The Gender Social Norms Index, developed by the United Nations (UN) Development Programme and based on data from 91 countries, reveals a distressing lack of progress in addressing gender biases against women over the past decade. Shockingly, 85% of the global population, including women themselves, still hold biases against women. Even more alarming is the fact that three out of four individuals globally believe that a man beating his wife is justified. In the Philippines, the situation is even more dire, with 99.5% of the population holding biases against women. This includes political biases, such as the belief that men make better political leaders than women.
Some may argue that the election of two female presidents in the Philippines disproves these biases. However, it is important to remember that these female leaders came to power through people power revolutions, indicating the need for extraordinary circumstances to overcome these biases. This defensive argument is akin to the fallacy of claiming not to be biased against women because one is married to a woman. Bias can exist even within intimate relationships. The report also points out that women themselves can hold biases against other women, a phenomenon known as internalized sexism.
It is not sufficient to dismiss biases by pointing to the absence of a female president in the United States. The low representation of women in positions of power should not excuse the poor attitudes and biases towards women. The report highlights the prevalence of negative biases against women in various fields, including business, education, the economy, and physical integrity.
Psychology recognizes that everyone has some form of bias. It is more prudent to assume that we all have unconscious biases and work towards increasing self-awareness to better manage them. Believing that we are completely bias-free is dangerous as it prevents self-reflection and leads us to attribute problems to external factors, rather than acknowledging and addressing our own biases. Unchecked negative biases can lead to prejudice and discrimination. For example, the belief that men are better business executives than women can result in biased hiring and promotion practices that favor men over women, perpetuating the cycle of inequality.
The workplace is also a site where women face significant challenges. A survey by the mental health organization MindNation reveals that nearly half of Filipino female employees struggle with depression and anxiety. Additionally, women find it more difficult than men to strike a balance between work and personal life. This is not surprising, considering that women still bear the majority of responsibilities for family and household matters, regardless of their career aspirations.
To address these issues, workplaces must implement comprehensive mental health policies that include counseling and mental health leaves. It is also crucial to review and improve hiring and promotion practices to eliminate biases. The burden of childcare is a significant factor contributing to disparities between men and women in productivity and career advancement. Ensuring accessible and work-compatible childcare options can level the playing field. For example, workplaces can provide onsite daycare services and offer concrete opportunities and incentives for men to participate in childcare. Paternity leave should be extended to match the time required for women to physically recover from childbirth, as the current seven-day leave falls short.
It is imperative that we confront and acknowledge our biases instead of denying them. Everyone has biases, and it is our responsibility to actively work towards becoming more aware and inclusive.
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