BASIC GENDER

CONCEPTS
 OBJECTIVES

1. Gained basic concepts and key issues on

gender;

2. Understood the factors and causes of

gender inequality, in particular the social
construction of gender;

3. Appreciate the policy and legal framework of

the country for gender equality and women’s
human rights
1. Women
Can’t Be
Doctors

• AGREE
• DISAGREE
• UNDECIDED
 2.
Woman’s
Destiny

■ AGREE
■ DISAGREE
■ UNDECIDED
 3. Women are beaten
because they nag too much.

■ AGREE
■ DISAGREE
■ UNDECIDED
4. Women are raped because
they wear sexy clothing.

■ AGREE
■ DISAGREE
■ UNDECIDED
What do you think? Agree or disagree?

5. Women can be as good

engineers as men
 What do you think? Agree or
disagree?

6. Men can take care of

babies as well as women.
What do you think? Agree or disagree?

7. Women are weaker than

men
 What do you think? Agree or
disagree?

8. Promoting gender
equality is everyone’s
concern.
 What do you think? Agree or
disagree?

9. Women Code was first

pioneered by Davao City
What do you think? Agree or disagree?

What determines your views about the

above sentences?
– Your own value judgment?
– Your teachers’ and parents’ teaching?
– The cultural tradition?
 SEX refers to the biological
characteristics which defines
humans as either male or female
DETERMINANTS OF SEX
FEMALE MALE
GENITALIA vagina, clitoris penis, scrotum

INTERNAL
REPRODUCTIVE uterus, ovaries testes
ORGANS

CHROMOSOMES XX XY

HORMONES estrogen, Testosterone,

progesterone androgen
GENDER
refers to the differentiated
economic, social and cultural
attributes associated with being
male or female in a particular point
in time and supported by societal
structures
culturally-ascribed
distinguishing variables
x c e p t
ce s e
f fe r e n g i c a l
i
all d ctly biol o
e s t r i
th
GENDER
Identifies the characteristics and social behavior
of men and women and the relationship between
them

Gender roles & characteristics are:

- not fixed
- may change over time
- may vary from culture to culture

It is learned or acquired
 SEX GENDER

SOCIALLY
BIOLOGICAL
CONSTRUCTED
Born with
Not born with

CANNOT BE CHANGED CHANGEABLE

e.g., Only women can e.g., Women can do

give birth. Only men traditionally male jobs; men can
can supply sperm take good care of children as
women do
 Gender Role Socialization
• The process of learning and internalizing
culturally approved ways, of thinking,
feeling, and behaving according to one’s
gender
INSTITUTIONS THAT PERPETUATE
GENDER POWER RELATIONS

FAMILY SCHOOL CHURCH / RELIGION

MEDIA BUSINESS / MARKET STATE

GENDER POWER RELATIONS

The FAMILY promotes gender stereotyping

through the following processes
• MANIPULATION
• CANALIZATION
• VERBAL APPELATION
• SEXIST ACTIVITIES
• etc.
GENDER POWER RELATIONS

The CHURCH or RELIGION as a

gender socializing institution

• BIBLE
• CHURCH HISTORY
• STRUCTURE / HIERARCHY
GENDER POWER RELATIONS

The MASS MEDIA as a gender

socializing institution

• ADVERTISEMENTS
• RADIO / T.V. PROGRAMS
• ARTICLES / HIGHLIGHTS
• SOAP OPERAS
• SONGS
GENDER POWER RELATIONS

BUSINESS / MARKET as a gender

socializing institution
• BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES
• POSITIONS
• WAGE RATES
• TRAFFICKING OF WOMEN
• etc.
GENDER POWER RELATIONS

The STATE as a gender socializing institution

• LAWS / POLICIES
• POLITICAL PARTICIPATION
AND REPRESENTATION
• etc.
GENDER POWER RELATIONS

The SCHOOL as a gender socializing institution

• TEXTBOOKS
• LANGUAGE
• CURRICULUM
• TOYS, LEARNING MATERIALS
• CAREER OPTIONS
• SEGREGATION
• ETC.
Because of uneven and unjust
GENDER POWER RELATIONS
women and men are boxed into
situations – which constrain their

Capacity to do and to be
The capacity to do means -
ability or power

• to do productive and satisfying work

• to have control over one’s income
and benefit from it
• to enjoy nature and the natural
environment
• to procreate and rear children
• to care for others
• to travel in search of opportunities
• etc.
 The capacity to be means-
a right and opportunity

• to be knowledgeable and skillful

• to be healthy

• to be confident of own abilities

• to be comfortable with achievements,

independence and power
• etc.
Gender issues/concerns

are issues, concerns or

problems arising from societal
expectations and perceptions
on the roles of women and
men that impede one’s
opportunities to participate
in the development process
and enjoy its benefits.
GENDER
BIASES
AGAINST Inherently aggressive and
MEN violent
Don’t feel pain/incapable of
experiencing human relations
Inherently expressive in their
sexuality
Don’t need closeness,
reassurance and attention
etc.
Gender
issues &
biases
affect
women
more
 WOMEN’S I O
N SU
BO
AT RD
GENDER AL
I Z
IN
AT
IN VIOLENCE IO
ISSUES M
A R G
N
NEGATIVE
EFFECTS
ON

PERSONHO
OD
EN
ST AGAINST WOMEN RD
G
ER EN BU
EO DE P LE
TY R
L TI
PI U
NG M

Manifestations of gender biases

Manifestation of Gender Bias

MARGINALIZATION

•unequal pay for work of equal value

•limited opportunities
•less access/control over resources
& benefits
• non-recognition &
non-valuation of work
• etc.
 Manifestation of Gender Bias

SUBORDINATION

• few women in decision-making

• no power-sharing
• non-recognition of capabilities
• etc.
Manifestation of Gender Bias

GENDER STEREOTYPING

• sexist childrearing
• sexist language
• stereotyped images
• etc.
Manifestation of Gender Bias

MULTIPLE BURDEN

u b l e - day”
“do
- b u r d en”
le
“doub

• sexual division of labor in the home

• no sharing of financial responsibilities
• lack of support systems for women
• etc.
The Public-Private DIVIDE

PRODUCTIVE REPRODUCTIVE

Care & maintenance of

Production of goods & services the household

Done outside the home; public Done inside the home; private
Not recognized as work;
Recognized as work
invisible
Valued; paid Not valued; unpaid

No fixed hours; often

Usually 8-hrs. job
simultaneous tasks
Men’s sphere Women’s sphere
Manifestation of Gender Bias

VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN

• all forms of gender violence

• women constantly in fear of abuse
• freedoms curtailed
• legal & judicial systems not gender-sensitive
• discrimination: any practice, policy or procedure
that denies women equal treatment and status
because they are female (i.e. in labor force
participation, laws, cultural biases)
Manifestation of Gender Bias

NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON PERSONHOOD

• no self-determination & self-actualization

• low self-esteem / lack of self-confidence
• inability to set higher goals
• etc.
Gender issues are deterrents to development.
Thus, it important to address them in all spheres of life

What is Gender & Development?

GAD is about recognizing that gender biases

impede development because:

They prevent people from attaining their full potentials

They exacerbate social inequity and inequality

They distort the understanding of social realities

GAD is about being faithful to
the principle that

Justice and equity demands that

everyone in society, whether male or
female, has the right to the same
opportunities to achieve a full,
satisfying and peaceful life.
So what is GENDER SENSITIVITY on
a broader analysis?
• A perspective
• A way of thinking; a manner of viewing things
• Conscious of the gender issue - that the other
half of humankind is unable to enjoy life to the
fullest because of gender bias
• Actively promotes gender equality and equity.
 VIEWS OF A
GENDER-FAIR SOCIETY
WOMEN IN NON-TRADITIONAL ROLES
MEN IN NON-TRADITIONAL ROLES
WOMEN AS LEADERS AND POLITICIANS
WOMEN AND MEN SHARING RESPONSIBILITIES
 PROFESSIONAL AND
TECHNICAL EQUALITY
Due to continuous exposure
and reinforcement of gender
differences

Gender roles and relations are

resistant to change

BUT THEY
DO CHANGE
 BASIC ASSUMPTIONS

Both women and men

have a stake in the
struggle for gender
equality.