stresses the need for women’s self-organization to increase their political power within the economic
system.
 less optimistic about the role of the market as a distributor of benefits to women but places equal
emphasis on the role of the state in promoting women’s emancipation.
 develops the “capacity to do” and “capacity to be” of all individuals.
CAPACITY TO DO (ability or power)
 implies a wide range of human activities and situations in which a person can
participate in the pursuit of a better life.
These activities include:
• to do productive and satisfying works;
• to have control over one’s income;
• to enjoy nature and natural environment;
• to care for others; and to travel in search of other opportunities.
CAPACITY TO BE (right and opportunity)
 implies that a person, given the opportunities and resources available, has the capacity
to attain her/his objectives for a better life.
It includes:
 to be knowledgeable & skillful,
 to be well-nourished
 to be confident of one’s abilities
 to be comfortable with one’s achievements and power

Needs that arise differently for women and men

Practical Gender Needs (PGNs)

 needs identified by women and men which arise out of the customary gender division of labor. PGNs
are responses to immediate perceived necessity.
 refer to the needs of both women and men to survive and improve their lives economically. These
would include a clean and adequate water supply, improved health care and better ways of
generating income.
 tend to be immediate, short-term
 relate to daily needs: food, housing, household efficiency, income, healthy children
 can be addressed by provision of specific input: food water pumps, clinic, traditional IGPs, etc.
 tend to involve women as beneficiaries & perhaps as participants
 can improve the condition of women’s lives
 generally does not alter the traditional roles & relationships

Strategic Gender Needs (SGNs)

 reflect a challenge to the customary gender relations and imply change in relationships of power and
control between women and men. SGNs which women identify arise from women’s recognition and
challenge to their subordinate position in relation to men in society, for example, equal access to
employment, equal pay, equal rights.
  stem from a deeper understanding of women’s subordination and address structural inequalities.
Strategic needs include legal rights of women, protection from domestic violence, reproductive rights
and similar concerns.
 tend to be long-term
 relate to disadvantaged position: subordination, lack of resources, vulnerability to poverty &
violence.
 can be addressed by consciousness-raising, increasing self-confidence, education, strengthening
women’s organizations, political mobilization, etc.
 tend to involve women as planners, decision makers
 can improve the POSITION of women in society
 can empower women and transform relationships

Twin Goals of Gender and Development

1. Gender Equality
 this means that women and men experience equal conditions for realizing their full potentials and
enjoy their full human rights, and have the opportunity to contribute to and benefit from national,
political, economic, social and cultural development.
 women and men must enjoy the same status within a society.
2. Women Empowerment
 this means women’s individual and collective recognition and action or mobilization to overcome
problems arising from institutionalized gender discrimination. For instance, for women to advance it
is not sufficient to seek more education, but they also need to mobilize to end the discrimination of
girls in the school system.
 involves women’s awareness of unequal power relations in society and the need to do something
about it.

III. LEGAL BASES OF GENDER AND DEVELOPMENT

1. Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR)

 adapted by the UN General Assembly on Dec. 10, 1948. World Conference on Human Rights in
Vienna in 1993, governments reaffirmed that human rights are the birthright of all human beings and
that the protection of human rights is the first responsibility of governments. HR is based on the
principle that all persons possess an inherent human dignity and equally entitled to enjoy their rights.
Recognized the rights of women and the duties of the states to protect & promote such rights,
including right to freedom from violence.
Global efforts calling all sectors of society and mobilizing resources for the advantage of women…
enshrined in the Philippines Commitment in International Conventions, particularly:
2. UN Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women.(1979) (CEDAW)
3. UN Forward-Looking Strategies for the Advancement of Women. (1985) (FLSAW)
4. Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing-1995
Global Community’s commitment to advance the goals of EQUALITY, DEVELOPMENT, PEACE
Document- Beijing Platform for Action (BPA)-to transform the goals into reality. Affirm the principles
that would govern future actions and strategies for women and set an agenda for empowering women in the
next millennium.
5. Article II, Section 14 of the 1987 Constitution which states that, “The State recognizes the role of women
in nation-building and shall ensure the fundamental equality before the law of men and women”.
6. R.A. 7192 Women in Development and Nation-Building Law
IRR- Mandated the formulation of the Philippine Development Plan for Gender-Responsive Development
(PPGD) 1995-2025
An Act Promoting for the Integration of Women As full and Equal Partners of Men in Development and
for Other Purposes.
A. Women in Development Portion
A Substantial Portion of official development assistance be set aside to support programs and
activities for women.
 All Government entities to ensure that women benefit equally and participate directly in their
development programs and projects.
All Government entities to renew and revise their regulations, circulars issuance and procedures to
remove gender bias.
B. Legal Equality Portion
Women to have equality in capacity to act regardless of civil status, such as:
 obtain loans and execute credit arrangements under same conditions as men.
 Equal access to agricultural credit and other resources, agrarian reform and land
resettlement programs.
 Equal rights to act as incorporators and enter into insurance contracts.
 Equal rights in applying for travel documents, without need for spouse’s consent.
 Equal membership in clubs
 Admission to military/police schools
 Voluntary PAG-IBIG, GSIS, and SSS coverage for full time homemakers.

7. National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women (NCRFW) now the Philippine Commission on
Women (PCW)
PD633-Feb. 6,1975-National Machinery and lead agency on Gender Mainstreaming and formulate
policies, programs for the integration & mobilization of women & men for the National Development with a
mission, a mission to make gender equality a reality.
8. Section 28 of the General Appropriations Act (GAA) from 1995 to 2000 directing government entities to
formulate a GAD plan, the cost of which shall not be less than five percent (5%) of their yearly budget,
otherwise known as the GAD Budget;
9. Executive Order 273 directing all government agencies and local levels to “institutionalize (GAD) efforts
in government by incorporating GAD concerns in their planning, programming and Budgeting processes”.
10. Local Budget Memorandum 28 which directs local government units to mobilize resources to
mainstream and implement gender development programs using the 5% development fund.
11. RA 7322 increases the maternity benefits of women in the private sector.
12. RA 6792 mandates the establishment of Day Care Centers in every barangay.
13. RA 6955 outlaws the practice of matching Filipino women for marriage to foreign nationals on a mail-
order basis.
14.RA 6725 “An act strengthening the prohibition on discrimination against women with respect to terms
and conditions of employment, amending for the purpose article one hundred thirty-five of the labor code, as
amended”.
15. RA 7882 “ An act providing assistance to women engaging in micro and cottage business enterprises,
and for other purposes”.
16. RA 8042 “An act to institute the policies of overseas employment and establish a higher standard of
protection and promotion of the welfare of migrant workers, their families and overseas Filipinos in distress,
and other purposes”.
17. RA 8187 “An act granting paternity leave of seven (7) days with full pay to all married employees in the
private and public sectors for the first four (4) deliveries of the legitimate spouse with whom he is cohabiting
and for other purposes”.
18.RA 8171 “An act providing for the repatriation of Filipino women who have lost their Philippine
citizenship by marriage to aliens and of natural-born Filipinos”.
19. RA 7941 “An act providing for the election of party-list representatives through the party-list system,
and appropriating funds therefore”.
20. RA 7600 “An act providing incentives to all government and private health institutions with rooming-in
and breastfeeding practices and for other purposes”
Also known as: “The Rooming-in and Breastfeeding Act of 1992”.
21. RA 8505 “An act providing assistance and protection for rape victims, establishing for the purpose a
rape crisis center in every province and city, authorizing the appropriation of funds therefore, and for other
purposes”
Also known as: “Rape Victim Assistance and Protection Act of 1998-03-24”
22. RA 7877 “An act declaring sexual harassment unlawful in the employment, education or training
environment, and for other purposes”
 Also known as: “Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995”
23. RA 8353 “An act expanding the definition of the crime of rape, reclassifying the same as a crime against
persons, amending for the purpose act no. 3815, as amended, otherwise known as the revised penal code,
and for other purposes”
Also known as: “The Anti-Rape Law of 1997”
24. RA 6949 “An act to declare March eight of every year as a working special holiday to be known as
‘National Women’s Day’.
25. RA 9262 – is the Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children Act of 2004. It seeks to address the
prevalence of Violence Against Women and Children (VAWC), abuses on women and their children by
their partners like:
* Husband or ex-husband
* Live-in partner or ex-live in partner
*Boyfriend/girlfriend or ex-boyfriend/ex-girlfriend
*Dating partner or ex-dating partner
The act classifies violence against women and children (VAWC) as a public crime.
26. RA 9208 – the Anti-Trafficking in Person Act of 2003 was signed into law by President Gloria
Macapagal-Arroyo on May 23, 2006
- Consonant with the state’s obligation to protect the dignity of the individual, this law criminalizes
the act of trafficking in persons especially of women and children for prostitution, sexual exploitation and
slavery, among others.
27. RA 9710 Magna Carta of Women
-translates into law the spirit and letter of the United Nations Convention on the Elimination of All
Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) and recognizes the rights and freedoms of all women,
particularly the marginalized.
Signed : August 14, 2009.
28. Republic Act 11313: Safe Spaces Act
An Act defining gender-based sexual harassment in streets, public spaces, online, workplaces, and
educational or training institutions, providing protective measures and prescribing penalties therefor.
29. Republic Act No. 11210: The 105-Day Expanded Maternity Leave Law
An Act increasing the maternity leave period to one hundred and five (105) days for female workers
with pay and an option to extend for an additional thirty (30) days without pay. This also grants extension of
fifteen (15) days for solo mothers, and for other purposes.
30. Republic Act 8972: Solo Parents' Welfare Act of 2000
An Act providing for benefits and privileges to solo parents and their children.

References
Philippine Commission on Women.2010.Magna Carta of Women Implementing Rules and Regulations.
Magna Carta of Women.2010. https://library.pcw.gov.ph
CEDAW.2007. https://library.pcw.gov.ph
Briefer of Republic Act 7877 or the Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995.

Activities and Assessment

Task at Hand: Activity 1

Below are twisted words related to gender and development. Try to rearrange the words to make
them correct.
1. CAMOWMGTAANAOFREN
2. BTAEGUDDG
3. ERYGEQLENDUIAT
4. GSAERETEEIDNNEGRDSTC
5. DWTMONNEIVOLPNEM
6. TEEPDLEMOVN
7. ELQYTALEUIAGL
8. TAVEDXLMTENAEINEYL
9. TERGVOEDMAELDNEDNDEN
10. POETASLRSNO

Activity 2
Answer the question below:
If you are given a chance to talk to the lawmakers, what specific bill on women and people with
diverse sexual orientations and gender identities and expression would you like to recommend to them?
Why?

Reflection

 Answer this question comprehensively.

How do you promote or protect the rights of women in your family,

community and the workplace where you belong?

Post – Test
Identify if the concepts included below are related to Gender and Development (GAD), practical
gender needs (PGNs), and strategic gender needs (SGNs). Write your answers on the space provided before
each number.
________1. Gender equality and women empowerment (GEWE)
________2. Food
________3. Equal access to employment
________4. Capacity to do and capacity to be
________5. Housing/Shelter
________6. Protection from domestic violence
________7. RA 9262 or The Anti-VAWC Act of 2004
________8. Equal pay
________9. RA 9710 or The Magna Carta of Women
_______10. Health Services
_______11. Equal rights to education
_______12. Clean and adequate water supply
_______13. Legal rights of women
_______14. RA 11313 or The Safe Spaces Act
_______15. Political Mobilization