Gender Roles by the Sambal-Bolinao in Their Traditional Herbal Healing in Bolinao, Pangasinan, Northern Philippines

Abstract

Transmission of ethnobotanical knowledge is needed for cultural preservation and biodiversity conservation. Nowadays, this is seriously threatened by globalization which is evident in tropical areas due to influence of Western culture leading to rapid change in indigenous individual and the community. Several factors were attributed and associated with the use of plants in the indigenous communities which includes biological, ecological and socio-cultural with the inclusion of techniques, practices, religion and age. Moreover, gender influences the ethnobotanical knowledge and the structure of local medical systems. The study aimed to assess the gender roles, sanitation practice, and lifestyle of Sambal-Bolinao in their traditional herbal healing. Specifically, it sought to determine the traditional herbal healers’ profile, gender roles; and sanitation practice and lifestyle. Descriptive research technique was employed in gathering data. All traditional herbal healers in the municipality of Bolinao were interviewed using semi-structured questionnaire. A total of 19 managtambal; 11 males and 8 females. The Sambal-Bolinao Roman Catholic believers appreciated the practice of traditional herbal healing. They extended their roles as plant gatherers, keepers of the plant parts gathered, washers of the plant parts prior to treatment, managers of the plant parts wastes and as plant conservationist either through plant propagation and personal campaign on plant conservation. Majority of women traditional herbal healers did not transmit their ethnobotanical knowledge to their children and relatives due to their multiple burden case and perceived economic difficulty for their children. Men traditional herbal healers were the one transmitting their ethnobotanical knowledge to their family members.