EBA
(Empowered Babae Ako!)
Initiative
Presented to the Faculty and Staff of
Xavier University – Ateneo de Cagayan
For the partial fulfilment of the requirements needed
In IDE 20 S.Y. 2020-2021.
Submitted by:
Dahilog, July
Mende, Micah
Mejia, Charlotte
Mundo, Bobby
Papa, Czirelle Dominique
Sabaduquia, Erin Kirsty
BS Accountancy 2 (ACC)
Submitted to:
Ms. Elinesa Abamonga
IDE Instructor
Rationale of the Project
The issue of women’s empowerment and gender equality is still a global issue in
the 21st century and one that, in many parts of the world, is in dire need of attention. The
persistence of gender inequalities and prejudices are still deep-rooted in every society
standing in the way of gender equality. Despite an increase in legal reforms promoting
greater gender equality, deeply entrenched gender norms continue to discriminate
women and girls around the world, according to the 2019 Social Institutions and Gender
Index (SIGI) Global Report.
In all parts of the world, women are facing threats to their lives, health and well-
being. Women suffer from lack of access to decent work, occupational segregation and
gender wage gaps. In many situations, they are denied access to basic education and
health care and are victims of violence and discrimination. They are under-represented
in political and economic decision-making processes. Violence against women and girls
takes many forms including: violence in the home, sexual abuse of girls at school, sexual
harassment at work and in the streets, rape by husbands or strangers, child marriage,
acid attacks, trafficking of women and female genital mutilation. In conflict situations, rape
is often used as a tactic of war and women and girls can be over-represented among
displaced populations.
The Philippines has the most female industry leaders in Asia. But even at its best
figure, women still do not make up more than a third of leadership roles across Asia.
Women have come to power in developing countries after serious conflict because both
the political and social conditions are dire. It clearly shows that across the board, in third
world countries, women are a fourth world themselves.
Education is one of the most important means of empowering women with the
knowledge, skills and self-confidence necessary to participate fully in the development
process. With the aim of better addressing these challenges, this peace project works for
the elimination of discrimination against women and girls, empowerment of women, and
achievement of equality between women and men as partners and beneficiaries of
development, human rights, humanitarian action and peace and security.
Everyone has a responsibility to prevent and end violence against women and
girls, starting by challenging the culture of discrimination that allows it to continue. We
must shatter negative gender stereotypes and attitudes, introduce and implement laws to
prevent and end discrimination and exploitation, and stand up to abusive behaviour
whenever we see it. We have to condemn all acts of violence, establish equality in our
work and home lives, and change the everyday experience of women and girls.
Problem
As the problem on gender equality and discrimination still persists due to a variety
of factors (particularly colonial and western influences), its aftereffects are still
pronounced and never shows signs of stopping. In this view, even with the current trend
of gender equality, the Filipinos are still misogynistic. As such, the following angles on
gender discrimination and inequality are outlined below:
1. Unequal Work Opportunities in the Philippines and World
Filipino working women are paid just 76 percent of what their male counterparts
get, indicating that despite growth and development there is still a significant gap in
opportunities for men and women in the Philippines, according to a World Bank report.
The phenomenal economic progress achieved by East Asia and Pacific nations has not
removed gender inequality, and countries in the region, including the Philippines, need to
put in place policies that would address the issue, said the World Bank report, titled
“Toward Gender Equality in East Asia and the Pacific,” released in Manila the other day.
Women in the Philippines are paid less than men for doing similar work, earning 76 cents
for every dollar that men earn, the report said. Filipino women are also more likely to work
in small firms and in the informal sector, and in lower-paid occupations (World Bank,
2019).
Moreover, the issue of gender inequality has several underlying formations in
workplaces in the Philippines and other countries. Efforts are being exerted to strengthen
the presence of women in the workforce, there is sufficient evidence to support that some
women still face pregnancy prejudice, sexual harassment, and gender pay gap. At face
value, the gender pay gap is the average difference between wages of working men and
women. It is a pressing system that condones a culture of inequality against women.
2. Prevalence of victim shaming in the Philippines when it comes to rape
When you hear that someone has been raped, it challenges our belief in a just, fair world.’
People would then resort to blaming the victim to reduce the discomfort from an idea that
conflicts with their belief. Victim-blaming, which happens when survivors are unjustly
blamed and often held responsible for the crime committed against them, induces feelings
of powerlessness, shame, and guilt.
Why is it that when a man rapes a woman, it’s the woman’s fault and not the man’s? This
phenomenon is called victim-blaming, and is an attitude common all over the world,
particularly manifested in cases of rape, incest, and other forms of sexual assault.
3. Cases of rape by Age Group
Twenty-nine percent of all forcible rapes occurred when the victim was less than 11 years
old. Another 32% occurred when the victim was between ages of 11-17. Slightly more
than one in five rapes (22%) occurred between the ages of 18-24. Seven percent of rapes
occurred between the ages of 25-29.
Project Objectives
As previously stated, thus project focuses on facilitating an online portal through which
issues on gender discrimination, gender equality, and women empowerment are
gradually mitigated through a safe learning environment.
In order to advance the aforementioned aims, the following objectives are laid out to help
in the successful implementation of this project:
1. Spread awareness and educate people regarding the gender equality.
2. Develop a system where an educative environment for gender equality and women
empowerment is fostered.
3. Mitigate the causes of a misogynistic society using media in disseminating
information.
Beneficiaries
Empowering women means empowering humanity, the Empowered Babae Ako
(EBA) Project would specifically benefit the following:
The first beneficiary are the women in the community because this platform allows
