Redefining Gender Equality from the Context of Culture

Abstract

Social media reports that the Philippines is the only country in Asia entered the top countries with best gender equality in the world. Also included in the top ten are countries like Iceland, Norway, Finland, Sweden, Ireland, New Zealand, Denmark, Switzerland, and Lesotho. Doubtful with this report, the researchers made an intersectional analysis on culture and gender participation in the society. The purpose is to awaken the public that the equal rate of gender economic participation in the society does not equate to gender equality and that the Philippines is still under the shadow of male domination despite of the claim that Philippines ranked 8^th in the 2011 Global Gender Gap Report. The socio-cultural merit of this study is to push the gender equality promoters to deeply examine their measurement index in assessing gender equality. Measurement index should be based on cultural contextual realities and not on quantity base gender participation.

Keywords: culture, gender equality, intersectional analysis