Gender Concepts and Issues

What is Sex?
 what makes one male and female
 biologically determined
 refers to physical characteristics
 constant across time
 constant across different societies and
cultures
SEX is universal, fixed, and is a valid
distinguishing variable.
What is Gender?
 what makes one masculine or feminine
 socially determined; culturally defined
 changes across time
 changes across places and cultures
 learned behavior
GENDER: a cultural, contrived
distinguishing variable

It is concerned with differentiating

people based on perceptions,
roles,
and social expectations.
It is learned or acquired, and
changes from country to country
or through time.

It is concerned about
femininity and masculinity.
Gender Roles
 NOT inborn
 LEARNED in the early stages of
CHILDHOOD
Gender Role Socialization
 The process of learning and
internalizing culturally approved ways of
thinking, feeling, and behaving
according to one’s gender
Gender roles have three
aspects:
 POSITIONS within the social structure
indicating where women and men
belong or are expected to belong
 RULES for BEHAVIOR and
INTERACTION prescribed for men and
women
 RELATIONSHIPS between women’s and
men’s roles
Traditional gender roles divide
men and women
The private-public divide
 women are
confined to the
private concerns of
the HOME AND
FAMILY
 outside work are
extensions of their
domestic functions
The public-private divide
 men engage in the
public world of
WORK AND
POLITICS
 Multiple roles,
MULTIPLE BURDENS
 at home -- reproductive roles
 at work -- productive roles
 in the community -- community
management and political roles
 Traditional gender roles divide
men and women
DENY MEN ACCESS TO DENY WOMEN ACCESS
 the nurturant TO THE PUBLIC
WORLD OF
 emotive
 work
 other-oriented
 achievement
WORLD OF
 independence
DOMESTIC LIFE
 power
 Traditional gender role
restrictions

limit the psychological

and social potentials
of human beings
Once internalized,
gender roles are

further reinforced, maintained, and

sanctioned by a pervasive
MECHANISM of SOCIAL
CONTROL
GENDER STEREOTYPES
 Fixed, unquestioned beliefs or
images we carry in the back of our
minds about women and men,
transmitted from generation to
generation
 SUBORDINATION
WOMEN MEN
 weak  strong
 oppressed  dominate
 followers  leaders
 Subordination
 position: Very few women in politics
and in top positions
 status: Weaker sex
 decision-making: Women are not
included in planning and decision-
making processes
 process of socialization
 MARGINALIZATION
 Women are not recognized for their
valuable work
 Women have less access to and control
over resources and benefits
 Women receive unequal pay for work of
equal value
 Last to be hired, first to be fired
 Violence against women

 Rape
 Incest
 Spouse Battering
 Sexual Harassment
 Medical Abuse
 Other forms
 Effects on Personhood
 lack of self-esteem
 no control over one’s body
Manifestations of Gender Bias

marginalization subordination

violence
P
against women
multiple burden stereotyping
Manifestations of Gender Bias

marginalization subordination

violence
P
against women
multiple burden stereotyping
GENDER RELATIONS

POWER RELATIONS
Gender Socialization is shaped
by
 FAMILY
 SCHOOL
 CHURCH
 MEDIA
 STATE
 CULTURE
 A set of people’s values, beliefs,
behavior, language and artifacts
which distinguish them from other
people and are transmitted from
generation to generation
 Culture tells us
 what we ought to be
 what we ought to think
 who we ought to be
 what we ought to expect of others
Culture changes in two ways:
 Objectively -- change in human
activities
 Subjectively -- change in individual’s
understanding and consciousness
GENDER
 is more appropriate in discussions about
development issues, like population and
reproductive health
GENDER as a concept
 reminds us that to be born male or
female VARIES with
 TIME
 PLACE
 CLASS AND CULTURE
 ETHNICITY AND CIVILIZATION
 Due to continuous exposure and
reinforcement of gender differentiation

Gender roles and relations are

resistant to change
BUT THEY DO CHANGE.
CULTURE SHAPES
PEOPLE

PEOPLE SHAPE
CULTURE
This class is a cross-section of
society…and no society is
stagnant…it constantly
changes…just like all of us…as
we open our minds and hearts
to new ideas, insights and
perspectives…let us be
nurturing of each other…
 Credits

National Commission on the Role of Filipino Women

HASIK
Amar Torres