More than a year into the COVID-19 pandemic, untold suffering and deaths have now devastated millions of people throughout the world. The gendered impacts of this health crisis are emerging, particularly the constraints placed on sexual and reproductive health needs and an escalation in the incidence of gender-based violence. Yet these need further investigation as the differences vary across subgroups of women and girls.

But even before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, increasing gender inequality has already been documented. Filipina women are being economically marginalized, politically subordinated, and restrictions put on their reproductive decisions. Women and girls experience multiple and disproportionate burdens of care work, and suffer from gender stereotyping, stigmatization, and sexual shaming. One out of four ever-married Filipina women report enduring physical, sexual or emotional violence.