Is Gender Inequity in HRM Practices Perceived to be Lower in the Philippines?
Frequently Asked Questions
The study revealed that women in the Philippines actually perceive less gender inequity in Human Resource Management (HRM) practices than men do. This was an unexpected result that contradicted the researchers' original hypothesis, which predicted that women would be more likely to notice and report unfair treatment favoring men.
The researchers offered two primary explanations for this phenomenon. First, long-standing exposure to workplace bias may have lowered women's expectations of what true equity looks like, causing them to view biased practices as "normal." Second, traditional social roles may lead women to attribute differences in treatment to personal or family choices rather than to organizational unfairness.
The Philippines is significantly more gender-egalitarian than its neighbors, ranking 20th globally in the Gender Gap Index, whereas Indonesia and Vietnam rank 74th and 97th, respectively. Interestingly, in the less egalitarian society of Indonesia, women reported higher perceptions of inequity than men, which aligned more closely with the researchers' initial expectations.
The study found that the gender of management plays a crucial role in how fairness is perceived. Women working in organizations with mostly female managers reported the lowest perceptions of gender inequity. This suggests that having more women in leadership positions can help root equity within the organizational structure and improve the overall experience of workplace fairness for female employees.
Perceptions of fairness directly impact employee well-being, job satisfaction, commitment, and overall performance. The researchers emphasize that beyond simply changing outcomes, organizations must foster inclusive cultures and strengthen anti-discrimination policies to ensure that fairness is genuinely experienced by all employees, regardless of gender.
