Feminist Recollections

For this post, allow me to make some relevant recollections since I just came across an old announcement, which I never knew existed until this evening. This announcement was actually an invitation to my undergraduate thesis defense/presentation from way back in 2004.

As expected, my research was on women and gender. I wanted to know if gender bias existed in IT-based jobs in key government agencies. The results, apparently, were not exciting--there was no bias.

But this is looking at the results in retrospect. At that time, I felt that there was bias against women regardless of what the statistical analysis yielded. Honestly. My presentation must've sounded more like prosecution than defense that my adviser had to say, "bakit mo pipiliting meron ang wala (why insist something when there isn't any)," in our post-presentation talk. I may have now forgotten the important details of my thesis but what's etched very well in my memory was my first real lesson on objectivity.

As a feminist and a development worker, I have been taught the art and science of changemaking where the status quo is challenged and the views, almost always critical. Without objectivity, there is a mighty possibility of losing sight of things in the bigger picture. Changemaking then becomes a mere pointing of fingers and nagging on the streets. At some point, we become displaced and eventually, miss our goals.

Hence, it is important that we look for facts, study them with an open mind and see them as they are. Forget what we were taught before (and what we have learned to believe). If the facts challenge the popular belief, we should not be afraid to go against them. But if the facts yield nothing new, then we should have the humility to admit so.

The Development Studies Program cordially invites everyone to two Development Studies Students' Seminar presentations: 

Hiroshi Inabi will be presenting his paper on factors affecting the willingness of tricycle drivers to join Philhealth's insurance program. Mr. Inaba will present the findings of his study at the Development Studies Program Office on Wednesday, October 13 at 2:00 p.m. Dr. Ma. Eufemia C. Yap, M.D., Coordinator of the Ateneo Health Unit will serve as discussant.

Joyce Talag will be presenting her paper on gender bias in government information technology offices. Ms. Talag will present the findings of her study at the Development Studies Program Office on Friday, October 15 at 11:30 a.m. Ms. Ma. Lourdes V. Rallonza, gender relations lecturer of the political science department, will serve as discussant.

These presentations are part of a series of presentations by Development Studies students. We would like to ask interested parties to inform us of their attendance through ds at admu.edu.ph or at local 5218 (c/o Melissa Mar) so that we can make the necessary arrangements.

From https://lists.ateneo.edu/pipermail/blueboard/2004-October/004100.html.