Religion and gender equality in Catholic Philippines: discourses and practices in the 21st century

Abstract

This chapter focuses on Catholic religious discourses and practices of gender equality in the contemporary Philippines. It looks at particular practices among Filipino Catholic women and examines the role of religion in the movement towards gender equality. Through ethnographic data in small communities in Eastern Visayas, participant observation, and a case study of two women from Leyte, the chapter provides insight into how religiosity is enmeshed with the aims of local women to improve their status in society. It also shows that even if the Catholic Church retains its prominent presence in the social fabric, and is very much a part of the rituals of life, the symbolism of its moral power, particularly in the lives of women, has been contested by lived experiences quite different from what is prescribed.

Becoming a gay caretaker of a religious image (Camarero): Catholic devotion in the Philippines as a gendered social practice

“…For Butler (1988), the performativity of gender is a stylized repetition of acts, an imitation of the dominant conventions of gender. The performance of gender reflects the changing religious culture, gender roles and gender identity (Bonifacio, 2018), highlighting camareros' identity, social roles Picture 1. The La Naval Procession.…”

Intersectional discourses of reproductive agency in the Philippines: A mixed methods analysis of classed constructions of pregnancy resolution

“…By mapping the dominant constructions of reproductive agency, we identified consensual meanings as well as classed points of divergence. Such results may guide strategies for shifting public constructions of health toward productive rather than prohibitive dialogue with personal and indigenous religious beliefs (Bonifacio, 2018). Grassroots efforts may be well-poised to promote women’s well-being in a manner which widens community participation (especially with men and families), and embraces intersectional sensitivity to local classed milieus without re-inscribing colonial discourses of development and surveillance (Bloomer et al, 2017; Suh, 2018; Terry & Braun, 2011).…”

Gender and country differences in academic motivation, coping strategies, and academic burnout in a sample of Italian and Russian first-year university students

“…In Italy, an individualistic culture permeates the educational system, and personal success is achieved through voluntary behaviours aimed at satisfying one's wishes and pleasures. In the country, the influence of the Catholic Church and patriarchal culture render gender inequalities strong [ [21] , [22] , [23] ]. Italy and Russia also display similarities.…”