Lesson 2 on Gender and Society - PDF

NOTES ON GENDER AND SOCIETY **LESSON 2 -- Gender and Sexuality Across Time** By: Atty. Eric Paul D Peralta -- Gender and Society: A Human Ecological Approach Nephtaly Joel B. Botor Dr. Teri Marie P. Laude Cecilio D. Duka, et. al - Introduction to Sociology: A Filipino Perspective Learning Outc...

NOTES ON GENDER AND SOCIETY **LESSON 2 -- Gender and Sexuality Across Time** By: Atty. Eric Paul D Peralta -- Gender and Society: A Human Ecological Approach Nephtaly Joel B. Botor Dr. Teri Marie P. Laude Cecilio D. Duka, et. al - Introduction to Sociology: A Filipino Perspective Learning Outcome: At the end of the lesson the student will be able to: 1\. Discuss the historical roots of our understanding of gender and sexuality 2\. Appreciate of how this understanding evolved through time and affected various aspect of life. Introduction Society has progressed so much in a way that information and knowledge is available to everyone. This gives us opportunity to examine our social and political conditions in more detail than when information was scarce and limited to only a few individual. Historical accounts show that across time, humans' conception of gender and sexuality has also changed. Archaeological artifacts reveal that in the distant past, during the dawn of civilizations, human societies have high regard for women. The concept of **"divine feminine"** (the sacredness of the woman due to her ability to conceive children) has prevailed, and thus, women are treated equally with men. This make societies **"egalitarian"** (men and women have equitable power and roles). However, humans' discovery of **"paternity"** (fatherhood/role of the father in conception) presumably during he Agricultural Era, when societies began to establish communities and tame cattle and stocks, have also changed how societies have viewed women and men therefrom. For the youngest time thereafter, societies have privileged men over other gender, mainly because of the preferential given to them in the **"productive sphere"** (world of public works). Women who have been revered due to their ability to conceive have been viewed as solely capable only of **"reproductive affairs"** (world of the home and related task such as suckling the young, child rearing, and home management). The gender disparity was intensified by the Industrial Era where factories were built and men were preferred because they did not have to bear children for nine months and because of their perceived physical strength. But how did really the conceptualization of gender and sexuality changed? This lesson tackles movement in history which shows how men, women, and people pf other genders are viewed in human societies. **Patriarchy** A close examination of our society can lead us to see the invisible layers of oppression in our society like **"patriarchy"** -- a system based on the control and oppression of women wherein they are perceived to be the weaker sex. It is a structure that upholds male supremacy in the law, home, in the work place, and in society. Patriarchy is from the Greek word **"Patriarches"** which means "the rule of the father." It is a social system where men primarily holds power in political and economic sphere. This means that in the social system, society is organized and maintained in a way that men rule over women and their children. In the social, legal, political, and economic spheres, men are expected to lead while women are expected to obey and are relegated to house chores, bearing children, and child care. A **"patrilineal"** society often follow a patriarchal society, this means only men can inherit property and the family name. Women were left with no inheritance and are expected to marry a man who can support her economically. In fact, women were not allowed to go to school, or even vote, because they were viewed as a weaker sex, and should not concern themselves in learning science or politics. Women had to fight for the right to vote, to go to school, and even participates in politics. Patriarchy is viewed by most sociologists as a social construct and not as biological phenomenon. This is because history proves that in the prehistoric hunter-gatherer tribes and civilization, they prioritized equality of all members, male and female. History suggests an egalitarian system rather than patriarchal system. Men and women contribute to society and they enjoy the same social status. Friedrich Engels, a German philosopher and sociologist, argues that patriarchy came about when people started having a private property instead of a communal living. The development in agriculture and domestication of animals led to creating product surplus which allows people to have private property. As a way to control the excess wealth generated by these advancement, male dominance was asserted over women so only the male heir can inherit family wealth. **Some Historical Views on Gender** In ancient Greece. Aristotle, Plato, and other Greek philosophers viewed women as the inferior sex and are properties of men whose only job was to obey their husband, bear children and take care of the household. They were forbidden to learn philosophy, politics, and science. While during the ancient Egypt, Herodotus, a Greek historian observed that Egyptian civilization, citing that Egyptian women enjoyed higher status that Greek women because they can inherit property and engage in trade and politics. However, Greel influence quickly spread in Egypt through the conquest of Alexander the Great across Asia and Africa. p.2 In ancient China, Confucianism has stringent written rules that dictate how women should conduct themselves. The written documents entitled "Three Obedience's and Four Virtues" and "Precepts of Women" states that women should obey their father, when married she is to obey her husband, and when widowed she is to obey her son. In ancient patriarchal societies, gendered biases were very strict, heavily enforced and often violent. Imagine not being able to go to school just because you are a woman, not being able to express your opinion on important matters even when it concern your future, and not being able to say no to any man. Women have come a long way since the ancient times through the feminist movement, however, patriarchy has taken on subtle forms of oppression that often go unnoticed such as: \* sexism - prejudice, stereotypes and discrimination based on sex; \* gender pay gap - men earn more than women; \* under representation in politics, military,executive positions; \* rape on women and the stigma making women ashamed to report the crime; \* very conservative expectations on women on how they behave; \* unrealistic depiction of women in fiction, often very sexualized; \* women do more housework and child care; \* boys were trained to be leaders while women were trained to do house chores. **Women Empowerment** Women's Liberation Movement, Women's movement, of feminism is a continuing series of social movement that aim to challenge the patriarchal society that creates these oppressive political structures, beliefs, and practices against women. It started at different decade in different countries, some are far more advance in their struggle while others are still starting a movement. During the 19^th^ and early 20^th^ century, the first wave of feminism spread across the western countries as women demanded for their rights to vote or participate in elections and be able to legally own a property. In France, Simon de Beauvoir wrote a book entitled "The Second Sex"in 1949. It outlined how the patriarchal society disadvantaged women by slowly raising her into submission and hindering their productivity and happiness by relegating them to house cleaning. This inspired many women to write and speak their truths, such as Betty Friedan (The Feminine Mystic, 1963), Kate Miller (Sexual Politics, 1969), and Germaine Greer (The Female Eunuch, 1970). Beauvoir's book was instrumental in awakening women about their plight as the " wife-servant" to their husbands in her famous quote " one is not born, but rather becomes, a woman." Le Mouvement de Liberation des Femmes or the Women's Liberation Movement was formed in Europe and they sought the right to education, right to work, and right to vote in the 1940s. Later they also won women's right to decide on their own bodies and their sexualities. This liberation movement views the intersectionality of economic status or class to patriarchy. Inspired by Beauvoir's book, second wave feminism in 1960s through the 80s, women drew attention to various social and cultural inequalities such as domestic violence especially marital rape, reproductive rights, wage inequality, and others. The 90s gave birth to the 3^rd^ wave and 2012 started the 4^th^ wave. These movements only show that there is still much to be done for women's right. The UN report that women do more works than men because even when they work at the office, they are still expected to do household tasks. Another report from the UN states that "women perform 66 percent of the world works, produce 50 percent of the food, but earn 10 percent of the income and own one percent of the property. This is because in the agricultural countries, women participate in making the produce, but only the father or the male head of the family controls the income. To put simply, feminism demands equality. Here are a few salient points that feminist demands: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. p.3 **Summary** Recognizing patriarchy in the simple things we do is very important for us to identify these instances so we can change it. Even the simplest act that are seemingly harmless can be analyzed ans seen as a way to force women into submission and compliance. That is the power of putting labels on oppressive acts, and you can IT. Feminism gained women access to education, right to vote, right to work, take control of their reproduction, and the right to say no instead of just obeying. However, there is still much to be done for gender equality. You can help in making the world a better place for women by learning to respect and recognizing that women deserve the same rights as men. That women are not to be treated as the weaker sex or the submissive sex, but rather as an equal. Also, use gender neutral language that is not sexist: humanity instead of mankind. You can also counter gendered metaphors by vocally criticizing the oppressive nature such as: the aggressive sperm and the passive e.g., babae kase o lalake kase. You can also advocate laws and policies that can empower women. You do not have to be a woman to understand that everyone must be treated with the same respect and that everyone is free and equal in dignity and rights. **Activity:** Instruction: 1. Individually you interview 3 people from different age group (adolescence, adult, elderly) and ask them what they think or feel of when they hear the words gender and sexuality. Ask them what influenced them to have these thoughts or feeling. 2. Share this with your group and identify the commonality of their answers and come up with a group reflection.