Of all opportunities? Why work for the government?
I haven’t blogged or posted anything lately because I because as you all know (or may not know) I just graduated from college (woohoo!). After graduation, I, together with my family flew to Bangkok for a few days to celebrate my mom’s 50th birthday and of course to celebrate my being “officially unemployed”.
Right after I finished college, I already looked for jobs that might fit the course I took. I started doing online applications for several companies, most of which didn’t really responded. I also applied for a position in our local government, under the City Social Welfare and Development Office. It took me a solid month before I finish the entire application process, and on the 18th day of July of this year, I got accepted.
It has only been less than a month since I started working for the government and I gotta say, if you really want to have a glimpse of what reality really looks like, the local government is the perfect place for you. Now this blog isn’t really about how much I make with my current job or what became my daily routine since I started working there; no. This blog is about gender related issues I have observed, working for the local government.
Old people still believes that women MUST follow the orders of their husbands. Here’s one example I heard from my 67 year old co-worker: “Kung ayaw mong paalisin yung asawa mo, wag mong payagan, kailangan niyang sumunod sayo kasi ikaw ang lalaki”
I love to wear skirts and dresses at work. And often times I hear my co-workers tell me: “Sit like a lady” “Umayos ka ng upo” (dumugo tenga ko sa mga narinig ko)
“Babae ka, hindi ka dapat nagpapalate sa labas” Like, WTF dude?! Lalabas ako whenever I want.
“Masama yung nagsusuot ng maiiksing shorts. Kaya maraming nare-rape eh” When I heard this, I couldn’t help but cringe and look at the person who said that. Deep inside I was already screaming “OMG WALA SA DAMIT YAN NG BABAE.” “MAY NABABASTOS KASI MAY MGA NAMBABASTOS” “MAY NARERAPE KASI MAY MGA RAPIST” If men can wear boxers and go out without experiencing harassment and shaming from the public, why can’t we? Women can dress however they wish. Women are humans. They are beautiful human beings born with the same equal rights as men. Victim blaming must stop.
Moving away from gender related issues, I also observed how these employees treat those people who are asking for help and assistance from the government. My work includes writing social case study reports for those who wish to ask assistance from the government, might it be financial, medical, educational or even livelihood assistance. Now this process includes an interview with our clients where we ask about their personal lives and current situation. It just pains me to see how rude and disrespectful my workmates can be towards our clients. They laugh at those who are suffering mental illness and other persons with disabilities. They look down to the poor and treat them as if they are mindless, useless human beings. I can’t help but become affected by hearing the stories of my clients and having to witness how they are being treated by other people. I wish I could help them, assist them in everything they need. But reality is, I can’t. I can only do so much especially in my position. I don’t have the money and the power to grant them all their needs. Like I’ve said, I can only do so much. Though I might not give them what they needed, at least I know in my heart that I am doing something to change their lives. By treating them with respect when I talk to them, by making them smile by also smiling at them. By not looking down to them despite how they look, or talk or even smell. I decided to work for the government because I want to serve the people, especially the vulnerable ones. It is true that your priorities shift once you started working, and once you are faced with reality. But realities doesn’t always have to be bad. Realities are once dreams. And I dream of transforming my “dreams” into my “realities”.
Because I dream of a world with no discrimination, where everyone is free to practice their rights, where children can sleep peacefully at night knowing that there will be a bright future waiting for them, a world full of happiness and love. A world without stereotypes. A world where we all should be living in. This is why I work for the government.
