Question 1

In 2009, the Philippines Parliament (Congress) introduced the ‘Magna Carta for Women’ (MCW) also known as the Republic Act 9710. This Act was intended to end all forms of discrimination against women by giving them equal rights in respect to marriage and divorce, inheritance and property ownership (housing, land, business), equal access to education and employment (including gender quotas in the public sector, police force and local development bodies) as well as giving them protection against other forms of discrimination, such as unequal pay, gender-based violence, etc.
The act was specifically intended to eliminate ‘traditional’ gender roles and practices that treated men and women differently in law, in the economy and in politics.

Write a 3000-word essay on the following:

a. Outline the various forms of gender discrimination the Act seeks to end and evaluate the means by which it proposes to do so.

b. In the Global Gender Gap Report 2023 by the World Economic Forum, the
Philippines ranks top (smallest gap) in Asia and 16th globally. Examining the past data on gender equality in the Philippines, investigate to what extent the country’s high ranking may be the result of the Magna Carta for Women, and to what extent the Magna Carta for Women may itself be the result of relative gender equality in Philippine society.

c. Discuss whether the Philippine ‘Magna Carta for Women’ should be a model for other Southeast Asian nations to adopt. Your response should consider Singapore and one other Southeast Asian nation of your choice. Your essay must demonstrate use of course materials as well as other research (e.g.,
academic research publications from the SUSS library’s e-resources), and apply relevant theories and concepts taught in the course. Aim to present a clear argumentative position, on a strong analytical and empirical basis.

Reference:

https://www.weforum.org/publications/global-gender-gap-report 2023/infull/benchmarking-gender-gaps-2023/ Write your answer in 3,000 words. Please remember to provide the word count, relevant in-text citations and a list of references. Be sure to use appropriate academic sources, including your course materials.

Make certain to fill in the self-declaration form (a copy is available under your
course site on Canvas > L group > Modules) and include the completed form as a cover page for your submission (A penalty of 5 marks deduction will be imposed if this self-declaration form is incomplete, inaccurate, or missing. No appeals concerning the self-declaration form will be entertained).