Laws to end biases against women sought
THE findings of a foreign study, showing biases against women, alarmed a lady lawmaker and underscored the need to have more comprehensive and effective measures.
Gabriela Women’s Party-list Representative Arlene Brosas is referring to the findings of the Gender Social Norms Index study by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) that 99.5 percent of the entire population in the Philippines hold biases against women.
The study also revealed that biases against women in terms of political, educational, economic, and physical integrity issues remain prevalent in the country.
Brosas said this study calls for the approval of more proposed laws that would address the gender biases in the country.
“These findings are very alarming and shows that we still have a long way to go in terms of empowering women and other marginalized sectors,” Brosas said.
“Napakarami ng napagtagumapayan ng kababaihan, ngunit nananatiling malaking salik ang namamayaning kultura at pulitika sa ating lipunan na kung saan tinitignan sila bilang mahina at materyal na bagay,” she added.
The lawmaker said the proliferation of violent and sexy films with themes that are borderline softcore pornography streaming on various online platforms have also contributed to the harmful stereotyping of women and normalized gender-based violence.
Online shopping platforms also failed to impose stiffer regulations in selling sexually explicit materials, she also said.
“Women portrayed as sexual objects reinforces the country’s culture of misogyny and sexism. Worse, these films are unregulated and are readily available to minors who use these online streaming applications,” Brosas said.
Gabriela Women’s Party said there is a need for more comprehensive and effective measures to address gender biases in the country.
“We call on the government to prioritize policies and programs that promote women’s rights and gender equality, including laws that protect women from violence and discrimination and initiatives that challenge harmful social norms,” she added.
