In this edition of misogyny in the government, we’ll talk about why women are free to go abroad to work. We’re looking at you, TESDA Sec. Guiling Mamondiong.
During a recent press conference, Mamondiong said that the government should provide more livelihood opportunities to women within the country. He claims that if they’re sent abroad, they become slaves and are abused.
“Hindi bale kalalakihan sa atin mapunta sa ibang bansa, pwede naman rin mag-asawa doon. Hindi ba? Pero yung kababaihan natin dito, pinapadala sa ibang bansa para gawing alipin lamang (It’s okay for the men to go abroad, since they can marry there. Isn’t that right? But our women, they are being sent abroad to become slaves),” he says.
Not only that, Mamondiong also said that women shouldn’t be empowered because they go to work and not stay at home to care for her husband and kids. “When the women are empowered they become more powerful not just in the workplace but [also] at home. Halos wala na silang oras sa kanilang mga asawa dahil sila nga ay powerful. (They don’t have time anymore for their spouses because they are powerful.)” Um, excuse me?
First of all, he’s leading an office wherein most technical-vocational graduates are from the Women’s Center. These graduates also go abroad because of high worker demands.
These women go abroad to provide for their own families. If they are abused, it’s the abuser’s fault and not the women who went there on their free will. In fact, even male OFWs experience abuse and forced labor. Plus, the Philippine Statistics Authority shows that women’s population is estimated at 52 million this year, while men are at 52.9 million. If women are disallowed to go abroad, that’s more than half the work force gone.
To quote a netizen from DZMM’s Twitter account, it’s like saying we shouldn’t leave the house so we wouldn’t be tokhang victims. This is also similar to dictating women on what they should wear to avoid getting sexually harassed.
At the same time, these women are also capable of being working mothers. Just because she’s doing one thing doesn’t mean she’s neglecting the other. It’s sexist to think that women should solely be homemakers who serve their husbands’ needs.
Gabriela spokesperson Joms Salvador voiced out that the mentality shown by Mamondiong views women as “weak, treats them as commodities and denies them of their rights.”
“It’s not with men climbing up the ladder of wealth and power that will empower women, but women themselves who will take part in transforming society,” she says.
Instead of discouraging women to go abroad to avoid abuse, how about focusing on the ones at fault? How about focusing on ample measures to provide assistance on abused OFWs in general? Think about that, Sec. Mamondiong and every government official who thinks this way.
[Inquirer.net]
Photo courtesy of Unsplash
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