Gender Sensitivity of Nueva Ecija, Philippines Cradle Songs

Gender is recently becoming a significant area of research in the field of popular music studies. As most studies focus on content analyses of popular music, there is still a need to research on the content of traditional songs, particularly, that which focuses on gender sensitivity. The idea that have appeared in most literatures that music phenomena are gendered, and that these phenomena are present in the musical “messages†with its gendered qualities imposed by the listener in the process of perception were the focal points of the study. The conclusion of the research provided information about the contents of lullaby in consideration of gender sensitivity. Data collection was through personal interviews and focus group discussions with elderly citizens groups of selected Nueva Ecija municipalities. The respondents were considered based on their age and initial claims that they have sung lullabies to their children. The more important results indicated that, most of the lyrics of cradle songs of Nueva Ecija are stereotypical with messages implying that mothers are usually left at home to take care of the children and fathers go work to provide the needs of the family. The backstories of the songs are connected to farm activities, market undertakings and advices for the child to grow worthy of their parents. Some songs deal with the merits of being a good and obedient child. It appeared that the cradle songs of Nueva Ecija are not highly gender-biased because most of the lyrics pertained to a child that for the time being is yet insensitive to gender roles.