GENDER AND SOCIETY

MODULE 1

The male reproductive system is mostly external to the

CHAPTER 1. LEVELING OFF: GENDER AND body. The penis, scrotum, and testicles are examples of
SEXUALITY external organs. The vas deferens, prostate, and urethra are
What are Sex, Gender, and Society examples of internal organs. The male reproductive system is
What is Sex? in charge of both sexual function and urination.
According to popular culture, sex is something done for
pleasure, and perhaps in a more Freudian sense, it is what drives The internal reproductive organs of a female are the
people to do certain things. For most living creatures there are vagina, uterus, fallopian tubes, and ovaries. The vagina is a
two sexes: Male and female. The female sex is determined by hollow, muscular tube that connects the vaginal opening to the
the following characteristics: produces egg cells which are uterus.
fertilized by another sex, and bears offspring. The male sex, on
the other hand, produces sperm cells to fertilize the egg cells. What is Gender?
 Often referred to as the act of reproduction It is short for gender relations between the sexes, or how
(Scientifically, copulation). the male and female relate to one another. Gender is also based
 Sex in the biological sense is a category for a on how people see themselves and, on their tendency, to act
living being specifically related to their along either the masculine or the feminine line.
reproductive functions.  Gender is a socially learned behavior usually
 People are usually assigned male or female at associated with one’s sex.
birth and this marker goes on legal documents  Is a social construct that determines one’s role,
such as a birth certificate. expected values, behavior, and interaction and
relationship involving men and women.
Chromosomes determine one’s sex. Chromosomes XX
equates to female, and XY equates to male. These pairs of The difference between Sex and Gender
chromosomes are distinct because the difference in their
characteristics are necessary for production. Copulation, or the
union of the sexes (XX and XY or male and female), produces
offspring.

Hormones are chemical messengers that help regulate bodily

functions and maintain general health. Plays a large part in the Gender Identity is how you feel about your gender on the
definition of one’s sex. (e.g., estrogen, testosterone). Exposure inside. It is the psychological sense of feeling like a woman, a
to hormones in the womb affects how the organism develops as man, both, in between or something else.
a male or female. Physical features related to secondary sex
characteristics are also influenced by hormones. Gender socialization - The process through which children
learn about the social expectations, attitudes and behaviors
Genitalia or the organs used for reproduction, and secondary typically associated with boys and girls.
sex characteristics are largely influenced by one’s X and Y-
chromosomes. These chromosomes will determine whether Gender Role socialization is defined as the process of learning
someone’s body will express itself as female or male. Internal and internalizing culturally approved ways of thinking, feeling,
reproductive organs (e.g., uterus, vagina,) external sexual and behaving. It starts as soon as one is born and manifest from
anatomy (e.g., vulva, penis, testicles) the color associated with one’s gender to the role one sees his
or her gender performs the most. Socialization affects all parts
of one’s identity by dictating what is acceptable to do because
of one’s educational background, class, religion, and gender.
Thus, female and male gender roles.

Major agents of socialization

1. Family
2. Schools
3. Peer groups
4. Mass media

Gender Stereotypes
Develop when different institution reinforces a biased
perception of a certain gender’s role. These institutions include
the family, the church, the school, the state, and the media.
These beliefs can be limiting if seen as prescriptive of a
gender’s role rather than descriptive of the many possible role
ne can have.
Four types of Gender Stereotypes Sexual orientation is about who you want to be with.
1. Sex or Personal stereotypes are generalized view of Gender identity is about who you are.
traits that should be possessed by men and women,
specifically, physical and emotional roles.
 women as being emotional, nurturing, and passive LGBTQIA
 men as being assertive, confident, aggressive, The abbreviation LGBTQIA Lesbian, Gay, transgender,
strong Queer/Questioning, Intersex, Asexual. This category describes
2. Physical Appearance or Sexual stereotypes involve distinct groups outside of heteronormativity who are usually
assumptions regarding a person’s sexuality that defined by their SOGIE.
reinforce dominant views. It dictates how men/women
are expected to look Heteronormativity is defined as the notion that being
 women – thin, graceful, lovely, soft spoken heterosexual, or the attraction to the opposite sex, is the
 men – tall, muscular, or masculine, w/ mustache standard for correctness.
3. Sex-role (Occupation) stereotypes encompass the
roles that men and women are assigned to based on Heterosexual refers to people who have sexual and romantic
their sex and what behaviors they must possess to fulfil feelings mostly for the opposite gender: Men who are attracted
these roles. to women, and women who are attracted to men.
 women – nurses
 men – police Homosexual describes people who have sexual and romantic
4. Compounded stereotypes are assumptions about a feelings for the same gender: Men who are attracted to men, and
specific group belonging to a gender. women who are attracted to women.
 woman w/ disability might face stereotypes about
Cisgender is someone whose gender identity corresponds with
her gender/disability
his or her biological sex. A person can be a homosexual and at
the same time a cisgender (identify with the gender they were
SOGIE
assigned to at birth because of their sex).
The abbreviation for SOGIE stands for sexual orientation
and gender identity and expression. Sexuality is different from
sex, as the former is the expression of a person’s thoughts, Lesbian pertains to women who are attracted to other women.
feelings sexual orientation and relationship, as well as the
biology of the sexual response system of that person. Gay refers to men who are attracted to other men. It can also be
used as an umbrella term for homosexuality.
SOGIE Bill - recognizes the fundamental rights of every
Bisexual or “bi” denotes people who are attracted to both
person regardless of sexual orientation & gender identity.
genders.
 Also known as ADB - Anti-Discrimination Bill
Transgender is a term that refers to someone whose assigned
sex at birth does not represent his or her gender identity.
Terms standing for SOGIE are further defined below:
The labels were created to recognize the identity of those
1. Sexual orientation covers three dimensions of
who are considered outside the norm of society. These words
sexuality;
and terms were popularized to show those who fell outside the
a. sexual attraction, sexual behavior, sexual
norm that they are not alone, that there are others facing the
fantasies;
same struggles.
b. Emotional preference, social reference, self-
identification
Gender Equality is defined as the recognition of the state that
c. Heterosexual or homosexual lifestyles
all human beings are free to enjoy equal conditions and fulfill
their human potential to contribute to the state and society.
Sexual orientation involves the person to whom one is
attracted and how one identifies himself or herself in relation
CHAPTER 2: CULTURES AND RATIONALITIES
to this attraction which includes both romantic and sexual
feelings. It is about who you're attracted to and want to have a
Instinct and Culture
relationship with. Sexual orientations include gay, lesbian,
Human beings like animals, are not heavily dependent on
straight, bisexual, and asexual.
instinct. Certainly, instinctual aspects are present in specific
actions such as breathing, making sounds when surprised or
Gender identity refers to one’s personal experience of gender
shocked, upright waking, or choosing between flight and fight.
or social relations. It determines how one sees himself or herself
in relation to gender and sexuality. A person could identify
Instinct - an inborn impulse or motivation to action typically
himself or herself as masculine or feminine. It includes male,
performed in response to specific external stimuli.
female, gender queer, etc.

Three Main Survival Instincts

Gender expressions determines how one expresses his or her
1) Self-Preservation/Prevention. survival instinct is the
sexuality through the actions or manner of presenting oneself.
action of keeping yourself safe or alive in a dangerous
situation like hunger or thirst, fear, anger, often
 without thinking about what you are doing. This based on pre-defined rules, regulations and
includes health, strength, diet, fitness, and endurance. procedures, often within formal organizations.
This facet of self-preservation is like a management  Following company policy regarding leave,
system for your body. It seeks to find a root cause for wearing attire/uniforms, schedule, etc.
problems in the body, and it can seek to test the body’s 4. Theoretical Rationality It refers to understanding the
endurance to harm or stress. society, the environment and particularly the world
2) Sexual. The sexual survival instinct is the instinct of around us with the sole help of abstract concepts. It
attraction and seduction. Beyond the physical drive to involves understanding the world through abstract
actually have sex, this instinct is the drive concepts, logic, and systematic.
to attract sex.  A scientist developing a theory about the origins
3) Social. The social survival instinct is the instinct of of the universe, people, etc.
connection. Connection is a gigantic domain and so
this instinct is multi-faceted and adaptable, which is CHAPTER 3: WOMEN’S WAYS OF KNOWING
part of its innate skill. It is who you want to bond with,
friends, flocks. Choices to do what is right. Women and the Metaphor for Silence
 Culture plays a large part in determining what are
Culture considered masculine or feminine traits.
It can be defined as all the ways of life including arts,  Women’s way of understanding the world is affected
beliefs and institutions of a population that are passed down by socialization.
from generation to generation. Culture is the system of  Women associate silence with knowledge as they
symbols that allows people to give meaning to experience. It themselves are often left unheard and silent.
bears all the accumulated knowledge of people coded into
symbols that will help them interpret what is happening to or WOMEN and MEN have different ways of knowing,
around them, and how they can give an appropriate response judgment, forms of human development, values, and visions
to the experience. It is also the shared beliefs, values, and of humanity.
practices of a group; shapes how individuals perceive the
world and make decisions, including what they consider The book Women’s Ways of Knowing: The
rational. Development of Self, Voice, and Mind by Mary Belenky,
Blythe Mc Vicker Clinchy, Nancy Rule Goldberger and Jill
Rationality (Judgment) (Reason) - the quality of being based Tarule in 1986. Discuss in this book the implications of the
on or in accordance with reason or logic. It refers to the status identified ways of knowing in relation to the greater societal
of belonging to a particular nation, whether by birth or context.
naturalization. It constitutes a legal relationship about an  Examine and describes five different perspectives
individual person or a state. from which women view reality and draw conclusions
Ex. A person who acts rationally has good reasons for what about truth, knowledge, and authority.
they do.
 This show how women's self-concepts and ways of
knowing are intertwined and describe how women
Rationalization as the way or a process which organizes daily- struggle to calm the power of their own minds.
life of an individual socially.
Differences in Ways of Knowing: Women and
Max Weber 4 Types of Rationalization
Connectedness
1. Practical Rationality It refers to understanding and
Women and men have different ways of knowing,
then deciding the best possible way to achieve judgments, forms of human development, values, and visions
something based on what is practical. It involves of humanity and existence. It assumes that the main difference
choosing the most efficient means to achieve specific between men and women comes from upbringing and gender
practical end.
socialization. The role of universal caregiving in all societies
 choosing the fastest route to work based on the was given by copying their mothers, and boys learned to be men
traffic. through disassociation with their mother’s role. Young girls had
 Budgeting, what food to eat. their mothers as role models, they learned through association
2. Substantive Rationality It refers to the selection of and connectedness. Women learned through empathy. Men
the best possible means in order to make the system learned through separation.
compatible with other systems. It is guided by a
system of values, either personal or collective, that
shape decision-making. Separate and Connected Ways of Knowing
 Choosing to donate based on belief in social  Separate knowers begin by objectively analyzing a
responsibility situation, and then trying to understand another
 You need to give in order to receive bigger prizes person's perspective.
3. Formal Rationality It refers to making decisions with  Connected knowers, on the other hand, first seek to
the help of and under the guidance of universal laws, understand, and then step back and evaluate.
larger social structure of the society and the The Five Stages of Knowing
regulations, which are enforced with rigidity and According to Belenky and colleagues, women use the
quantifiable methods. It involves making decisions following perspectives to see the world and to understand
knowledge and truth. This perspective compromises the Five Procedural knowledge: Voice of reason and separate and
categories, which describe the general ways women learn about connected Knowing
the world and come to conclusions about the truth. Procedural knowers learn through the process. Often, the
 Silence women utilizing this method have learned well from formal
 Received Knowledge systems of knowledge, enough to excel. They then use the tool
 Subjective Knowledge they acquire from these formal systems to defend their own
 Procedural Knowledge view. Understanding then comes as a vital aspect of knowing.
 Constructed Knowledge The ideas of connection and understanding show an important
difference in how men and women view morality.
Silence as knowing indicates an absence of thought or  Developed the reasoning skills & ability to evaluate
reflection. Women who live in silence are often disconnected information using logic & analysis.
from their families and communities due to their situation, the  When they feel something off, they learned to
geographical separation of the families from the greater separate or connect with others.
community, and suffocation, all of which bring about lack of  Relationship orientation has to do with connected
space for constructive or violent. Women who feel knowing--truth emerges through care
disconnected, invalid from knowledge and authority, often  Thinking is encapsulated within systems--"can
fully silenced or unable to express their own thoughts. criticize a system, but only in the system's terms, only
 Words viewed as weapons--worried about being according to the system's standards. Women in this
punished for using words position may be liberal or conservative, but they
 Women often talked about voice and silence in cannot be 'radicals.'"
describing their lives  Knowing requires careful observation and analysis--
 Speaking of self was almost impossible simple becomes problematic
 Blind obedience to authorities of utmost importance  At first this does not feel like progress--confidence
for keeping out of trouble wanes--the inner voice becomes critical
 Procedural Knowledge has elements of separate
Received Knowledge- Listening to the voices of others knowing and connected knowing
Received Knowledge is developed by absorbing
knowledge. Women who learned through receiving knowledge Constructed Knowledge: Integrating the voice
listen to friends and authorities, and understand what is being Knowledge construction is a collaborative process that
said enough for them to repeat words. These women see words aims to produce new understanding or knowledge which
as imperative to learning. They tend to receive knowledge exceeds something that anyone alone could not achieve. It is
from authorities – viewing themselves as passive recipients. also essential that knowledge construction is based on each
 The longer you work, the higher the grade other’s' ideas and thoughts. To do this, the constructed
 Worry that developing their own powers would be at knowledge must turn inward instead of outward, with the idea
the expense of others that “knowledge is constructed, and the knower is an intimate
 Think of words as central to the knowing process-- part of the known”. Women must listen to themselves in the
learn by listening world where the dominant voice is male, and when it stifles
 Feel confused and incapable when required to do their own.
original work  Integration
 Look to others for self-knowledge--unable to see  Develop a narrative sense of self
themselves as growing.  High tolerance for internal contradiction and
 Equate receiving, retaining, and returning the words of ambiguity
authorities with learning  Do not want to compartmentalize reality
 Constructed Knowledge
Subjective Knowledge- The inner voice and the quest for self
Women who learned through subjective knowledge learn CHAPTER 4: GENDER-FAIR LANGUAGE
to trust their intuition or their inner voice and infallible gut.
Women who utilize this form of knowledge are often those who Language and Gender Relations
have awakened to the previous abuses they have suffered, or Language is a potent tool for how humans understand
have broken off with the authority figures they have held dear. and participate in the world. It can shape how we see society.
They also realize that following rules will not make them It is part of the culture. In this regard, language is not a neutral
happy. force; it enforces certain ideas about people including gender.
 Fear that using combative measures in support of her Many gendered assumptions are present when it comes to
opinion may jeopardize connections with others language. Language defines men and women differently as
 A sense of voice arises seen in common objectives associated with these genders.
 Truth is an intuitive reaction, experienced not thought Like gender stereotyping, language influences how one sees
out. his or her gender and perceives other people’s gender.
According to Henry Sweet: "Language is the expression
 Firsthand experience is a valuable source of
of ideas by means of speech sounds combined into words."
knowledge--The predominant learning mode is inward
listening and watching
Gender-fair language - also known as gender-neutral or
gender-inclusive language
  is the practice of using words & phrases that do people on this planet and women’s presence or roles
not discriminate against a particular sex or are not acknowledged. Similarly, saying “guys” when
gender identity, and that avoid perpetuating referring to a mixed-gender group assumes that girls
gender stereotypes. are invisible, and calls attention to the male gender,
 Way to communicate respectfully and giving them a stronger presence.
inclusively, ensuring everyone feels represented  The assumption that certain functions or jobs are
and valued. performed by men instead of both genders. For
example, the sentences “The farmers and their wives
Aim of Gender-Fair Language tilled the land”. or “The politicians and their wives
1. Avoiding Bias – It aims to reduce gender bias & lobbied for change” assumes that men can have jobs
stereotyping in communication. as farmers and politicians, and women who do the
 Woman to present as a presenter. same work are still made to be known as wives, with
2. Inclusive Language – It uses language that equally their identities forever linked to being married to their
represents women & men and acknowledges the husbands.
diversity of gender identities & expressions.  The use of make job titles or terms ending in man
 Communication that avoids using words, to refer o functions that may be given to both
phrases, or tones that could be offensive, genders. For instance, the titles “businessman’ and
disrespectful, or exclude individuals or groups ‘Chairman” assumes that all businessman or chairman
based on their characteristics like gender, race, are men and women and that certain jobs may not be
disability, or other factors. for women, which is not true.
3. Promoting Respect - Demonstrating & encouraging
respectful behaviors, attitudes & interactions in all It also refers to the societal phenomenon where women
aspects of life, including personal relationships, contributions, experiences & perspectives are systematically
workplace & communities. marginalized, overlooked, or rendered invisible in various
aspects of life, including public discourse, history & economic
Violations of Gender-fair Language system.
Sexist language is a tool that reinforces unequal gender
relations through sex-role stereotypes, macroaggressions, and  Unpaid Labor - Women disproportionately shoulder
sexual harassment. Language can be used to abuse, such as in the burden of unpaid work, such as homework &
the case of sexual harassment, or to perpetuate stereotypes. It childcare.
can form subtle messages that reinforce unfair relations, such  Under-representation in Leadership - Positions of
as how “men cannot take care of children” or women cannot be power & decision-making.
engineers’, which may impact how one views his or her  Historical Erasure - Women contributions to history,
capabilities. All in all language is powerful force that plays a science, art, but often minimized or omitted.
significant role in how one perceives the world.
Trivialization of Women
Republic Act (R.A.) No. 11313 or the Safe Spaces Act,  Bringing attention to the gender of a person, if that
otherwise known as Bawal Bastos Law, provides protective person is a woman. The use of lady”, “girl” or
measures and prescribes penalties to stop gender-based sexual “women” along with the noun bring attention to the
harassment (GBSH). gender of the person rather than to the job or functions.
Example of these include “girl athlete”, “woman
What it does: VIOLATIONS of G-F-L doctor”, “lady guard”, and “working wives”. This
 including catcalling, unwanted comments, notion also works for men who enter traditionally
stalking, & cyber-harassment, and prescribes female jobs such as “male nurses”, “male nannies”, or
penalties for those who commit them. “male secretaries”.
 Catcalling – whistling at a woman, etc.  The perception of women as immature. Women
 Unwanted Comments – including clothing, body may be labeled as “darling” or “baby” by those who
shaming do not know them, making them appear childlike or
 Wolf-whistling – sounds that are sexually juvenile.
offensive  The objectification or likening to objects, of
 Sexual Harassment – inappropriate jokes women. By being called “honey”, “sweet”, or
 Online Harassment – unwanted sexually “chicks”, women become devalued, especially if they
suggestive message or picture are in an environment that merits formality such as the
workplace.
Invisibilization of women
The invisibilization of women is rooted in the Fostering unequal gender relations
assumptions that men are dominant and are the norm of the Language that lacks parallelism fosters unequal gender
fullness of humanity, and women do not exist. Some examples relations. The use of “man and wife” assumes that men are still
of women invisibilization in language are: men and women’s identities are subsumed and shifted into
 The generic use of masculine pronouns or the use beings in relation to their husbands.
of a masculine general. The use of the word
“mankind” assumes that men are representative of all Hidden assumptions
 Hidden assumptions in sentences can also be forms of as well as to be free from bias since words can affect how a
macroaggressions if the underlying perceptions are sexist and person sees oneself and others around him or her.
degrading. For example, the statement, “The father is
babysitting his children”, assumes that the father is not a
caregiver, and that any attempt he has parenting is temporary as
the mother is the main caregiver.

Philippine Culture and Language

Filipino or Tagalog is mainly gender-neutral, without
gender characteristics or titles for men and women. Words that
are gendered came from another culture and were adopted after
400 years of colonization. The values and the shaping of the
education system were influenced by Western powers and
ideals. Filipinos portray a mix of identities, an infusion of both
native and foreign perspectives and values.

Identities and Naming Things

Language is used to define what is feminine, masculine,
and outside feminine or masculine. It is tool for understanding
the world as well as naming and describing people and things.
Language gives a person the power to define oneself and the
external world and one’s place in it. Through language, people
can reflect on their own gendered identities and battle the
definitions society imposes on them. Naming things give them
power. For example, sexual harassment was never seen as an
issue as it was never given a name. It was unwanted behavior
in the workplace but was seen as something that could not be
contended with. Because it was unnamed, it was ignored by
those as if it did not exist. Recognizing harassment for what it
is by defining and describing the act helped women around the
world put mechanisms that would address workplace
harassment.

Sexist Language and Culture

The language that admonishes certain acts depending on
one’s gender is a form of externalized social control. Common
themes of sexist language are the commercialization and the
trivialization of women. These sexist portrayals of women
extend to the advertising industry, entertainment industry, and
the arts. The normalization of sexism makes violence against
women and children acceptable or tolerable. Using language for
gender stereotyping can contribute to sexism by reinforcing the
idea that certain words and traits should only be associated with
specific genders. Constantly mocking or joking about
women/LGBT, sexualizing them, and making them appear
weak would indeed make them internalize these ideas.

Toward a Gender-fair Language

The use of gender-fair language in educational
institutions and the removal of sexist language is imperative to
gender-responsiveness is currently being advocate.
GABRIELA (General Assembly Binding Women for Reforms,
Integrity, Equality, Leadership, and Actions) Women’s party
national president and party-list representative Liza Maza
called for a ban of sexist language in all official communication
s and documents in the House of Representatives. The creation
of comprehensive gender-fair language policy and the
evaluation of the effectiveness of gender-fair institution.
Language, then, is more than just the arrangement of words.
Culture and values come from language and vise-versa.
Language also a process that represents one’s views, belief, and
experience. It must be change to reflect the changes in the world