The position of the Philippines on women's rights is relatively developed compared to many other nations. Over the past century, noticeable developments have been made which have led to greater endorsement and protection of these rights. The progression towards gender equality came about through women's movements, increased numbers of women political representatives, increased numbers of educated women, greater specificity on women's issues instituted under legislation, and the focused application of those laws. In recent years, the Filipino government has addressed the rights of women under a multitude of legislative schemes including workplace discrimination, domestic violence, sexual harassment and human trafficking.Iwanaga, Kazuki.Women's Political Participation and Representation in Asia: Obstacles and Challenges. Copenhagen: Nordic Institute of Asian Studies. p. 243.

The Philippines has one of the smallest rates of gender disparity in the world. In the Global Gender Gap Index 2017, the Philippines ranked 10th out of 145 countries for gender equality.World Economic Forum, Gender Gap Index 2017. Retrieved March 28, 2019. The Philippines ranks higher than any other Asia-Pacific country but New Zealand.Mercurio, Richmond S. (19 November 2015).Highest in Asia Pacific: Philippines climbs to 7th in gender equality index, PhilStar Global Business (Mandaluyong). These roles range between the traditional position of mother, looking after children and household, to positions in the political arena.

Despite the great progress and achievements for women's rights the Philippines has garnered so far, the country is still in need of further development. There exists a discrepancy between women who have politically, academically and financially excelled, compared to women who are domestically abused, financially unstable and who are exploited through prostitution and migrant work.Anonuevo, Carlos Antonio Q. (September 2000), Overview of the Gender Situation in the Philippines.

Suffrage movement

The women's suffrage movement in the Philippines was one of the first, major occasions on which women grouped together politically. It was also one of the first women's rights movements, and endeavored to attain the right for women to vote and run for office. Many Filipino men were opposed to the idea, and held fast to the traditional view that a woman's place was cooking, cleaning and child rearing in the home. The men of this perspective were primarily concerned that the familial dynamic would destabilize if women were to formally step outside their customary role.

However, not all Filipino men were opposed to the movement. Congressman Filemon Sotto of Cebu filed the first women's suffrage bill at the 1907 Philippine Assembly.Davis, Leonard (1989).Revolutionary Struggle in the Philippines. United States of America: Palgrave MacMillan. p. 127. From there on, various suffrage bills were sponsored by a number of prominent men in society including; Assemblyman Melecio Severino of Negros Occidental in 1912, Mariano Cuenco of Cebu in 1916, and various assemblymen from Bulacan, Laguna and Tomas Luna in 1918.Davis, Leonard (1989). Revolutionary Struggle in the Philippines. United States of America: Palgrave MacMillan. p. 127. None of these bills succeeded. It was not until 1936 that the climate for women's suffrage shifted propitiously for women.

A Women's Citizens League was established in 1928 by the Women's Club of Manila. Led by Maria Ventura, its core aim at the outset was to support the cause of women's suffrage.

President Manuel L. Quezon declared his favour towards the suffragette movement in a speech delivered at Malacanang Palace in Manila on September 30, 1936.Speech of President Quezon on Woman Suffrage. Official Gazette, September 30, 1936. President Quezon, having signed the Woman's Suffrage Plebiscite Bill, held that, “…it is essential and even imperative that the right to vote be granted to Filipino women if they are not to be treated as mere slaves” and that, for women, it was “…their opportunity to wield a very important weapon to defend their right to secure for themselves and those to follow them their well-being and happiness.”Speech of President Quezon on Woman Suffrage. Official Gazette, September 30, 1936. Under the 1934 Constitution of the Philippines, Article V held that women were to gain suffrage provided 300,000 women would affirm the same desire at the ballot.Guillermo, Artemio R. (2012). Historical Dictionary of the Philippines. Lanham: Scarecrow Press. p. 416.

On September 17, 1937, women's suffrage was legalized in the Philippines, after the required threshold for the plebiscite of 300,000 was surpassed. 447,725 women affirmed their aspiration to vote, against 33,307 no votes.Guillermo, Artemio R. (2012). Historical Dictionary of the Philippines. Lanham: Scarecrow Press. p. 416. The Philippines was one of the first Asian countries to allow this right for women.Iwanaga, Kazuki.Women's Political Participation and Representation in Asia: Obstacles and Challenges. Copenhagen: Nordic Institute of Asian Studies. p. 218.

Education Society in the Philippines values education very highly, especially for their children. It is understood to be the means by which personal and familial poverty can be averted -allowing for a more successful way of life.

According to the Philippines's 2013 Census of Population and Housing, the literacy rate of the nation was recorded at 96.5%.Philippine Statistics Authority: School Attendance is Higher Among Females than Males (27 December 2013). It was also found that the literacy rate for females was 97% and males was 96.10%.Philippine Statistics Authority: School Attendance is Higher Among Females than Males (27 December 2013).

Tertiary education participation rates in the Philippines are among the highest in the world. The Honourable Patricia B. Licuanan, in her address at the United Nations in 2011, mentioned the high academic achievement of women, yet recognised their under-representation in some occupational fields.Statement by Hon. Patricia B. Licuanan Commission on Higher Education Republic of the Philippines p. 4. In areas such as engineering, technology, religion, law, trade and agriculture the graduates predominantly remain to be male. It has been hoped that this can be addressed through changes to school curriculum, educational classes based on the elimination of gender stereotypes and the boosting of general awareness of gender issues.Statement by Hon. Patricia B. Licuanan Commission on Higher Education Republic of the Philippines p. 4.

The former gap between male and female literacy and tertiary graduates no longer exists. Accessibility and attainment of education has been a major contributor to the general well-being and standard of living for not only all women, but all people, throughout the Philippines.

Political participation

Filipino women have become increasingly involved in politics on both the local and national level. Scholars believe that the rise of women leaders can be largely attributed to familial connection and the support the Catholic Church gives to women.Silvestre, Jaylyn. The Rise of Women Leaders in the Philippines. The Berkeley McNair Research Journal. p. 165. Women have come to occupy wide-ranging positions such as members of senate, members of congress, senators, governors, mayors and judges. The greatest exemplification of Filipino women’s involvement in politics are the occasions of female presidency. There have been several women who have run for presidency in the past, but since 1986 there have been two female presidents:

Corazon Aquino was the eleventh president of the Republic of the Philippines and the first female president.Guillermo, Artemio R. (2012). Historical Dictionary of the Philippines. Lanham: Scarecrow Press. p. 416. Elected into office on February 25, 1986, Aquino restored democracy to the Philippines after the long dictatorship of Ferdinand Marcos. Aquino was named TIME magazine’s Woman of the Year in 1987.TIME Magazine January 5th, 1987. Gloria Macapagal Arroyo was the 14th president of the Republic of the Philippines and second female president. Antecedent to that, Arroyo had become the first female vice-president of the Philippines. Arroyo had already lived in the presidential palace before her presidency, because when she was 14 years-old her father, Diosdado Macapagal, became president of the Philippines.Skard, Torild (2015). Women of Power: Half a century of female presidents and prime ministers worldwide. Great Britain: Policy Press. p. 172.

According to the Republic of the Philippines Commission on Elections (COMELEC),Philippines Commission on Elections. Retrieved February 24, 2019. the 2016 Certified List of Candidates for the position of President, two out of the six candidates were women:

Miriam Defensor Santiago - Dr. Miriam Defensor Santiago served in all three branches of the Filipino government. She was a presiding judge of the Regional Trial Court (judicial), commissioner of the Bureau of Immigration and Deportation (executive, 1988), and a Senator (legislative, 1995-2001, 2004-2016). She earned her Doctorate of Juridical Science from the University of Michigan. She was chosen as laureate of the Magsaysay Award for Government Service in 1998. Dr. Santiago was elected as judge of the International Criminal Court in the United Nations (2011).Senate of the Philippines Biography. Retrieved May 1, 2016. Dr. Santiago ran for President in 1992, 1998, and 2016. During the 2016 Presidential campaign, she was the only candidate to favor divorce. Dr. Santiago died on September 29, 2016.The Philippines Iron Lady Miriam Santiago Obituary. Retrieved March 10, 2019. Grace Poe is the second woman running for presidency in 2016. Poe's father ran for presidency in 2004 but was beaten by Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Poe has a successful political career behind her, having won a seat in senate through winning over 20 million more votes than Loren Legarda who won the previous two elections.6 senators proclaimed based on 24% of COCs, Rappler. May 16, 2013. Retrieved May 1, 2016.

Violence against women

Despite the comparatively advanced position of gender equality that the Philippines maintains, gender-based violence towards women, particularly domestic violence, remains a pervasive problem.

The Philippine Statistics Authority’s National Demographic and Health Survey 2013 revealed that:

One in five women aged 15–49 had experienced physical violence since the age of 15 years old.Philippine Statistics Authority (August 2014) Philippine National Demographic and Health Survey 2013 p. 185. One quarter of women ever-married aged 15–49, reported having experienced at any point emotional, physical, and/or sexual violence from their spouse.Philippine Statistics Authority (August 2014) Philippine National Demographic and Health Survey 2013 p. 185. Of women who had experienced any form of physical or sexual violence, 30% of them sought help in response to that violence.Philippine Statistics Authority (August 2014) Philippine National Demographic and Health Survey 2013 p. 185. While pregnant, 4% of women aged 15–49 experienced violence.Philippine Statistics Authority (August 2014) Philippine National Demographic and Health Survey 2013 p. 185.

The PSA’s National Demographic and Health Survey 2022 found that 17.5 % of Filipino women ages 15-49 have experienced physical, sexual or emotional violence from their intimate partners. The 2021 survey also revealed 8,399 reported cases of physical violence, composed of 1,791 rape and 1,505 acts of lasciviousness.