Manifestations of Women Voters Maturity in the Philippines

Agdipa, Sharmaine Bolante, Glady Quijada, Twiggy Soberano, Maricar Tria, Andrea Des

CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION This chapter includes the introduction; the problem and its background, historical background, conceptual framework, research paradigm, statement of the problem, scope and delimitation of the study, significance of the study and the definition of terms used.

The Problem and Its Background The problem on this study is all about Women Voters Maturity in the Philippines. The title Manifestation of Women Voters Maturity in the Philippines covers the following; Views of Women on Philippine Election period, Awareness in Election, Participation on Election. This thesis also seeks to re-evaluate womens voter behavior on the past 10 years including year 2012. The researchers choose to study this because as we all know women on the past few decades were not given a privilege of right to suffrage. In the year 1937, women have no chance to vote, they are not allowed to participate in election. Women have been downgraded by the males. One of the most memorable and historic events for women, is when they vote for the very first time. According to Macalintal, as early as 1905, Filipino women have been fighting for the right to vote that was denied them in 1899 Malolos, Constitution. Women were not allowed to vote for they were regarded as mere extensions of the personality of their husbands or father, and that they were not fit to participate in the affairs of the government said Macalintal. On April 30, 1937, women vote for the very first time. In this study the researchers would like to find out the answer to the following question; is the right of woman to vote can help or it remains? Just for example they can participate in elections but the problem is, are they really heard, compare before? Furthermore, the researchers would also summarized the events happened during the implementation of womens right to suffrage. What did Women Liberation Movement takes part in implementing Womens right to vote? Are Filipino womens performed well when it comes to leadership in organizations? In general, this thesis mainly focused on evaluating the voting behavior of women in the Philippines. One way of studying this matter is by directly getting in touch with the voters through interviews and some other techniques.

Historical Background Woman Suffrage is the right of women to share on equal terms with men the political privileges afforded by representative government and, more particularly, to vote in elections

and referendums and to hold public office. Equal political rights for women have been advocated since antiquity. Under the autocratic forms of government that prevailed in ancient times and under the feudal regimes of the Middle Ages, however, suffrage was so restricted, even among men, that enfranchisement of women never attained the status of a major political issue. In the year 1907 the first Philippine Election Law was enacted by the Philippine Commission however the woman starts to struggle their right to vote. Women have been always underestimated by the males. But on the year 1933 the Filipino women get the same political rights as men. On the term of the late former president Manuel L. Quezon, the president initiated womens suffrage in the Philippines during the Commonwealth Era. And so on 1935, the Philippine womens attain their right to suffrage which is the first women in Asi a to attain the right to suffrage. By year 1937, women vote for the very first time. Among the many Filipino women who fought for womens right to vote were Pura Villanueva Kalaw, Librada Avelino,Concepcion Felix Rodriguez, Encarnacion Versoza, Pilar Hidalgo Lim, Rosa Sevilla Alvero, Rosario Lam, Josefa Llanes Escoda, Natividad Almeda Lopez, Minerva Guysayko Laudico and Tarhata Putri Kiram. They were known as the suffragettes of the Philippines. After the successful implementing of Women Suffrage bill, former President of the Philippines Ferdinand Marcos issued Proclamation No. 2346 declaring that on every 30th day of April we are paying tribute to the women who cast their votes in favor of womens suffrage in 1937 and it is known as Women Suffrage Day. By the year 1980s almost all women in the world can already vote except for those few Muslim countries. In this modern times many women had already attain national leadership, here in the Philippines we had two women who became president, Corazon Aquino and Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo. Women voters maturity can be studied through factors affecting or related to it such as vote buying, pork barrel, popularity, patronage. Last 2012, some women voters are already matured enough in choosing the best leaders in our country. Voters maturity may lead to a progressive nation. Just for example last year, Philippine economy increased. It is a good advantage for the whole people if they will have maturity on that matter. Theoretical Framework Elections provide Filipino a sense of participation in building our countrys future wherein they select candidates who will represents them. They also view election with humors and cynicism.

The right to suffrage granted to women has been a very in demand issue since the ratification of it. This become the gateway of women to actively be part of politics not only in voting but they also started forming out feminist groups that would help them in the government to voice their need for creating polices that would be beneficial to them. This study show how the voters respond in the power given to them in choosing their representatives in exercising their right to suffrage and the possible outcome of their vote. This conceptual paradigm study how women behave or respond in choosing their candidates through the exercise of their rights. Their level of maturity is being measured through the instrument being used the survey which will give a qualitative and quantitative result. It is not only focused on the statistical characteristics of Filipino women electorate but also on their attitudes, behavior, opinion and interest. Conceptual Framework Figure 1 shows the effect of theories that urged women to gain rights equal to men. As granted by the sovereign, they created policy that would be beneficial to them in which it includes their right to vote. The main purpose of this study is to examine carefully the effects of these theories and laws being passed in the level of maturity of Filipino womens voters. This framework shows how the researchers will measure the level of maturity of womens voter through their attitude, opinions and interest. Figure 2 shows the possible outcome of the researchers idea in measuring th e level of maturity of womens voter, wherein their behavior, attitude and the sovereign influence them in exercising their freedom to choose.

Statement of the Problem

The researchers will examine the state of maturity of the women in voting . The researchers will find the solution for the questions below: 1.What is the profile of the respondents in terms of: 1.1 Age 1.2 Educational Background 1.3 Profession 1.4 Lifestyle 2. Is there a difference in terms of educational background in state of voting of the respondents: 2.1 High education 2.2 Average Education 2.2 Less Educated 2.3 No education What are the factors affecting the state of level of the respondents in voting: 3.1 History 3.2 Implemented law 3.3 Media 3.4 Internet What are the classifications of level of maturity of the voters: 4.1 Candidate Preference 4.2 Voters Criteria 4.3 Knowledge on their rights to suffrage 5. What are the recommended actions of the researcher to help the women improve their level of maturity?

Scope and Delimitation of the Study This study mainly focused on manifesting the Women voters maturity in the Philippines. The study concentrated to the advantage and disadvantages of this right given to the Filipino Womens.

The study sought the perception concerning the effects of the womens participating in election process. The respondents were composed of people who are already alive when the womens are not yet voting, a person who have a personal knowledge of it, an ordinary people who wants to share their opinions for it and some politicians. Other factors such as the opinions or views of male citizens would not be entertain and excluded to be part of the study. Significance of the Study The study focused on explaining the effects of laws in right to suffrage on the level of the women on voting. In addition, the result of the study will beneficial to the following:

The respondents will have awareness on their rights to suffrage to enjoy their freedom in voting. The result of the study will help the women improve their situation as a voter to realize what they need to achieved as an equal being in the society. This may also increase their confidence to raise their voice for their needs as a voter. The result of the study of the manifestation of women as a voter whether the level of maturity increases or not. This may also encourage women to let themselves to be heard by the institution to help them improve their knowledge as a voter with equal protection of the law. The result of the study will help the government to improve laws that they already made and they can make new laws to give women more protection and provide them to have better services that they can enjoy as a voters. The findings of the study of the will serve as a reference material guide for the future researchers who wish to conduct the same study related to this study. It is fundamentally important in terms of we are going to value the right that many Filipino women fighting and we are about to be familiar with the right attain by the Filipino woman. Filipino Women: Since the study sought to serve as a reference for the Filipino Women this would establishing a more effective and functional election that would help in establishing a clean and peaceful election. Filipino Women Leaders: This may enable our leaders to act in accordance with law. And with this study I think they work with a dignity and prove something that they can perform well. Filipino People: Since our respondent is the people, it may utilize as a supportive instrument in providing a depth understanding of how a Filipino women should work for this right. It will help them to

evaluate the form of government before when womens are not yet vote and now when Filipino Womens already vote. Future Researchers This will serve as their guidelines and in a useful mechanism to get sufficient information that would qualify them to take bigger steps in furthering their skills about it.

Definition of Terms Suffrage - as conferred by the constitutional provision is not a natural right of the citizens, but a political right intended to enable them to participate in the process of government to assure it derives its powers from the consent of the governed. Feminism theory- is about is a diverse, competing, and often opposing collection of social theories, political movements, and moral philosophies, largely motivated by or concerning the experiences of women, especially in terms of their social, political, and economical inequalities Electorate - term applied to all of the eligible voters in a political democracy. If a substantial majority of the mature citizens of a community are allowed to participate in elections, and if no compulsion or restraint is involved in voting, that community is considered to have a democratic electorate. Suffragettes - women who worked to obtain the right to vote for all women.