Social Issues
Social issue is a problem that influences many individuals within a society. A social issue has
many categories in depth as well as light. It's a common problem we see happening in our society.
A social issue can be considered as a problem that influences many people and many people strive
to solve the issue. It is often the consequence of factors extending beyond an individual's control,
and is the source of a conflicting opinion on the grounds of what is perceived as morally correct or
incorrect personal life or Interpersonal social life.
Personal issues are those that individuals deal with themselves and within a small range of
their peers and relationships.
Social issues involve values cherished by widespread society. For example, a high
unemployment rate that affects millions of people is a social issue.
Valence issue is a social problem that people uniformly interpret the same way. These types
of issues generally generate a widespread consensus and provoke little resistance from the
public. An example of a valence issue would be child abuse, which is condemned across
several societies to a large enough degree that some social scientists might speak of them
as though they are universal, for the sake of illustration.
Position issue is a social problem in which the popular opinion among society is divided.
Different people may hold different and strongly-held views, which are not easily changed.
An example of a position issue is abortion, which has not generated a widespread consensus
from the public, in some countries.
ADULTERY
A. Introduction
Before the enactment of the Family Code of the Philippines, sexual infidelity was not a
ground for annulment. However, it was already introduced in the discussion of the legal
separation as stipulated in the Civil Code of the Philippines. The Revised Penal Code
explicitly distinguishes one from the other. Concubinage is a crime perpetrated by any
husband who shall keep a mistress in the conjugal dwelling, or, shall have sexual
intercourse, under scandalous circumstances, with a woman who is not his wife, or shall
cohabit with her in any other place ( Article 334 of the Revised Penal Code or RPC); while
adultery refers to the carnal relation between a married woman and a man who is not her
husband as stipulated in Article 333 of the Revised Penal Code of the Philippines. However,
what is adultery really in general sense?
B. Definition
Adultery means the voluntary engaging in sexual intercourse with someone other than one’s
marriage partner. It involves infidelity or unfaithfulness in the marriage relationship,
especially in its sexual aspects and is considered immoral by our society.
C. Infidelity as a Major Concern
The husband’s infidelity is a major concern in Filipino marriages (Pastoral Council of the
Philippines, 1992). Infidelity is the breaking of marital vows. In Philippine culture, infidelities
or extramarital relationships range from casual relationships to the keeping of querida
(Medina, 1991). We can give a list of some Filipino terms referring to infidelity: pakikiapid or
pangangalunya (used in legal and scholarly documents), paglalaro ng apoy pamamangka sa
dalawang ilog, pangangaliwa, pagkulasisi or pangtsitsiks, pambabae. Kabit and querida (the
Spanish word for beloved, refers to the mistress.
Carandang (1987) notes that wives rank infidelity as the number one family stressor. Lacar
(1993) reports that male infidelity is the most frequent reason for marital separation. Vancio
(1980) cites male infidelity as a major issue for marital break-ups in Metro Manila. In the
McCann Metro Manila Male Study (1995), half of the 485 male respondents reported having
extramarital affairs.
What usually happens when people are tempted to engage in adultery is they simply begin
the adulterous relationship and worry about the consequences later. The problem with this
approach, however, is that the damage is done before any attempt is made to solve the
marital problem with any degree of honesty or justice. Once an innocent spouse is betrayed
in this way, it is tough to resolve marital problems and to maintain the unity of the marital
relationship.
D. Why is the Issue Important?
The penal provisions on adultery and concubinage both constitute marital infidelity but are
viewed differently by a predominantly chauvinist society. The disparity in treatment stems
from gender biases that use double standards in being more lenient thus seemingly
accepting the infidelity of men as normal but more stringent on woman who are more
expected to be one who is faithful to her husband no matter what. These discriminatory
provisions in the law should be amended.
What are the existing laws or policy related to the Issue?
Section 12 of RA 9710 or the Magna Carta of Women provides for the amendment repeal of
laws that are discriminatory to women which among others include Articles 333 and 334 of
the RPC on adultery and concubinage.
The 1987 Philippine Constitution – Article II on Declaration of Principles and State Policies,
particularly on Section 14, provides that “The State recognizes the role of women in nation-
building and shall ensure fundamental equality before the law of women and men”. Article
XV, Section 2 also provides that the State shall protect the marriage as inviolable social
institutions and foundation of family life.
What are experiences of other countries in addressing the issue?
In Canada, the crime of adultery applies to both a man and a woman when either of them
had sex with someone outside the marriage. Adultery is also a crime in Korea punishable by
up to two (2) years in jail. In many countries such as the USA, Russia, Canada, Israel and
Poland, adultery represents as a ground for divorce. Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Yemen
punish adultery by death.
What are the considerations in addressing this issue in the Philippines?
It will promote women’s right and gender equality. By removing the double standards in the
crimes of adultery and concubinage will ensure equality before the court of law between
men and women. It will also protect the rights of legally married women.
