Understanding the Gender System

• The gender system is societal structures and norms defining and regulating gender roles, identities, and expectations.
• This system impacts individual lives, shaping everything from personal relationships to political and economic opportunities

Components of Gender System

• Gender roles are societal expectations about how individuals should behave based on their gender.
• Gender norms are socially accepted ideas about masculinity and femininity.
• Gender identity is a person's internal sense of their gender (e.g., male, female, non-binary).
• Gender expression is how an individual presents their gender through behavior, clothing, and speech.
• Gender stratification is the unequal distribution of resources, power, and privilege between genders; Examples include:
  • Economic disparities, such as gender pay gaps and unequal job opportunities.
  • Political underrepresentation of women and non-binary individuals in leadership.
  • The glass ceiling, a barrier to career advancement faced by women and marginalized genders.

Gender Binary vs. Non-Binary

• Gender binary is traditional systems recognize only two genders (male and female), often linking them to biological sex.
• Non-binary is a broader perspective acknowledges gender as a spectrum, including identities beyond just male and female, such as genderqueer, agender, and genderfluid

Patriarchy

• Patriarchy involves the power of the father as head of household or the systematic organization of male supremacy and female subordination.
• It is a system of male authority that oppresses women through social, political, and economic institutions

Sexism

• Sexism is discrimination/prejudice based on a person's gender, often resulting in unequal treatment & reinforces stereotypes/maintains gender inequality.
• The belief that women are inferior to men justifies men's behavior towards women.
• The word "sexism" became widely known during the women's liberation movement in the 1960s, likely modeled on "racism."
• Sexism functions to maintain the power status of men over women and girls.
• Institutional sexism occurs when society provides different opportunities and benefits based on sex, present at work, home, in politics, and in the military.

Gender Theories

• Gender Schema Theory (Sandra Bem in 1981) suggests that individuals learn gender roles through societal reinforcement.
• Social Role Theory (Alice Eagly in the 1980s) suggests that gender differences arise from societal expectations and the traditional division of labor, leading individuals to internalize/perform roles deemed appropriate for their gender
  • Women are more likely to be homemakers and caretakers.
  • Men are more likely to be providers and hold leadership roles.
• Queer Theory challenges fixed gender identities and supports fluid expressions of gender and sexuality.

Feminist Theory

• Feminist theory focuses on gender inequality, power structures that oppress women and marginalized genders.
• Feminist theory seeks to challenge patriarchy and advocates for gender equity.
• Liberal Feminism seeks gender equality through legal reforms and policies.
• Radical Feminism views patriarchy as deeply embedded in society and calls for structural change.
• Marxist Feminism links gender oppression to capitalism and economic exploitation.

Major Waves of Feminism

• First Wave (19th – early 20th century)
  • Focused on legal rights, especially women's suffrage (right to vote), education, and property rights
• Second Wave (1960s - 1980s)
  • Addressed workplace discrimination, reproductive rights, domestic violence, and gender roles
• Third Wave (1990s – early 2000s)
  • Challenged traditional gender norms and embraced diversity, emphasizing race, sexuality, and class issues
• Fourth Wave (2010s - present)
  • Focuses on digital activism, #MeToo movement, body positivity, and LGBTQ+ rights
  • Advocates for inclusivity and dismantling systemic oppression

Gender Rights

• Gender rights encompass legal protections/policies ensuring equality among all genders, aimed at eliminating discrimination & promoting inclusivity.

International Gender Rights Frameworks

• Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) ensures equal rights regardless of gender.
• Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) focuses on eliminating gender discrimination.
• Sustainable Development Goal 5 (SDG 5) advocates for gender equality and empowerment.
• Yogyakarta Principles outline human rights standards for sexual orientation and gender identity.

Gender Laws in The Philippines

• The Philippines has several laws promoting gender equality and protecting individuals from discrimination and violence; which ensures equal opportunities, protects human rights, and addresses gender-based violence and discrimination.
• Magna Carta of Women (RA 9710, 2009) is a comprehensive law ensuring women's rights and gender equality.
• Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act (RA 9262, 2004) protects women/children from domestic violence, abuse, and exploitation.
• Safe Spaces Act (RA 11313, 2019) "Bawal Bastos Law" expands protection against sexual harassment in public and online spaces.
• Anti-Discrimination Bills (SOGIE Equality Bill) for LGBTQ+ Rights (Pending) aims to protect individuals from discrimination based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression (SOGIE).