GENDER AND SOCIETY ► ability for higher order thinking and

our tendency to create social norms,

Definition of terms:
allows us to attach social and cultural
Sex – the biological aspect of sex; maleness or meanings to things, including our sex
femaleness
► social dimension of one’s sexuality
Gender – the social interpretation of sex; referred to as gender.
masculinity, feminity,etc.
GENDER IDENTITY
Sexuality – the totally of our own experience
One important aspect of our gender is our
of our sex and gender
sense of who we are
Sex chromosomes- chromosomal markers
Do we see and experience ourselves as a man,
that distinguish females (xx) from male (xy)
a woman, or neither
species
there are cases wherein a person’s biological
Intersex – individuals with composite genitals
sex does not align with one’s gender identity
(possessing some characteristics of both male
and female genitals) SEXUAL ORIENTATION

INTRODUCTION aspect of our gender pertains to our

emotional and sexual attraction to a person
First thing you need to understand is the
complexities of defining and differentiating Everyone’s sexuality is different and deeply
sex, gender, and sexuality. personal

Moreover, as we start our discussion of People who are attracted to the opposite sex
gender and sexuality as social realities, we are called ‘heterosexual’ or “straight.”
also want to understand how a person’s
People who are attracted to people of the
gender is expressed from birth to adulthood.
same sex are called “homosexual,” “gay” or
Our ultimate goal is to foster understanding of
“lesbian.”
the diversity of how humans experience and
express their sexuality. “Bisexual” or “bi” people are attracted to both
sexes, male or female.
SEX
APPRECIATING DIVERSITY
► the biological dimension of your
gender and sexuality According to the American Psychological
Association (APA), nature and nurture play a
► referred to as biological sex or
complex role in shaping our sexual
physical sex
orientation.
► If at birth, a child is observed to have
According the Psychological Association of the
a penis and testicles, and then the
Philippines, “we can only truly tell if the
child is categorized as male. If on the
person is gay, lesbian, or bisexual if the
other hand, a child is observed to
person shares with us his or her experiences
have a vagina, then the child is
and feelings of attraction towards them.”
categorized as female.

GENDER

► humans are meaning-making

organism
GENDER AND SEXUALITY ACROSS TIME men primarily holds power in the political and
the private spheres.
Definition of terms:
In the social, legal, political, and economic
Patriarchy – social system where men
spheres, men are expected to lead while
primarily holds power in the political and
women are expected to obey and are
private spheres.
relegated to house chores, bearing children,
Feminism – continuing series of social and child care.
movements that aim to challenge the
A patrilineal society often follows a patriarchy
patriarchal society that creates these
society, this means only men can inherit
oppressive political structures, beliefs, and
property and the family name.
practices against women.
Women were left with no inheritance and are
Archaeological artifacts reveal that in the
expected to marry a man who can support her
distant past, during the dawn of civilizations,
economically.
human societies have a high regard for
women. women were not allowed to go to schools, or
even vote, because they are viewed as a
The concept of the divine feminine (the
weaker sex and should not concern
sacredness of the woman due to her ability to
themselves in learning science or politics.
conceive children) has prevailed, and thus
women are treated equally with men. This Women had to fight for the right to vote, to
make societies egalitarian (men and women go to school, to go to work, and even
have equitable power and roles). participate in politics.

However, humans’ discovery of paternity HISTORICAL VIEWS ON GENDER

(fatherhood/role of the father in conception),
Aristotle, Plato, and Other Greek philosophers
presumably during Agricultural era.
viewed women as the inferior sex and are
WOMEN properties of men whose only job was to obey
their husbands, bear children, and take care
► Women who have been revered due
of the household. They were forbidden to
to their ability to conceive have been
learn philosophy, politics, and science.
viewed as solely capable only of
reproductive affairs (world of the GREEK
home and related tasks such as
Herodotus, a Greek historian, observed the
suckling the young, child rearing, and
Egyptian civilization citing that Egyptian
home management).
women enjoyed higher social status than
MEN Greek women because they can inherit
property and engage in trade and politics.
► societies have privileged men over
However, Greek influence quickly spread in
other genders, mainly because of the
Egypt through the conquest of Alexander the
preferential given to them in the
Great across Asia and Africa.
productive sphere (world of public
work). EGYPT

PATRIARCHY The written documents titled “Three

obedience’s and four virtues” and “Precepts
Greek word Patriarkhes which means “the
of women” states that women should obey
rule of the father”.
their father, when married she is to obey her
husband, and when widowed she is to obey Domestic violence
her son.
The Center for Women’s Resource’s in the
CHINA Philippines estimates that one woman or child
is raped every hour mostly by someone they
Patriarchy subtle forms of oppression
know. Sexual harassment and sexual violence
Sexism - prejudice, stereotypes, and
discrimination based on sex

Gender pay gap – men earn more than

women;

Underrepresentation in politics, military,

executive position

Rape on women

Very conservative expectations on women

Women do more housework and childcare;

Boys were trained to be leaders while woman

were trained to do house chores.

aim to challenge the patriarchal society that

creates these oppressive political structures,
beliefs, and practices against women

Feminism demands

women were not allowed to vote before

because they were viewed as irritational and
temperamental and therefore, not able to
make rational decisions.

Women suffrage

Representation very important for women, so

that their genuine concerns are heard in
politics and in society.

Equality in politics and society

woman is in control of her body, and she can

decide for herself on what she sees is best for
her

Reproductive right

marital rape and physical abuse are often

dismissed by society as a part of a “marriage”.

we have RA 9262 or Anti Violence Against

Women and their Children