Political economy of gender : women and the sexual division of labour in the Philippines

This scholarly book explores the intersection between gender ideology and the sexual division of labour in the Philippines. It focuses on the changing position of women in relation to production for the market and household work, the segregation of women into particular occupations and work levels, and the nature of women's work, including the sexual servicing of men. Spanning the period from Spanish and United States' colonization to the present day, Dr Eviota shows how gender relations are interlinked with the country's colonial past, and a present characterized by structural dependence on a global economy and a culture dominated by the North.

The author is critical of the dearth of information on women to be found in historical accounts and official documents, and attempts to correct this by bringing in the concept of gender relations, especially as they are embedded in the power relations of one group's dominance over another.

This thoroughly researched and convincingly argued study provides an abundance of information and insights into Filipino women's lives.