INTERVIEWS: PERSPECTIVES ON GENDER AND SEXUALITY
We gathered insights from different generations on their understanding and attitudes towards
gender and sexuality.
Question 1: What comes to mind when you hear the word “gender”?
Answers:
Adolescent (17 years old): “Basta maka dungog kog gender kay mao tong mga tao na gina
define ang ila self like part sa LGBTQ + or more.” (Whenever I hear the word "gender," I
think of people who define themselves as part of the LGBTQ+ community or more.)
Adult (25 years old): “When I hear the word gender, I immediately think of individuals
within the LGBTQIA+ community. To me, gender goes beyond just two identities but it
encompasses a wide range of self-expressions and labels that people use to define
themselves. This for me is deeply personal and reflects how one perceives and categorizes
themselves. Ultimately, I believe that no one else has the right to define or label your
gender. Only yourself have the power to do so.”
Elderly (60 years old): “It is a social stigma. Kung unsay ought-to-be” (It is a social stigma—
what is considered the ought-to-be.)
Question 2: What comes to mind when you hear the word “sexuality”?
Answers:
Adolescent (17 years old): “Kay kung unsa gyyd ang naa nato sa atong private part.” (It
refers to what we truly have in our private parts.)
Adult (25 years old): “When I hear the word sexuality, the first things that come to my mind
are the words attraction and desire, which are deeply connected to the biological nature of
human beings. Sexuality for me, comprises not only the physical and emotional aspects of
attraction but also someone's sexual orientation and personal preferences for a partner.”
Elderly (60 years old): “Sexuality means the contact of both sex.”
Question 3: What or who has influenced your understanding and thoughts about gender and
sexuality? (e.g., family, friends, media, education, and religion)
Answers:
Adolescent (17 years old): “Actually tungod gyyd ni sa akong mga masalamuha everyday
pero dako guro na perk kay ang akong ate joy kay daghan siya friend na part sa
LGBTQ+” (Actually, this is really because of the people I interact with every day, but maybe a
big factor is that my sister Joy has many friends who are part of the LGBTQ+.)
Adult (25 years old): “My environment and education have made me aware of these two
categories. Through them, I’ve come to understand the difference between gender and
sexuality and the importance of learning and analyzing these biological and social
constructs. Doing so allows us to better understand both ourselves and others.”
Elderly: “I was an NGO and worked as an advocator. It was part of my job to know these
things para matudluan nako properly ang mga tao nga wala kaayuy access sa ing ani nga
mga knowledge. So, I tried hard para makahibaw kung unsa ni nga mga butang to share
correct knowledge about gender and sexuality.” (I was part of an NGO and worked as an
advocate. It was part of my job to know these things so I could properly teach people who had
little access to this kind of knowledge. So, I tried hard to understand these topics in order to
share correct knowledge about gender and sexuality.)
DOCUMENTATION
Submitted by: Jiezah Carla B. Morada and Rafael Jr. Sarino, BSED-MATH 2A
REFLECTION
Growing up, we were often taught that gender is simply "boy or girl" and that sexuality is
something people rarely talked about openly. But as we worked on this activity, we realized that
gender and sexuality are not simple ideas—they are complicated and constantly changing.
Through the insights we gathered from different generations, we saw how different age groups
perceive these concepts in unique ways. The adolescent and adult respondents associated gender
with self-identity and the LGBTQ+ community, while the elderly respondent saw it more as a
social expectation or stigma. This made us realize that younger generations tend to embrace a
broader and more fluid understanding of gender, whereas older generations might have a more
traditional view based on societal norms.
When it comes to sexuality, we were also surprised by the different interpretations. The
adolescent respondent focused mainly on biological aspects, while the adult had a deeper
understanding, recognizing attraction and orientation as part of it. Meanwhile, the elderly
respondent had a more straightforward and physical definition of sexuality. This showed us that
knowledge about gender and sexuality has evolved over time, and younger generations have
access to more discussions that help them understand these topics beyond just biology. This
assignment helped us reflect on how gender and sexuality are shaped by different influences,
such as family, friends, education, and social interactions. It also showed us the importance of
learning and having open conversations about these topics. Overall, by hearing different
perspectives, we understood that not everyone will see gender and sexuality the same way, but
being informed allows us to respect and support people regardless of their views.
Submitted by: Jiezah Carla B. Morada and Rafael Jr. Sarino, BSED-MATH 2A
