Title: Gender equality in selected Philippine agrarian reform cooperative management: the women-members' perspectives

Authors: Samantha Geraldine G. De Los Santos; Blanquita R. Pantoja; Florita P. Rañeses

Addresses: Community Innovations Studies Center, College of Public Affairs and Development, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines ' Community Innovations Studies Center, College of Public Affairs and Development, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines ' Community Innovations Studies Center, College of Public Affairs and Development, University of the Philippines Los Baños, Laguna, Philippines

Abstract: Despite being a developing country, the Philippines is the most gender equal country in Asia. Nonetheless, women's involvement in leadership positions still needs improvement since gender gap in leadership roles continue to persist. As such, this paper analysed the perceptions of women on leadership and management in agrarian reform cooperatives (ARCoops) to determine gender gap in leadership roles in cooperatives. Leadership and management structures of ARCoops provide equal opportunities for women-members to lead. However, they still believe that men are for critical leadership positions while women are for positions that require care and detailed work. Women still see themselves unfit for positions that hold power and make significant decisions. While gender gap in ARCoops seems to be closing, much is still needed to empower and increase women's awareness regarding their capability to lead. Continuous cooperative management and gender-and-development trainings are still needed to encourage women to take over leadership posts.

Keywords: gender; development; cooperatives; agrarian reform; cooperative management; the Philippines.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGSDS.2022.121105

International Journal of Gender Studies in Developing Societies, 2022 Vol.4 No.3, pp.229 - 246

Received: 28 Jan 2021
Accepted: 28 Aug 2021
Published online: 24 Feb 2022 *