Masculinization of Filipino women
I already had an inkling of this surging trend in the Philippines since last year. Recently, my observation was validated by a national newspaper.
Official statistics say that seven out of 10 Filipinos who work abroad are women. This means that the strong peso today, buoyed by OFW remittances, is a result of the hard work of Filipinas working abroad.
This is confirmed by a recent study, which showed that "domestic husbands" or those whose respective spouses are working abroad, now make up the bulk of "decision-makers" for consumer products. The emasculated "macho man" has been forced by circumstances to take on traditional female roles in the family. These males have become homemakers who decide which brand of milk, diapers, shampoo and wash soap is best for the family.
By default, the women have taken on the role of breadwinners because the men in the family have failed to play that role.
We can’t fully blame the male for the role reversal because most jobs that are in demand in the global workplace require females. If you want proof, walk into any big office.
Clerical and managerial positions are now largely populated by females. I don’t even have to look far. In my office, most staff and supervisory positions are occupied by females.
Are the Filipino males losing their marketable skills? If given the choice, many business owners today prefer female workers even in traditionally male jobs such as welding and machine operation. I won’t go into specifics as to why this is so because I don’t want to offend our male workers. But several studies have been made on the value of emotional intelligence --- which is believed to be the strength of the female.
I don’t know if this role-reversal will have a negative effect on the family, but I know that this will have a positive effect on the status of females in our society.
Official statistics say that seven out of 10 Filipinos who work abroad are women. This means that the strong peso today, buoyed by OFW remittances, is a result of the hard work of Filipinas working abroad.
This is confirmed by a recent study, which showed that "domestic husbands" or those whose respective spouses are working abroad, now make up the bulk of "decision-makers" for consumer products. The emasculated "macho man" has been forced by circumstances to take on traditional female roles in the family. These males have become homemakers who decide which brand of milk, diapers, shampoo and wash soap is best for the family.
By default, the women have taken on the role of breadwinners because the men in the family have failed to play that role.
We can’t fully blame the male for the role reversal because most jobs that are in demand in the global workplace require females. If you want proof, walk into any big office.
Clerical and managerial positions are now largely populated by females. I don’t even have to look far. In my office, most staff and supervisory positions are occupied by females.
Are the Filipino males losing their marketable skills? If given the choice, many business owners today prefer female workers even in traditionally male jobs such as welding and machine operation. I won’t go into specifics as to why this is so because I don’t want to offend our male workers. But several studies have been made on the value of emotional intelligence --- which is believed to be the strength of the female.
I don’t know if this role-reversal will have a negative effect on the family, but I know that this will have a positive effect on the status of females in our society.
