Exploration of the tasks and roles of rural muslim women in the selected areas of Lanao del Sur / Cosain M. Derico.

Thesis (Ph.D. - - Extension Education) University of the Philippines, College, Laguna.

Includes bibliographical references.

Graduate Studies Open Learning College (GSOLC)

DERICO COSAIN M., University of the Philippines at Los Banos Laguna, November 1984. Exploration of the Tasks and Roles of Rural Muslim Women in the Selected Areas of Lanao del Sur. Major Professor: Dr. Obdulia F. Sison
The study attempted to find out the tasks and type of roles assumed by the rural Muslim women in the province of Lanao del Sur, particularly in farming and fishing; determined the ways by which the women learned those tasks they performed; looked into the involvement of rural Muslim women in family decision—making pertaining to household, community, farming and fishing activities; and analyzed decision— making and type of roles in the context of Muslim or Maranao society.
Two hundred ninety—four rural Muslim women were randomly selected in 18 barangays from six municipalities of Lanao del Sur constituting the unit of analysis. A structured interview schedule translated in local dialect was used to gather the quantitative data; and the questionnaire schedule was supplemented by key informant interview to gather qualitative data.
Frequency counts, percentages, mean, median, ranking, standard deviation, chi—square, contingency coefficient and Pearson product correlation were employed in the analysis of the data.
Findings revealed that rural Muslim women had low education, low membership in community organization, inadequate media exposure, limited contact with change agents and had familistic orientation. However, they aspired for high income and perceived to assume multiple roles given an opportunity within their present status in the traditional—bound Maranao society.
Apparently, rural Muslim women were actively involved in family decision—making. They equally decided with their husbands on matters pertaining to household and community activities. Their involvement in deciding matters on farming and fishing was consultative in nature.
Rural Muslim women performed several tasks in farming and fishing. In coconut area, they gathered and sorted nuts, removed copra meat from the shell contacted copra buyers, dried, and delivered copra
to buyers 0 In fishing area, they selected site, salted, and dried fish, fed fish, sorted fish caught, stocked fish, and fertilized fishponds. In rice area, they brought food to the farm for the husband or workers, marketed pa lay or rice, dried and milled palay, winnowed, weeded, and cultivated farms, and transplanted seedlings 0 Besides those tasks in farming and fishing, rural Muslim women were also engaged in weaving and embroidery. The majority of them learned those tasks through observation and by their own initiative.
Based on the tasks performed at home, in the farm and in fishing, the roles of the rural Muslim women were classified either traditional or traditional transitional; and the majority of them were found assuming traditional—transitional role
Findings on relationships showed the following: Age was negatively related to education; education was positively related to cosmopolites and contact with change agents; and cosmopolites was positively related to media exposure
Number of children was positively related to land ownership, attitude toward participation in
socio—economic activities was negatively related to the number of children; and traditionalism was negatively related to family income.
Family level of living was positively associated with education, media exposure and Cosmo politeness; size of family was positively related to cosmopolite— ness and contact with change agents; and landowner ship was positively associated with Cosmo politeness.
Cosmo politeness and type of family were negatively associated with involvement in decision—making on schooling of children; kinship ties was positively associated with involvement in decision—making on employment of family members and on planning program; and level of living was positively associated with involvement in decision—making on production program.
Involvement of rural Muslim women in decision— making pertaining to family size, purchase of farm inputs and borrowing money were positively associated with the type of role they assumed; and kinship ties and traditionalism were also positively associated with the type of role; however, the role assumed was negatively associated with education and land ownership.

Submitted to the University Library 01/07/1994 T-1478