Contradictions in Gender Inclusivity and Discrimination: Experiencing the Paradoxical Workplace in the Philippines

Abstract

This paper examines the experiences and circumstances of queer employees in the Philippine labor market. Drawing from focus group discussions among self-identified LGBTQI+ Filipino workers in various formal sectors and key informant interviews with experts on gender inclusion and labor policies, this study finds that formal policies may promote inclusivity in the workplace, but underlying norms, biases, and practices perpetuating discrimination and exclusion can undermine these policies. As a result, employees may experience both affirmation and invalidation at the same time. I refer to this phenomenon as a “paradoxical workplace,” which pertains to environments where conflicting dynamics of support and discrimination coexist in terms of workplace policy and practice. This study finds that the contradiction in these workplaces is skewed towards being more constraining than enabling. Finally, this paper showcases the need to ensure that policy and practice align in promoting gender inclusivity and terminating discrimination in the workplace.