The Naturalized Men and Over-represented Women: A Collocational Analysis of Gender Markers in Filipino Academic Discourse

Abstract

Despite the alarming findings on gender inequality and the extensive literature on corpus analysis, the journal articles written by Filipino scholars remain unexamined. This gap is critical because journal articles serve as a foundation of knowledge from which research, classroom discussions, and other pedagogical practices are constructed. To address this gap, this research examined how gender is portrayed in a collection of published journal articles called CRAFT. Using Social Action Theory along with the collocational analysis of select feminine and masculine markers, the results show that gender equality is still a complex discussion in the country. While statistics seem to demonstrate women’s visibility, this does not guarantee empowerment. Further analysis seems to suggest that the high frequency of feminine markers shows the constant need for gender identification among women.  This interpretation is supported by the collocations of various feminine markers with indicators of classification, relation, and physical identification, along with negative appraisement. Conversely, the limited occurrence of masculine markers does not necessarily suggest new gender trends; rather, a potential perpetuation of stereotypical beliefs where men are considered the unmarked gender who are primarily functionalized by economic and professional agency. These findings emphasize the need for the continuous strengthening of gender sensitivity programs in the country and a systemic review of the academic editorial policies and practices to model and encourage gender equality. While the Filipinos have already achieved monumental success in bridging the gender gap, certain areas still need more attention.