UPOU-OGC holds seminar on Purpose of Gender Mainstreaming and Management of Resistance to Gender Work

The University of the Philippines Open University (UPOU) Office of Gender Concerns (OGC) conducted the seminar entitled “Purpose of Gender Mainstreaming and Management of Resistance to Gender Work: Fostering Collaboration Towards Gender and Development” on 12 March 2020 at the UPOU Headquarters AudioVisual Room.

Ms. Karen Lagat-Mercado served as the resource speaker. She is the Head of the Municipal Gender and Development Office of Los Banos, Laguna, and a technical Gender and Development (GAD) expert in the Calabarzon Gender and Development Resource Pool.

Ms. Lagat-Mercado’s discussion included a definition of what gender mainstreaming is and the reasons why it is needed. She explained that this is the instrument and strategy used to forward topics of gender and help give attention to gender work in decision making of policymakers and various offices. She also  discussed how resistance to change and gender work may begin and occur. According to Ms. Lagat-Mercado, resistance to gender work may start due to people’s fear of change. As people are used to the traditional mindset that is biased against women, they may find it difficult to realize the need for gender and intersectional equality. She also delved on how to manage said resistance; to include issues of gender in decision-making considerations and start normalizing ideas and acts that express equality.