Gender and Society: Understanding Gender & Culture PDF

**WEEK 2: GENDER AND SEXUALITY** **Sex and Gender: Understanding the Difference** - **Sex: The biological characteristics that define male and female, including chromosomes, reproductive organs, and secondary sexual characteristics (e.g., facial hair, breast development).** - **Gender...

**WEEK 2: GENDER AND SEXUALITY** **Sex and Gender: Understanding the Difference** - **Sex: The biological characteristics that define male and female, including chromosomes, reproductive organs, and secondary sexual characteristics (e.g., facial hair, breast development).** - **Gender: The social, cultural, and psychological traits associated with masculinity and femininity, shaped by societal expectations and norms.** - **Gender Identity: A person's internal perception of themselves as male, female, non-binary, or another gender identity. It may or may not align with their sex assigned at birth.** - **Gender Expression: How individuals present their gender through clothing, behavior, and outward appearance.** - **Gender Roles: Social expectations about how men and women should behave, which vary across cultures and time periods.** - **Gender Stereotypes: Generalized and often rigid beliefs about gender traits and roles, such as "men are strong" or "women are nurturing."** **Does Sex Correspond to Gender?** - **Traditional beliefs link sex and gender strictly, but modern sociology and psychology recognize that gender is a social construct.** - **Examples include men engaging in traditionally female-associated roles (e.g., cooking, childcare) and women excelling in traditionally male-dominated fields.** **Gender Equality and Intersectionality** - **Gender Equality: The belief that all genders should have the same opportunities and rights.** - **Intersectionality: Examines how gender intersects with race, class, ability, and other social categories, leading to unique experiences of privilege or discrimination.** **SOGIE (Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity, and Expression)** - **Sexual Orientation: Who someone is romantically or sexually attracted to.** - **Heterosexual: Attraction to the opposite gender.** - **Homosexual (Gay/Lesbian): Attraction to the same gender.** - **Bisexual: Attraction to both genders.** - **Asexual: Little to no sexual attraction to any gender.** - **Pansexual: Attraction to people regardless of gender.** - **Bi-Curious: A person, usually identifying as heterosexual, who is open to exploring same-gender attraction.** - **Autosexual: Attraction to oneself, often involving self-focused intimacy.** - **Demisexual: A person who only experiences sexual attraction after forming a strong emotional bond.** - **Androsexual: Attraction to masculinity, regardless of the person's sex or gender.** - **Gender Identity: A person's internal experience of their gender, which may not align with the sex assigned at birth.** - **Transgender: A person whose gender identity differs from their sex assigned at birth.** - **Gender Expression: How a person presents their gender through external characteristics like clothing, speech, and mannerisms.** - **Intersex Individuals: Born with biological characteristics of both sexes, challenging the binary sex model.** - **LGBTQIA+: A spectrum of gender identities and sexual orientations beyond traditional categories.** **WEEK 3: CULTURE AND RATIONALITIES** **Culture vs. Instinct** - **Instinct: Inborn behaviors that do not require learning (e.g., survival reflexes).** - **Culture: A set of learned behaviors, beliefs, values, and norms passed down through generations.** - **Unlike instinct, culture evolves and adapts based on social and environmental influences.** **Factors That Cause Cultural Change** 1. **Social & Economic Shifts: Changes in wealth distribution, industrialization, and social class structures alter cultural norms.** 2. **Technological Advances: Innovations influence communication, work, and lifestyle (e.g., the internet, smartphones).** 3. **Contact with Other Cultures: Migration, trade, and globalization introduce new ideas and traditions.** 4. **Generational Changes: Younger generations bring different perspectives, leading to cultural evolution.** 5. **Environmental Factors: Natural disasters, climate change, and resource availability shape cultural practices.** **Women's Ways of Knowing (Belenky et al.)** 1. **Silence Knowing: Women feeling voiceless due to societal expectations.** 2. **Received Knowing: Relying on external authorities (e.g., teachers, parents) for knowledge.** 3. **Subjective Knowing: Trusting personal experiences and intuition.** 4. **Procedural Knowing: Using logical and analytical thinking to understand the world.** 5. **Constructed Knowing: Integrating multiple viewpoints and critically evaluating knowledge sources.** **Filipino Film Depictions of Gender Issues** - **Himala (1982): Explores faith, superstition, and gender expectations in rural Philippines.** - **Insiang (1976): Highlights domestic abuse and female empowerment.** - **Kisapmata (1981): Focuses on the psychological impact of abusive family dynamics.** - **Respeto (2017): Tackles gender and poverty through rap music and self-expression.** - **Ganito Kami Noon, Paano Kayo Ngayon (1976): Examines cultural change and national identity.** **WEEK 4: GENDER-FAIR LANGUAGE** **The Role of Language in Gender Relations** - **Language is a powerful tool that influences social perceptions of gender.** - **Sexist language reinforces gender inequality by perpetuating stereotypes and limiting identities.** **Common Gender-Fair Language Violations** 1. **Invisibility of Women: Using male-dominated language (e.g., \"mankind\" instead of \"humankind\").** 2. **Gendered Job Titles: Words like \"businessman\" or \"chairman\" suggest that these roles are male-exclusive.** 3. **Trivialization of Women: Labeling women differently (e.g., "lady doctor" instead of "doctor").** 4. **Objectification: Using diminutive terms like \"honey\" or \"baby\" for women in professional settings.** **Women: A Sectorial Situationer** **A sectoral situationer provides an overview of the status, challenges, and opportunities for women in various fields.** 1. **Demographic Profile: Covers women\'s age distribution, education levels, employment status, and geographic location.** 2. **Labor Force Participation: Analyzes women\'s employment rates and barriers to career advancement.** 3. **Leadership and Decision-Making: Examines women's representation in leadership roles and gender diversity efforts.** 4. **Gender-Based Discrimination and Harassment: Addresses workplace discrimination and violence against women.** 5. **Entrepreneurship and Business Ownership: Explores women\'s participation in entrepreneurship and access to business opportunities.** 6. **Women and Education** - **Enrollment and Access: Discusses progress and existing barriers, especially in rural and low-income areas.** - **Educational Attainment: Highlights increasing completion rates and persistent gender gaps in STEM fields.** - **Literacy Rates: Evaluates improvements and remaining disparities due to systemic barriers.** - **Gender Equality and Quality of Education: Focuses on efforts to eliminate stereotypes and create inclusive curricula.** - **Challenges and Barriers: Identifies issues like child marriage, gender-based violence, and inadequate infrastructure.** **Efforts Toward Gender-Fair Language** - **Gabriela Women's Party advocates for gender-neutral language in government documents and institutions.** - **Educators and institutions are promoting gender-inclusive teaching materials.** - **Efforts are ongoing to eliminate sexist language in workplaces and media.**