Module 1 – Various Concepts and Perspectives on Sex and gender are distinct concepts.

Sex refers to
Understanding Gender biological characteristics, including chromosomal and
physiological differences, such as reproductive organs
A. Sex and Gender as Spectrums
and secondary sexual characteristics. In contrast, gender
1. Women can breastfeed babies while men can bottle- represents the social roles, behaviors, and attributes that
feed babies. – S a given culture assigns to women and men. The
document emphasizes that while sex is a biological fact,
2. In most African traditions, women do not own land. – gender is a social construct, which varies across cultures
G and societies. This distinction is crucial for
3. There are more male than female political leaders. – G understanding gender inequality, as gender roles are
often derived from societal norms rather than biological
4. Among Indian agricultural workers, women are paid imperatives.
only 40-60% of the men’s wage. – G
Manifestations of Gender Inequality in Philippine
5. Little girls are gentle while boys are tough. – G Society
6. Most construction workers in the Philippines are men. Gender inequality in Philippine society is evident in
–G several ways:
7. Women give birth to babies and men don’t. – S 1. Decision-Making Power: While women may
have some influence within the household, men
8. In ancient Egypt, men stayed home and did weaving
predominantly control significant decisions
while women handled family business. – G
affecting family and economic life.
9. In one case, when a child brought up as a girl learned 2. Economic Participation: Women often occupy
that he was actually a boy, his school grades improved lower-paying jobs and are seen primarily as
dramatically. – G homemakers, even when they also contribute
economically.
10. Women menstruate while men don’t. – S 3. Cultural Norms: Societal expectations often
11. A wife cannot initiate sexual activity with her dictate that heavy labor is suitable only for men,
husband. – G while women’s roles are limited to domestic
responsibilities.
12. According to UN statistics, women do 67% of the 4. Religious Influence: Dominant religions
world’s work yet their earnings for it amount to only reinforce gender roles, with teachings that often
10% of the world’s income. – G place women in subordinate positions.
5. Language: Sexist language perpetuates gender
13. Women are natural childcare providers. – G
stereotypes and reinforces traditional roles.
14. In one study of 224 cultures, there were 5 in which
Historical Developments Regarding Gender
men did all the cooking and 8 in which women did all
the house-building. – G The document discusses several historical developments
concerning gender:
15. Men’s voices break at puberty while women’s don’t.
–S 1. The evolution of gender roles influenced by
colonial history.
16. Men make good doctors; women make good nurses.
2. The impact of major global movements
–G
advocating for women's rights.
17. The term “household head” refers to the father. – S 3. Changes in political participation and
representation of women over time.
18. It is not acceptable for women to propose marriage to 4. The transition from traditional to modern
men. – G perspectives on gender roles.
19. Boys drop out of school more than girls do. – G 5. The influence of globalization on gender norms
in the Philippines.
20. Men can’t wash clothes properly. – G
Social Institutions Maintaining Gender Norms
Key Differences Between Sex and Gender
Several social institutions are identified as maintaining Gender encompasses the roles, behaviors, activities, and
gender norms in the Philippines: expectations that a society considers appropriate for men
and women, which are socially constructed and
1. Family: Traditional family structures often
culturally specific.
reinforce male dominance.
2. Religion: Religious doctrines perpetuate gender Cultural Construction of Gender:
roles and expectations.
Gender roles are not inherently tied to biological sex;
3. Education: Educational systems can reflect and
they are learned behaviors influenced by cultural norms
propagate gender stereotypes.
and socialization processes. Studies of intersex
4. Language: The use of gendered language
individuals highlight that gender identity can be flexible
contributes to the socialization of gender roles.
and is often shaped by societal expectations rather than
5. Media: Media representations often reinforce
biological determinism 1.
traditional gender norms and stereotypes.
6. Workplace: Employment practices can reflect Historical Context:
gender biases in hiring and promotion.
Historically, societies have viewed women as "naturally"
Implications for Future Gender Equality Efforts inferior to men, leading to systemic inequalities that
persist today. This perspective has been challenged by
The paper suggests several implications regarding
contemporary social theories that highlight the cultural
gender and sex for future gender equality efforts:
basis of gender roles 1.
1. Revising Gender Norms: Challenging
Implications for Equality
traditional views on gender roles is essential for
fostering equality. Socialization Processes:
2. Education and Awareness: Increasing
awareness about the distinction between sex and Socialization reinforces gender roles, leading to the
gender can help dismantle stereotypes. perception that women are primarily responsible for
3. Policy Changes: Implementing policies that domestic tasks while men are seen as providers. This
promote equal opportunities in both public and division of labor has significant implications for
private sectors is critical. economic independence and personal identity 1.
4. Empowerment Programs: Supporting women's Political Participation:
empowerment initiatives can help shift power
dynamics. Gender biases restrict women's access to political
5. Intersectionality: Addressing the intersection of organizations and decision-making processes. This
gender with other social categories (e.g., class, exclusion not only silences women's voices but also
race) is vital for holistic equality efforts perpetuates policies that do not reflect their needs or
concerns 1.
Importance of Understanding Gender and Sex in
Addressing Gender Subordination Religious and Cultural Reinforcement:

Understanding the distinction between gender and sex is Many dominant religions propagate gender inequality,
critical in addressing gender subordination, as it often framing it as divinely ordained. This is evident in
underpins the social constructs and inequalities present rituals and practices that emphasize women's submissive
in various societies. This understanding is essential for roles 1.
fostering equality and challenging existing norms that
Language and Gender Ideology:
perpetuate gender biases.
The use of sexist language supports gender ideology and
Key Concepts
reinforces stereotypes about gender roles, further
Definitions: entrenching societal norms 1.

Sex refers to the biological attributes (chromosomes, Impact on Personal Identity:

hormone levels, reproductive/sexual anatomy) that
Gender subordination affects personal growth and self-
distinguish males from females.
perception, particularly for women, who may define
their worth in relation to their relationships with men
rather than their individual achievements 1.
Conclusion these identities challenge the rigid male-female
dichotomy.
Recognizing the importance of understanding gender
and sex is crucial for addressing gender subordination.
This understanding enables individuals and societies to
2. Cultural Variability: The authors note that the
challenge ingrained stereotypes, advocate for equality,
categories of female and male are not
and promote social change. By dismantling the cultural
universally fixed but vary across different
constructs that define gender roles, progress can be made
cultures and historical contexts, suggesting that
towards achieving true equality between men and
the binary model fails to capture this diversity 2.
women in all aspects of life.
3. Critique of "Biology is Destiny": The authors
Main Arguments Regarding the Distinction Between argue against the notion that biological
Sex and Gender determinism adequately explains gender roles,
advocating for a view that recognizes the
The authors present several key arguments regarding the
influence of social and cultural factors 2.
distinction between sex and gender:
4. Need for New Paradigms: They call for a
Definition of Terms: Sex is defined as the biological, deconstruction of the binary sex/gender system,
physical, and genetic differences between women and proposing that recognizing a spectrum of
men, while gender refers to the roles, behaviors, and identities and expressions can lead to greater
identities that society assigns based on these distinctions. acceptance and understanding of diverse
Gender is seen as a socially and culturally constructed experiences.
identity that can change over time and varies across
Cultural Factors Influencing the Understanding of
cultures.
Gender
Historical Context: The distinction between sex and
Cultural factors significantly influence the understanding
gender was developed in the 1950s and 1960s by
of gender in the following ways:
medical professionals working with intersex and
transgender individuals, marking a shift away from the 1. Social Constructs: Gender roles are shaped by
deterministic view that "biology is destiny." societal conventions, including economic,
political, and cultural influences that dictate
Fixed vs. Fluid: The authors argue that sex is often
expectations for behavior and identity associated
treated as a fixed attribute based in nature, while gender
with being male or female 3.
is recognized as fluid and influenced by cultural factors.
2. Variability Across Cultures: The authors
This perspective challenges the binary view of sex and
emphasize that gender expressions and roles can
gender as strictly male or female 2.
differ widely between cultures, indicating that
Cultural Constructs: Both sex and gender are argued to what is considered masculine or feminine is not
be social and cultural constructs rather than strictly uniform.
biological categories, emphasizing that gender roles can 3. Historical Context: The understanding of gender
shift based on societal changes 2. has evolved over time, reflecting changes in
societal norms and values, which further
Critique of Binary Framework: The binary framework illustrates the impact of culture on gender
of male and female is critiqued for oversimplifying the identity.
complexity of human identity and failing to account for 4. Relational Aspects: Gender is described as
intersex and transgender individuals who do not fit relational, meaning that it encompasses not just
neatly into these categories 2. individual identities but also the dynamics
Limitations of the Binary Framework of Sex and between different genders, influenced by cultural
Gender narratives and social power structures 3.
5. Activism and Visibility: Cultural movements
The authors address the limitations of the binary and activism, particularly from intersex and
framework in several ways: transgender communities, have highlighted the
need for broader definitions and acceptance of
1. Inclusion of Non-Binary Identities: They
gender diversity 2.
highlight the existence of intersex, transgender,
and non-binary individuals, emphasizing that Examples Illustrating the Fluidity of Gender Roles
The authors provide several examples to illustrate the urging society to expand its understanding of gender
fluidity of gender roles: diversity 2.
Understanding Changes in Notions of Sex and
Gender
Intersex Individuals: Intersex individuals challenge
traditional definitions of sex by embodying Definitions of Sex and Gender
characteristics of both male and female, illustrating that
Gender: It refers to the array of socially constructed roles
biological sex is not strictly dichotomous 2.
and relationships, personality traits, attitudes, behaviors,
Transgender Experiences: Transgender individuals values, and relative power that society assigns to the
express identities that may not align with their assigned sexes. Gender is learned, changes over time, and varies
sex at birth, demonstrating the fluidity of gender identity across cultures 3.
and the social constructs surrounding it 2.
Sex: This term describes the biological characteristics
Cultural Variations: The existence of hijras in South that define humans as female or male, influenced by
Asia, who embody a third gender category, exemplifies genetic and anatomical attributes. However, sex is not
how different cultures recognize and accept gender strictly dichotomous, as some individuals exhibit
diversity beyond the binary framework 2. intersex traits 33.
Historical Examples: Historical instances of gender Cultural Constructs: Both sex and gender are
fluidity, such as individuals who have lived across increasingly recognized as social and cultural constructs,
gender identities in various cultures, showcase the non- challenging the notion that they are fixed categories 32.
static nature of gender roles throughout history 2.
Historical Context and Evolution
Personal Narratives: The authors reference personal
Emergence of Distinction: The distinction between sex
experiences of individuals who have navigated their
and gender was developed in the 1950s and 1960s by
gender identity, highlighting the subjective and evolving
medical professionals working with intersex and
nature of gender 3.
transgender patients, leading to a broader understanding
Challenge to Traditional Notions of Sex and Gender that gender is socially and culturally constructed 2.
by Intersex and Transgender Individuals
Feminist Perspectives: Feminist movements have
Intersex and transgender individuals challenge disputed the idea that "biology is destiny," advocating
traditional notions of sex and gender in the following for a more fluid understanding of gender roles that can
ways: adapt to societal changes 2.
Rejection of Binary Definitions: Both intersex and Intersex and Transgender Realities: The existence of
transgender individuals demonstrate that the binary intersex and transgender individuals highlights that both
definitions of male and female do not encompass the full sex and gender categories can be more complex than
spectrum of human experience 2. traditional binary frameworks 2.
Cultural Constructs: The experiences of intersex and Contemporary Perspectives
transgender individuals support the argument that sex
Relational Understanding: Gender is seen not just as a
and gender categories are socially constructed rather
category for individuals but as a relational concept that
than purely biological.
encompasses the dynamics between different genders 3.
Visibility and Activism: Their activism raises awareness
Fluidity of Gender: There is a growing recognition that
about the limitations of traditional gender norms and
gender is not fixed and can encompass a spectrum
advocates for recognition and rights of diverse identities.
beyond just male and female 42.
Fluid Identities: Intersex and transgender individuals
Critique of Binary Systems: Activists argue for the
exemplify that gender identity can be fluid, shifting in
deconstruction of the binary sex/gender system, allowing
response to personal experiences and societal changes 2.
for a recognition of diverse identities and experiences 4.
Histories of Existence: Their historical presence
Reflections on Personal Notions
challenges the narrative that only two genders exist,
Cultural Awareness: As societal understanding evolves, Biological sex is physical; gender identity is internal;
individuals may reflect on how their views of sex and sexual orientation is about attraction.
gender have shifted, often recognizing the limitations of
Gender as a Spectrum
traditional views and embracing a more inclusive
perspective 2.  Gender is not binary (male or female); it exists
on a spectrum.
Personal Experience: Many people report that their
 Some people identify outside of traditional
experiences, particularly with intersex or transgender
categories (e.g., non-binary or genderqueer).
individuals, have significantly influenced their
understanding of gender fluidity 4. Respect for Identity
Societal Impact: Changes in societal norms regarding  Gender identity is self-defined.
gender identity and expression can prompt individuals to  Respect and acknowledge how individuals
reassess and reflect on their beliefs and biases regarding identify themselves.
sex and gender 5.
In summary, reflections on notions of sex and gender
reveal a complex interplay of biological, cultural, and
personal factors that shape our understanding. The
movement towards recognizing gender as a fluid
construct rather than a fixed binary reflects broader
societal changes and increased awareness of diverse
identities.
Biological Sex
 Determined at birth based on chromosomes
(XX, XY, or variations in intersex individuals).
 Typically categorized as male, female, or
intersex.
Gender Identity
 A social construct not tied to biological sex.
 Refers to how a person sees themselves (e.g.,
masculine, feminine, both, neither).
 Gender is often assigned at birth (e.g., male →
boy, female → girl), but not everyone aligns
with their assigned gender.
1. Cisgender: Gender identity matches biological
sex.
2. Transgender: Gender identity differs from
biological sex.
Sexual Orientation
 Refers to who a person is romantically or
sexually attracted to.
 Independent of biological sex or gender identity.
 Example: A trans woman attracted to men is
considered straight.
Key Distinctions
Biological sex ≠ gender identity ≠ sexual orientation.