Colonial Impact on Philippine Gender Values

Study Notes

The Philippines has a rich history of colonial influence, specifically from Spain and the United States, which significantly impacts gender dynamics and values.
Universities, with strong foreign roots, have played a crucial role in shaping and maintaining traditional gender relations within the country.
Although the Philippines has implemented government-mandated gender mainstreaming policies for education, the impact of colonial values remains significant and often overlooked.

The article explores the gender order in the Philippines through a threefold model: gender structures, relations of power, production, and cathexis (emotional attachment).
This framework provides a lens to analyze how these various aspects have been influenced and shaped by colonial history.

During the Spanish colonial era, the interplay of religion and higher education heavily influenced the formation of gender roles and values in the Philippines.
This period shaped the view of sexuality, leading to its strict policing by education institutions.

The American colonial era, marked by the "Americanisation" approach to education, played a key role in the feminization of several disciplines and occupations.
This feminization contributed to the formation of traditional gender roles during this period.
Harmful manhood practices adopted during this time continue to affect men in university systems today, particularly through the influence of Philippine fraternities.

Private education in the Philippines has historically been associated with the elite and has played a role in perpetuating and maintaining power structures, often serving to benefit a select few.

Examining the historical evolution of the Philippine university allows us to gain insights into the complex interplay of colonialism, gender, and education.
Such historical analysis provides a basis for understanding the Filipino philosophy of education, its connection to Filipino identity construction, and offers pathways for exploring decolonization in higher education.