Module 5: Cross-Cutting Issues on Gender (PDF)

MODULE 5. CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES ON GENDER Module overview: Gender as cross-cutting issue is based on recognition that, men and women, boys and girls often have different priorities, constraints and preferences with respect to development. As such, they can contribute to, and be affected differen...

MODULE 5. CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES ON GENDER Module overview: Gender as cross-cutting issue is based on recognition that, men and women, boys and girls often have different priorities, constraints and preferences with respect to development. As such, they can contribute to, and be affected differently by development interventions. In order to make men and women; boys and girls benefit equally from outcomes of our interventions, these considerations must be addressed in all program areas of intervention. There are many pressing issues concerning gender today, however, in this particular module we will only be focusing on 3 cross-cutting issues that are timely, relevant, and significant to today’s generation: a) STI/HIV and AIDS b) Queer and Indigenous Communities c) Gender Sensitive Risk Reduction Learning Outcomes: On successfully completing the section, students will be able to: 1. discuss the 3 main cross-cutting issues (HIV/AIDS/STD, Queer and Indigenous Communities, and Gender Sensitive Risk Reduction) that concern gender in today’s modern world; 2. reflect on the current situation of women and LGBTQ+ in the Philippines about the 3 cross-cutting issues; and 3. design an informative poster that tackles one of the 3 cross-cutting issues discussed in this module; INTRODUCTION Cross-cutting issues are topics that are identified as important and that affect and cut across most or all aspects of development. These topics should therefore be integrated and mainstreamed throughout all stages of development from policy design, to implementation, evaluation and learning. To mainstream an issue means to adopt that lens throughout the whole process. For example, what are the gender dimensions of a given problem – does it affect men and 1 women differently? If so, is the policy and/or programme designed to address it taking those gender differences into account? Finally, when looking back at our actions, were our activities effective at contributing to greater gender balance? Mainstreaming cross cutting issues requires political leadership and institutional commitment. Critical enabling factors are: supportive policy frameworks and strategies; the commitment of necessary financial and human resources; performance incentives and accountability; and a learning culture. In fact, the process of mainstreaming requires special attention, innovation, flexibility and adaptation; the progressive creation of new norms and standards as awareness is created and understanding is developed. Intersectionality, a feminist sociological theory first highlighted by feminist-sociologist Kimberlé Crenshaw, has lately been incorporated into the feminist perspective of gender stratification. Gender, color, class, and ethnicity, among other biological, social, and cultural characteristics, interact and contribute to systematic societal inequity, according to intersectionality theory. As a result, different types of oppression, such as racism or sexism, do not act independently of one another; rather, they are interconnected, establishing an oppression system that reflects the "intersection" of many forms of discrimination. According to this theory, women's oppression and marginalization are influenced not just by their gender, but also by other characteristics including race and class. WARM-UP ACTIVITY: "Identify Cross-Cutting Issues on Gender" Reflective Discussion: What issues does women and members of the LGBTQ+ are facing right now? What issue should we prioritize to discuss or should be mainstreamed for policy makers to focus on? Before we proceed with the learning contents of this module, take time to watch and listen to Emma Watson’s speech in a special event for UN Women’s HeForShe campaign. The HeForShe campaign is a solidarity movement for gender equality which calls upon men and boys to help end the persisting inequalities faced by women and girls globally. https://youtu.be/nIwU-9ZTTJc?feature=shared Prepare to share your thoughts about the video during our interactive discussion. 2 CONTENT Lesson 1 - STI/HIV and AIDS A. Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) Key facts  More than 1 million curable sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are acquired every day worldwide in people 15–49 years old, the majority of which are asymptomatic.  In 2020 there were are an estimated 374 million new infections in people 15–49 years with 1 of 4 curable STIs: chlamydia, gonorrhoea, syphilis and trichomoniasis.  An estimated 8 million adults between 15 and 49 years old were infected with syphilis in 2022.  According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 77,000 people in the Philippines have been living with HIV as of 2018.  HIV, syphilis, human papillomavirus (HPV), and herpes simplex virus (HSV) are some of the most common STDs in the Philippines.  STDs in the Philippines statistics published by the WHO show that more than a million people in the Philippines from ages 15 to 49 contracted STDs. This makes STDs in the Philippines a persistent and endemic health threat. Overview Sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) are diseases that can spread from one person to another via sexual intercourse. These also spread through sharing of needles, or having contaminated blood enter a person’s system via transfusion or an opening on the skin. STDs or STIs (sexually transmitted infections), are caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites. Samples of these are trichomoniasis, HIV, chlamydia, and syphilis. Symptoms of STDs  Most STDs do not exhibit symptoms, but for those that do, it can be in the form of any of the following:  Burning sensation when you urinate  Bumps, warts, or sores near your mouth, vagina, anus, or penis  Aches, pains, chills, and fever  Abnormal discharge from your penis or vagina  Hepatitis B, yellowing of the skin caused by jaundice 3 Causes of STDs There are three major causes of STDs:  Parasites like trichomoniasis or insects like crab lice get into the pubic hair and can transfer from person-to-person during sexual intercourse  Viruses such as herpes simplex virus, hepatitis B, Zika virus, as well as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and human papillomavirus (HPV)  Bacteria, which are present in STDs like syphilis, gonorrhea, and chlamydia Risk Factors STDs in the Philippines statistics shows the need to further educate the people about sexual health and STD risks and causes. Several behaviors increase the likelihood of someone contracting STDs or STIs. These include:  Unprotected sex  Multiple sexual partners  Sexual assault  Abuse of illegal substances Treatment of STIs Effective treatment is currently available for several STIs.  Three bacterial (chlamydia, gonorrhoea and syphilis) and one parasitic STIs (trichomoniasis) are generally curable with existing single-dose regimens of antibiotics.  For herpes and HIV, the most effective medications available are antivirals that can modulate the course of the disease, though they cannot cure the disease.  For hepatitis B, antivirals can help fighting the virus and slowing damage to the liver.  For Syphilis since this is a bacterial infection that starts out as a painful sore either in your genitals, rectum, or mouth. Syphilis may become inactive for decades, and then resurface without warning. Syphilis can be treated easily if detected early. If not treated, it can damage the organs of the body. This includes the heart or the brain, and can become life-threatening. It can also spread from mothers to unborn children.  Gonorrhea can spread through unprotected vaginal, anal, or even oral sex. This infects both men and women. Just like syphilis, a pregnant woman can pass gonorrhea on to her unborn child. You can avoid having this by practicing abstinence or monogamy with your partner. It also helps to use a latex condom in every sexual encounter. 4 Additional resources: Sexually transmitted infections (STIs). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sexually-transmitted-infections-(stis) STDs and STIs || What is an STD/STI? Know the Symptoms of Common STIs https://youtu.be/B3_wLdqhLLc?feature=shared B. HIV and AIDS HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks cells that help the body fight infection, making a person more vulnerable to other infections and diseases. It is spread by contact with certain bodily fluids of a person with HIV, most commonly during unprotected sex (sex without a condom or HIV medicine to prevent or treat HIV), or through sharing injection drug equipment. If left untreated, HIV can lead to the disease AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). The human body can’t get rid of HIV and no effective HIV cure exists. So, once you have HIV, you have it for life. Luckily, however, effective treatment with HIV medicine (called antiretroviral therapy or ART) is available. If taken as prescribed, HIV medicine can reduce the amount of HIV in the blood (also called the viral load) to a very low level. This is called viral suppression. If a person’s viral load is so low that a standard lab can’t detect it, this is called having an undetectable viral load. People with HIV who take HIV medicine as prescribed and get and keep an undetectable viral load can live long and healthy lives and will not transmit HIV to their HIV-negative partners through sex. In addition, there are effective methods to prevent getting HIV through sex or drug use, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), medicine people at risk for HIV take to prevent getting HIV from sex or injection drug use, and post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), HIV medicine taken within 72 hours after a possible exposure to prevent the virus from taking hold. What is AIDS? AIDS is the late stage of HIV infection that occurs when the body’s immune system is badly damaged because of the virus. In the U.S., most people with HIV do not develop AIDS because taking HIV medicine as prescribed stops the progression of the disease. A person with HIV is considered to have progressed to AIDS when: 5   the number of their CD4 cells falls below 200 cells per cubic millimeter of blood (200 cells/mm3). (In someone with a healthy immune system, CD4 counts are between 500 and 1,600 cells/mm3.) OR  they develop one or more opportunistic infections regardless of their CD4 count. Without HIV medicine, people with AIDS typically survive about 3 years. Once someone has a dangerous opportunistic illness, life expectancy without treatment falls to about 1 year. HIV medicine can still help people at this stage of HIV infection, and it can even be lifesaving. But people who start HIV medicine soon after they get HIV experience more benefits—that’s why HIV testing is so important. How Do I Know If I Have HIV? The only way to know for sure if you have HIV is to get tested. Testing is relatively simple. You can ask your health care provider for an HIV test. Many medical clinics, substance abuse programs, community health centers, and hospitals offer them too. If you test positive, you can be connected to HIV care to start treatment as soon as possible. If you test negative, you have the information you need to take steps to prevent getting HIV in the future. 6 7 Prevention of STIs Abstinence, Be Faithful, Careful Sex (Consistent use of Condom), D is for Dont do Drugs and E for Education Abstinence. Abstinence means not having sexual relations before marriage. Be Faithful. Means being faithful to one’s partner. Consistent use of Condoms. When used correctly and consistently, condoms offer one of the most effective methods of protection against STIs, including HIV. When possible, condoms should be used in all vaginal and anal sex. Don’t do Drugs. "no drugs" means avoiding drug abuse or misuse of addictive substances Education. Education means increasing prevention capabilities through education, including treating sexually transmitted infections (STIs) as early as possible. 8 Additional resources: HIV & AIDS Surveillance of the Philippines. Department of Health I Epidemiology Bureau (April - June 2023). https://www.aidsdatahub.org/sites/default/files/resource/hiv- 2023-april-june.pdf Immunology wars: The battle with HIV by Nature Video. YouTube video. https://youtu.be/BADDj82oces?feature=shared Lesson 2 - Queer and Indigenous Communities In the heart of the Philippines, a culturally-diverse archipelago, over 100 indigenous cultural communities thrive. Among them walk members of the LGBTQ+ community, bridging the complexities of dual identities. Often, these individuals experience a double-edged sword of discrimination - marginalized within their cultural groups due to their queer identity, and further subjected to prejudice in broader Filipino society because of their indigenous heritage. This intersectionality, a concept coined by Kimberlé Crenshaw, reveals a unique set of struggles often overlooked in isolated discussions about queer or indigenous issues. Strict enforcement of traditional gender roles in some indigenous communities can lead to discrimination against those who dare to break these molds, irrespective of their sexual orientation. Furthermore, some indigenous spiritual beliefs may clash with queer identities, leading to exclusion or even violence. Beyond the borders of these indigenous cultural groups, homophobia and transphobia still heavily taint the fabric of broader Filipino society. This can hinder queer indigenous individuals from accessing basic services like healthcare and education, or lead to discrimination in employment and housing. As in many countries in Asia, the LGBTQIA+ community in the Philippines continues to experience rampant discrimination, most of which goes unreported. LGBTQIA+ in the Philippines are generally deprived of their political, economic, cultural, and human rights, such as denial of access to public service, refusal of admission to or expulsion from educational institutions and jobs, unequal treatment in workplaces, harassment, and violence. The denial of basic rights to employment, housing, education, and health are driving the community deeper into poverty. To date, no law has yet been passed to provide for the full protection of LGBTQIA+ rights in the country. In Cordillera Indigenous communities there remains a low level of acceptance of LGBTQIA+. In effect, many LGBTQIA+ still prefer not to reveal their gender identity. These are mainly those who come from communities where Indigenous cultural practices and sociopolitical systems persist and the culture of machismo is relatively 9 strong. On the other hand, in communities where Indigenous sociopolitical systems have started to disintegrate, more LGBTQIA+ are becoming visible and publicly acknowledged. Most of these have acknowledged themselves as either gays or lesbians. Examples of discrimination against LGBTQIA+ in Indigenous communities in the region include bullying, harassment, verbal and physical abuse, and threats of non-inheritance of privately acquired properties of the family. This discrimination is tracked in the history of our culture as Indigenous Peoples, where, unlike many other Indigenous cultures, men are dominant in traditional decision-making processes, rituals, and other community affairs, and in our Indigenous sociopolitical institutions and systems. Apart from violations of basic human rights, discrimination has also created vulnerability to trauma and other mental health problems, as well as anti-social activities. Some LGBTQIA+ have, at some point in their lives, come to believe that they are indeed mentally ill since they were told that their “abnormality,” or non-conformity to heterosexuality, is a mental illness, while others have resorted to addictive behaviors such as drinking alcohol and smoking cigarettes. As a coping mechanism, many LGBTQIA+ tend to stay together, hide their gender identity, and migrate to urban centers where they can more freely express themselves. At present, many Indigenous communities in the Philippines have a limited awareness and understanding of the diversity of sexual orientation and gender identities. Very few in these communities have joined LGBTQIA+ organizations, since these are concentrated in the cities. Furthermore, LGBTQIA+ in Indigenous communities are experiencing multiple forms of discrimination: discrimination for their sexual orientation or gender identity, for belonging to the oppressed and neglected Indigenous Peoples, and for belonging to the poor segment of Philippine society. Additional resources: Bestang Sarah Dekdeken (2019). There is Limited Awareness in the Philippines https://www.culturalsurvival.org/publications/cultural-survival-quarterly/there-limited- awareness-philippines-bestang-sarah-dekdeken Indigenous Community Embracing its LGBT Members by TaiwanPlus News. YouTube video. https://youtu.be/j4csep3__3Y?feature=shared The Trevor Project (2023). The Mental Health and Well-Being of Indigenous LGBTQ Young People. https://www.thetrevorproject.org/research-briefs/the-mental-health-and- well-being-of-indigenous-lgbtq-young-people/ 10 Lesson 3 - Gender Sensitive Risk Reduction Overview “Well-designed disaster risk reduction and climate change initiatives that provide for the full and effective participation of women can advance substantive gender equality and the empowerment of women, while ensuring that sustainable development, disaster risk reduction and climate change objectives are achieved.” (CEDAW General Recommendation 37, Article 7) Key points:  Disasters are not experienced uniformly by everyone in society. Men and women, boys and girls, and people of diverse gender identities are affected differently by disasters, even if they live in the same household.  The vulnerability and exposure to disaster risk that disproportionately impacts women and girls is economically, socially and culturally constructed and can be reduced.  Effective disaster risk governance must consider the ways in which gender dynamics influence disaster impacts.  When women’s capacities, knowledge and skills are utilized in disaster risk reduction efforts, we will all benefit. The Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction outlines the inclusive, all-of-society approach that must be taken to reduce disaster risk. It acknowledges both the differentiated vulnerabilities that women and men face in disasters, how existing inequality fuels disaster risk, and the indispensable but often under-recognized role of women in risk reduction efforts. The Sendai Framework calls for the mobilization of women’s leadership in building resilience and recognizes that adequate capacity building measures must be taken to empower women for preparedness and to secure alternative means of livelihood in post-disaster situations. Yet not enough is being done in this regard. We can accelerate progress towards achieving the mutually reinforcing goals of gender equality and the prevention and reduction of disaster risks by ensuring disaster risk reduction efforts are gender-responsive and promote and support women’s empowerment and leadership. 11 Challenges 1. The specific needs of women and girls are not prioritized in disaster risk reduction. 2. Limited understanding of the gendered nature of disaster risk and insufficient disaggregated data means decision-making and priorities is not based on sound evidence 3. Gender inequality is exacerbated by a lack of gender analysis in disaster and climate risk management 4. Investments in disaster risk reduction leave women behind Policy Recommendations 1. Address structural gender inequality as an underlying driver of risk in DRR laws, policies, programmes and governance 2. Identify and remove barriers and promote sex-disaggregated disaster data reporting 3. Deepen understanding of the root causes of vulnerability and the gendered nature of risk 4. Increase investment in gender-responsive disaster and climate risk management 5. Strengthen women’s economic empowerment and resilience 6. Promote and support women’s full and equal participation and leadership in disaster risk reduction at all levels Additional resources: The gender gap in the disaster risk management sector: why it matters by GFDRR. YouTube video. https://youtu.be/GqC9U74iUuw?feature=shared UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (2022). Policy Brief: Gender-Responsive Disaster Risk Reduction. https://www.undrr.org/publication/policy-brief-gender-responsive- disaster-risk-reduction UN Women. Asia and the Pacific. (2023). Take Five: “Women must be provided opportunities to take on leadership roles in disaster risk reduction”. https://asiapacific.unwomen.org/en/stories/take-five/2023/11/take-five-women-must-be- provided-opportunities-to-take-on-leadership-roles-in-disaster-risk-reduction 12  Assessment: Group Activity (Maximum of 4 students per group): Informative Digital Poster Work in small groups to create and design a poster discussing ONE of the three topics discussed in this module. Your digital poster should be informative, creative, and contains facts that can help solve your chosen cross-cutting issue. Rubric for Digital Artwork: Features Expert (30 pts) Accomplished (25 pts) Capable (20 pts) Beginner (15 pts) Discussion of the topic Answer to the question was Answer to the question was Answer to the question was Answer to the question was discussed very clearly. discussed clearly (13 points) acceptable. (10 points) vague. (8 points) (15 points) Quality of The illustration was drawn in The illustration was drawn in The illustration had little style The illustration had no style drawing/illustration an extraordinary style and an interesting style and and gives some information. and gives no new information. very informative. somewhat informative. (10 points) (7 points) (15 points) (12 points) References: HIV & AIDS Surveillance of the Philippines. Department of Health I Epidemiology Bureau (April - June 2023). https://www.aidsdatahub.org/sites/default/files/resource/hiv- 2023-april-june.pdf Immunology wars: The battle with HIV by Nature Video. YouTube video. https://youtu.be/BADDj82oces?feature=shared Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) (21 May 2024). World Health Organization. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/sexually-transmitted-infections-(stis) Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), Causes, Signs and Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment. by Medical Centric. YouTube video. https://youtu.be/gVH1gY05MsA?feature=shared STDs in the Philippines: Everything You Need to Know (20 September 2023). https://hellodoctor.com.ph/sexual-wellness/stds-in-the-philippines-statistics-everything- you-need-to-know/ The gender gap in the disaster risk management sector: why it matters by GFDRR. YouTube video. https://youtu.be/GqC9U74iUuw?feature=shared UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (2022). Policy Brief: Gender-Responsive Disaster Risk Reduction. https://www.undrr.org/publication/policy-brief-gender-responsive- disaster-risk-reduction UN Women. Asia and the Pacific. (2023). Take Five: “Women must be provided opportunities to take on leadership roles in disaster risk reduction”. https://asiapacific.unwomen.org/en/stories/take-five/2023/11/take-five-women-must-be- provided-opportunities-to-take-on-leadership-roles-in-disaster-risk-reduction 13