The struggles and progress towards gender equality in the workplace

IN THE EARLY 20th century, women encountered substantial difficulties entering the workforce due to societal norms and gender-based expectations that restricted their professional growth and limited them to domestic duties. Merits, an open access peer-reviewed journal, revealed that the prevailing belief that women were less capable than men in professional settings perpetuated gender inequality.

Since then, women have been breaking down barriers in traditionally maledominated industries, paving the way for future generations, setting up successful businesses, and ascending to leadership positions in companies and governments across the world.

According to United Nations (UN) Women, legal frameworks, such as antidiscrimination laws and affirmative action policies, have paved the way for greater gender diversity in various industries. Women now represent a substantial portion of the global workforce, holding positions across diverse sectors, including science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM); finance; politics; and entrepreneurship.

Globally, a data from the World Bank indicated that more girls are attending school and completing higher levels of education than ever before. In some regions, the gender gap in education has narrowed significantly, with girls outperforming boys in academic performance in certain subjects.

The “Women in the Workplace 2023” report by McKinsey & Company and LeanIn.Org, also revealed that women’s representation in the C-suite has reached its highest level ever, showing encouraging gains at the top levels of organizations.

Furthermore, entrepreneurship rates are high among women in lower- and middle-income countries where job options are limited, highlighting the link between employment and entrepreneurship, based on the latest report from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor.

Meanwhile, the Philippines achieved the 19th position out of 146 countries as a gender-equal country in the world in the “2022 Global Gender Gap Index” report by the World Economic Forum (WEF). The “Gender Gap Index” measures gender equality based on the economic participation and opportunity, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment, and the Philippines has long been considered as the top gender-equal nation in Southeast Asia.

According to a report conducted by World Bank, the Philippine government is taking steps to increase female participation in the labor force by promoting policies supporting flexible work arrangements, addressing gendered social norms, and enhancing childcare support.

For instance, the Philippine Magna Carta for Women, officially known as Republic Act 9710, aims to eradicate discrimination against women and bridge the gender gap in various sectors. One of the key provisions of this law is to ensure that women have equal access and opportunities in education, employment, and all aspects of society. The Act recognizes and affirms the important role of women in nation-building, promotes their empowerment, and ensures that men and women have equal rights and opportunities.

As per the Asian Development Bank, the government has initiated Women’s EDGE Plan, which consists of policy studies, pilot projects, technical services and resources to support the economic empowerment and advancement of women across various sectors.

Similarly, the Philippine Commission on Women (PCW) has developed

The future of women in the workplace hinges on concerted efforts to break down barriers, promote inclusivity, and create a culture that values diversity.

sector plans and national development strategies to ensure the mainstreaming of gender equality across all government agencies. These efforts are being executed through the Philippine Plan for Gender-Responsive Development 19952025 and the Women’s Empowerment, Development, and Gender Equality Plan for 2013-2016.

THE PERSISTENT CHALLENGES

Despite the progress towards gender equality, women still face challenges and disparities globally and locally. According to the UN Women’s report on “Progress on the Sustainable Development Goals: The Gender Snapshot 2023,” approximately one in every ten women worldwide lives in extreme poverty. If the trend persists, an estimated 8% of the global female population, totaling 342.4 million women and girls, will still be living on less than $2.15 a day by 2023.

In terms of employment, gender bias remains a pervasive issue in many workplaces. Women often encounter stereotypes and discriminatory attitudes that undermine their professional credibility and opportunities for advancement. According to the World Bank’s “Women, Business and the Law 2023” report, over 2.7 billion women worldwide are legally restricted from accessing the same job opportunities as men. More than onethird of economies globally have laws constraining women’s ability to work, with 43 economies lacking any laws addressing sexual harassment in the workplace.

The International Labour Organization (ILO) also emphasized on the gender disparities in access to social protection. According to their report, women are significantly less likely to have access to social protection acquired through employment, such as pensions, unemployment benefits, or maternity protection. Globally, women lag behind men by 8% in terms of coverage, with 73.5% of women in wage employment lacking access to social protection.

Despite ranking high out of 146 countries in the WEF’s Global Gender Gap Index, the Philippines still faces challenges in achieving full gender parity, particularly in political empowerment. According to a report titled “Gender Equality in the Labor Market in the Philippines” by the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the ILO, the country has struggled to gen