Group envisions gender equality be incorporated in curriculum

CEBU, Philippines - The Coalition for Better Education wants gender equality be incorporated in the school curriculum.

CBE executive director Marilou Flores said that there is a need to review the books and other materials.

“Even sa drawing nga nagpakita nga ang mga babae kay portrayed as malumay, hinhin, naa ra sa balay,” said Flores at the weekly Kapihan sa PIA-7 yesterday.

“Also, we may have the K to 12 program but our facilities do not support this. For example, arm chair gihapon ang gamit. How can this be used in subjects supporting gender equality?” Flores explained.

For the local advocates, stereotyping on women’s role in society continues and must be stopped.

Flores stressed the important role of the media in addressing domestic violence by informing women of the laws that protect the most vulnerable sector of society.

“Also, it is important that women are educated. The higher the education of a woman, the less likely she is to experience abuse. And if she has, it will be easier to get out from the abusive situation since they are independent and self-sustaining,” she explained.

Department of Social Welfare and Development-7 focal person on women’s sector, Rose Marie Salazar, said that this does not mean beating men in every field.

“Ang women empowerment wala nagpasabot nga atong labwan ang lalake,” she shared.

Salazar said that incidents of women in difficult circumstances in the region increased as of 2013 with 863 cases, which she noted to be higher than the previous year.

“Wala pa nato ni natarong og segregate per province and this is also limited to what are only reported. Wala pa ni labot sa katong actual jud nga dili muduol sa authorities,” she said.

Usual cases involve physical abuse preceded by verbal abuse.

Last year’s Country’s Outstanding Police Officer in Service (COPS) awardee, Insp. Marginette Yosores, emphasized the contribution of one’s family in molding and empowering a woman.

Yosores claimed doing male chores when she grew up with her family not limiting what she can do even at a young age.

“Because of that, I did not become insecure with men because I know that I can do what they can do. Which is why I became a policewoman,” she said.

The forum panelists claimed that while efforts have been done, there is still room for improvement in addressing stereotyping in Central Visayas.

“Culture-based, patriarchal pa gyud atong society but we are leading to egalitarian. Lisud-lisud pa at this point. Things should start in our homes, strengthen information, education and communication, and things have to be sensitive to gender biases even at work,” Flores said.

“Sa akong tan-aw, hinay-hinay na man (erasing stereotyping). Sa family gyud na dapat mag sugod. Sa una, ingnon ra ang babaye nga ayaw pag eskwela kay maminyo ra man ka. Karon, pa eskwelahon na gyud ang mga babaye. Ug maayo na kaayo na nga sitwasyon,” Yosores said.

“Pasado ang Pilipinas sa MDG (Millenium Development Goals) regarding policies nga nakatutok on how to sensitize women. Dapat sa elementary pa lang, nag-start na ang awareness kay naa man guy mag-ingon nganung sa workplace ra ni naa ang gender sensitivity discussions. We can never be sensitive at work when you do not start at your home,” Salazar said.— (FREEMAN)