By Juan L. Mercado, Depth News
A large majority of elder and working women in Cebu -- in fact, 85 out of every 100 -- hammer out decisions on money, children's schooling, to purchase of high heels, often with only token counsel from their husbands.
This analysis of Cebuana autonomy forms part of a larger study, drawn up by the Universities of San Carlos and North Carolina.
The report is titled: Exploring the Complexity of Women's Lives. It examines family planning, children, decision-making, domestic work, and labor force participation in Cebu.
Two scientists from USC's Office of Population Studies -- Josephine Avila and Socorro Gultiano -- served in the research team.
The team discovered 85% of working Cebuanas decided how their income should be spent. In contrast, a small minority of 12% worked out joint decisions.
But a miniscule 2% emerged as tied to male chauvinists: they decreed how the wife's income was to be spent.
Consultation with husbands, by generally older working Cebuanas, can often turn vague. "Simply informing him of a decision, asking in a cursory manner for his accordance as a gesture of respect or good will," the study adds.
In some cases, consultations may be rigged "to enhance the likelihood that he will agree."
But the Cebuana spending pattern isn't frivolous. In fact, it resembles that of the "valiant woman" in the Book of Proverbs. About 75 centavos of every peso goes for "everyday household expenses." Almost 6% covers the kids' school bills. And 4% is put aside for "rainy days" emergencies.
Less than one percent goes for "personal expenses": lingeries, high heels, beauty saloons, etc. Payment of debts is also a priority.
There is an equally impressive masculine flip-side. Some 73 out of every 100 Cebuano husbands hand sealed pay envelopes to the wife. "A quarter turn over some of their earnings," the report added.
Almost six out of 10 Cebuanaos assert their husbands were earning enough. "The report noted in contrast, women who fidgeted their husbands didn't bring home enough bacon were more likely working. Their incomes "were higher than women who said their husbands were earning enough."
To gauge Cebuana autonomy, the team analyzed consultation in all decision areas, from minor ones like buying shoes to "major" issues -- selling or buying land, travel outside Cebu, and family planning.
On "minor" decisions such as taking the child to a doctor, only 17% bothered to ask their spouses. But most tended to seek advice on schooling.
However, when it came to major purchases, travel outside Cebu, family planning, and work outside the home, the pattern alters sharply. Nearly half the sample women consulted their spouse on these decisions.
There are, of course, women who go through the whole checklist, on the children, with the husband. Even on minor issues. Often, these are less educated (6th grade) -- and below 37 years of age.
"Total autonomy does not appear to be a matter of choice," Avila and Gultiano write. "Women who make all the decisions on their own are also more likely to be living without a spouse."
A larger percentage of women have no say at all in so called major decisions: working outside the home (19%); hiring household help (15%). But joint decision is typical in the buying of land and schooling of children.
"Travel outside of Cebu is one decision where the highest percentage of women have no say," adds the report. This comes up to almost 29%.
Cebuanas who freely make decisions are found in luxury enclaves, as well as in poorer housing areas. Decisive women "can be found at every level of income and education," the report said.
This emerged in a survey and analysis of "variables" home, environment, etc. The team scrapped the indicator of participation in community affairs.
"We found no evidence women regarded this an important indicator," the report said. "(This) may be more important in cultures where women have been more isolated as in Muslim countries. But Filipino women have long enjoyed freedom to interact in the public sphere."
June 18, 1998