LESSON 4

GENDER EDUCATION

List differences between women and men and consider:

On what are these perceived differences based? (e.g. biological, social, cultural or religious
beliefs).

List similarities between women and men and consider:

On what are the perceived similarities based? (e.g. biological, social, cultural or religious beliefs)

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What are the effects of highlighting differences rather than similarities between

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men and women?

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Complexities of sex & gender
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Is there a difference? Yes, on one level

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– Sex is biological – male, female, also intersex (reproductive differences

based on genitalia, chromosomes, hormones)
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Also refers to sexual acts, as in ‘having sex’

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– Gender is ‘the structure of social relations that centres on the reproductive

arena, and the set of practices that bring reproductive distinctions into
social processes’
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Gender underlies assumptions regarding ‘masculine’ or

‘feminine’ behaviour
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 CONCEPTS
Gender - refers to those characteristics and roles of women and men that are socially
constructed.
- Social roles and relationships btn men and women in society
- Affects all parts of our lifes in society
- Changes over time
i.e.
What we expect men / women to do/ behave.
It is about how power is used.

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Sex Gender

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BIOLOGICAL
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RESPONSIBILITIES, BEHAVIOURS
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BIOLOGICAL MAKE UP (Body organs) CULTURAL
VARY BTN CULTURES IE ROLES OF MEN &
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WOMEN
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UNIVERSAL LEARNED BEHAVIOUR

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FACTORS RELATED TO SEX ARE SAME ALL

OVER THE WORLD
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BIOLOGICAL MAKEUP
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BORN WITH CHANGES OVER TIME

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GENERALLY UNCHANGING EG IN PAST FEW WOMEN WERE LAWYERS,

ENGINEERS IN MALE DOMINATED
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PROFESSIONALS
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DOES NOT VARY VARIES WITHIN & BETWEEN CULTURES

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 Gender equality
Entails all Human Beings Men and Women Are free to Develop Their Personal Abilities and
Make Choices Without the Limitations Set by Stereotypes, Prejudices and Rigid Gender
Roles.

Means that men and women have equal access to rights and equal opportunities. Men and
women also have the same resources and protections. Gender is not a factor in whether you
have these rights or opportunities.

Does Not Mean Men and Women Will Become the Same But Their Rights, Responsibilities And
Opportunities Will Not Depend On Whether They Are Born Men Or Women

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Gender Equity

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Means Fairness of Treatment of Women and Men According to Their Respective Needs

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May Include Equal Treatment or one That Is Different but Considered Equivalent in Terms of Rights,
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Benefits Obligations and Opportunities
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Build Measures to Compensate for Historical and Social Disadvantage of Women

Gender Analysys
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TOOLS to assist framing questions about men and women roles and relations in order to avoid
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making assumptions about who does what, when and why.

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- Can be useful to formulate interventions targeted to meet both men and women’s needs.
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Empowerment
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Implies both men and women taking control over their own lives by setting own agendas, gaining
skills, knowledge, increasing their self-confidence, solving problems, and developing self-reliance.

Gender mainstreaming
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Strategy for making men as well as men s concerns and experiences integral dimensions in design
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etc of policies and programmes in all spheres of life so that both benefit equally.

In all areas and levels of society.

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1.Gender neutral approaches

2.Gender awareness/responsiveness

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 Gender Parity
Equal contribution of women and men to every dimension of life, whether private or public.
Gender stereotypes

1.Stereotype - Beliefs about a social group in terms of traits or characteristics believed to share.

Gender stereo types- believe about personal attributes of males or females.

Examples

Female – weak, clean, caring, Gentle, not aggressive, dependent, easily influenced, passive,
home oriented, easily hurt, indecisive, cries a lot, nurturing.

Male – Tough, Protective, Aggressive, independent, dominant, less sensitive to other`s feelings,

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cruel, not nurturing.

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AGENTS
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Where do stereotypes come from

1. Parents and family

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2. The media
3. Friends
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4. Education / School
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5. Travel
6. Lack of experience/ Exposure
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Effects

1. Impaired performance
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2. Advancement of women
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3. Can lead to depression

4. Selection / placement
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 LIFE SKILLS

1.Emphasize Accomplishment over Physical Attributes.

Whether you're thinking of yourself, interacting with your children, or dealing with others,
emphasizing accomplishments is much more helpful than focusing on physical attributes. Too
often, people put their attention on "being pretty" when speaking to and about girls and too little
attention to their capabilities. The same is true of adult women. Focusing on a male's physical
strength can be just as harmful, especially if the male isn't as physically strong as the culture
expects him to be.

2.Learn Skills Based On What Interests You.

There was a time when all women were expected to learn skills like sewing, cooking, and
childcare first and foremost. Even today, women are often denigrated if they try to learn skills
like auto mechanics or electronic repair. On the other hand, a man who spends his free time

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sewing may be considered less than a man. Whatever skills you want to gain, find someone to
learn from them, and get to work. You might find that it's harder than you thought, or you might

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just find your new vocation.

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3.Encourage Young Women to Excel In Science and Math Subjects.
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There's been a lot of talks lately about getting young women more into the STEM subjects of
science, technology, engineering, and math. The numbers still don't add up. There are still many
younger men studying and excelling in STEM courses than young women. Why? Chances are it
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has nothing to do with the biological capabilities of the students and everything to do with
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cultural norms for gender

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4.Expect Men and Women to Share Fairly In Household Chores.

Every couple must make decisions about who will do the household chores, especially those that
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no one enjoys doing. It's unfair to suggest that women should do all the cooking and cleaning if
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that's something they don't enjoy doing. It's also unfair to expect that men should do all the yard
work if they'd rather contribute in some other way. So, who does the chores that no one wants to
do? Decide fairly so that both men and women take part of the burden.
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5.Be Friends with People of Both Genders.

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Friendships between men and women can be just as satisfying as those between women and
other women or men and other men. When you choose your friends based on shared beliefs,
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interests, and activities, you may find that you enjoy spending time with someone not of your
gender in a platonic way. At the same time, you may come to understand and respect the other
gender even more.

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 6.Don't Accept Violence from Anyone Regardless of their Gender.

Violence is never okay, whether it's a man or a woman who initiates the violence. Never accept
violence in any form.

7.Recognize Men's Needs to Be Parent Figures Too.

At one time, children were sent to live with their mothers after a divorce unless the mother didn't
want the child or she was openly abusive. That is changing, but complete equality hasn't been
reached yet. Men need to be given opportunities to parent and spend time with their children, just
as women are given those opportunities. If you're a male and feel you're being shut out of your
child's life, there's no reason you should go along with it. If you're a female, you need to make
room for your children's father to play a part in their upbringing.

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8.Build Your Self-Esteem Based On Who You Are as a Person.

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When you build your self-esteem based on your gender, you limit yourself to only seeing the
good in yourself if it reinforces your preconceived notions of what you should be as a man or a

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woman. Yet, many parts of who you are have nothing at all to do with your biological sex. If you
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celebrate every good thing about yourself, you'll likely find yourself going well beyond gender
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stereotypes.
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9.Look for Work Opportunities in All Your Areas of Interest, Regardless of Gender
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Expectations.

Looking for work can be a daunting task for anyone. When you automatically eliminate job
opportunities from your search because they don't fit with what you think a man or woman
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should do, you make the task even more difficult. Instead, look at the full range of job
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opportunities and allow yourself to consider any job that sounds interesting and within your
capabilities.
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10.Don't Put Yourself or Others Down Because of Gender.

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Whatever you do, never put yourself down for being the gender that you are. Whether you're a
woman or a man, perfect stereotypes don't exist. Think of yourself as the complex person that
you are, because reducing yourself to a stereotypical image may encourage you to denigrate
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yourself in a way that harms you in the long term. Find a way to be happy and proud of who you
are, regardless of what other people think you should be due to your gender.

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