Module 1: Introduction to Sex and Gender: Basic Concepts

Activity 1: Think and reflect.

1. Read Eviota’s chapter on Sex, Gender and Society. The material is uploaded in our course
site.
2. Watch this video: Rappler. (2014, January 22). “Where does the Filipino woman stand
today?” Youtube.
3. After you engage with the materials, reflect on the following questions:
 What is sex? How is it different from gender?
 Think of activities that your parents usually assign you to accomplish. Recall some
expectations that your parents or adults around you usually tell you. How did they
affect your attitudes and behaviors as a girl/boy and later a man/woman? Which of
those activities that you needed to accomplish were sex roles? Which were gender
roles?
Answer:

1. What is sex? How is it different from gender?

Sex: Sex refers to the biological and physiological differences between male and female bodies, often
determined by reproductive anatomy and genetics.
Gender: Gender, on the other hand, refers to the roles, behaviors, activities, expectations, and societal
norms that a given culture associates with individuals based on their perceived or assigned sex. It's more
about societal and cultural constructs and can encompass a range of identities beyond just male and female.

2. Recalling Activities and Expectations:

Think about the activities that your parents usually assign you to accomplish and the expectations they have
for you. These might have been influenced by traditional gender norms and societal expectations.

As a Girl/Boy:
- Girls might be expected to help with household chores, play with dolls, and be more nurturing.
- Boys might be encouraged to play with trucks, engage in more physically active play, and be discouraged
from showing vulnerability.

Later as a Man/Woman:
- Men might be expected to take on more leadership roles, be strong and unemotional, and provide for the
family.
- Women might be expected to be caregivers, maintain the household, and exhibit more empathy.

3. Sex Roles vs. Gender Roles:

Sex Roles: These are tasks or responsibilities that are often assigned based on a person's biological sex. For
example, assuming that only women should be responsible for cooking and cleaning because of their sex.
Gender Roles: These are tasks or responsibilities that are based on societal expectations of how individuals
of a particular gender should behave. For instance, the expectation that women should be more nurturing and
emotional, while men should be assertive and logical.

Reflecting on your own experiences, consider which activities and expectations were based on these roles:

Were you expected to play with specific toys, engage in certain hobbies, or pursue particular interests based
on your perceived gender?

Were there limitations imposed on you because of your perceived gender, such as being told not to cry
because you're a boy or not to be too assertive because you're a girl?

Understanding the difference between sex and gender roles can help us recognize and challenge these societal
norms and expectations, allowing individuals to express themselves more authentically.
Module 1: Introduction to Sex and Gender: Basic Concepts

Activity 3: Think and reflect.

1. Visit this Gender Decoder for Job Ads. Click the “Check an Ad” tab. Job advertisements and
position descriptions can be pasted into the field provided and it will generate advice on the
language used, i.e. whether the wording is masculine, feminine or gender neutral. On the
homepage, you can see which words are masculine-coded or feminine-coded. Read through
the list and try to reflect which of these words have been ascribed to you as a woman or man.
2. Watch this video: TedWomen (2015, May). Why Gender Equality is good for everyone, men
included.|Michael Kimmel| (Video file).
3. After you engage with the materials, reflect on these guide questions:
 What are sex roles? How is it different from gender roles? How did we come about
our gender roles?
 What does gender equality mean? How is it different from gender equity?
4. Be ready to share your insights in class.
Answer:

1. Gender Decoder for Job Ads:

The Gender Decoder for Job Ads is a tool that analyzes job advertisements and position descriptions to
identify whether the language used is masculine-coded, feminine-coded, or gender-neutral. It aims to uncover
any unconscious biases in job ads that might deter certain genders from applying for the position.

Reflecting on your own experiences:

- Have you ever come across job ads that seemed to use more masculine-coded or feminine-coded
language? How did these word choices make you feel about the suitability of the job for your gender?
- Have you noticed any specific words from the list provided by the decoder that have been ascribed to you
based on your gender?

2. Michael Kimmel's TedWomen Talk:

Michael Kimmel's talk discusses how gender equality benefits everyone, including men. He explores how
traditional gender norms and expectations can be harmful to both women and men, leading to inequalities and
limitations in various aspects of life.

3. Gender Roles vs. Sex Roles:

Sex Roles: These are roles, tasks, and responsibilities that are often assigned based on a person's biological
sex. They can include societal expectations such as women being caregivers and men being breadwinners.
Gender Roles: These are roles, behaviors, and expectations that are influenced by societal and cultural
norms related to gender. Gender roles encompass a broader range of expectations and behaviors beyond just
biological differences.

Origins of Gender Roles: Gender roles are largely constructed by society and culture. They are shaped by
historical, social, economic, and political factors, and they vary across different societies and time periods.
These roles can be perpetuated through media, family upbringing, education, and more.

4. Gender Equality vs. Gender Equity:

Gender Equality: Gender equality refers to the equal rights, opportunities, and treatment of all genders. It
means that everyone, regardless of their gender, has the same access to resources, opportunities, and
decision-making power.
Gender Equity: Gender equity goes a step further by recognizing that different genders might require
different levels of support to achieve true equality. It involves providing fair treatment and support based on
the unique needs and challenges faced by different genders.

Reflecting on gender equality and equity:

- How have you personally encountered situations where gender equality was lacking? This could be in
Module 1: Introduction to Sex and Gender: Basic Concepts

education, work, relationships, or any other context.

- Can you think of examples where achieving gender equity might require different strategies for different
genders?
Module 1: Introduction to Sex and Gender: Basic Concepts

Concluding note!
This week, we have delineated the differences between: a) sex and gender; b) sex roles and gender
roles, and b) gender equality and gender equity. Below is a summary of the key points that you should
remember for this week:
Sex refers to biological characteristics (including genetics, anatomy and physiology) that generally
define humans as female or male. Note that these biological characteristics are not mutually exclusive;
there are individuals who possess both male and female characteristics and they are referred to as
intersex.
Gender is a set of socially constructed roles and responsibilities associated with being girl and boy or
women and men, and in some cultures a third or other gender.
At birth, the difference between boys and girls is their sex; as they grow up society gives them
different roles, attributes, opportunities, privileges and rights that in the end create the social
differences between men and women.
The difference between sex and gender is further summarized in the table below:

Sex Gender
 Born with  Not born with
 Natural  Learned
 Universal, a historical  Gender roles vary greatly in different
 No variation from culture to culture or societies, cultures and historical periods
time to time as well as they also depend on socio-
economic factors, age, education,
ethnicity and religion.
 Although deeply rooted, gender roles
can be changed over time, since social
values and norms are not static.

Gender roles are the sets of behaviour, roles and responsibilities attributed to women and men
respectively by society which are reinforced at the various levels of the society through its political
and educational institutions and systems, employment patterns, norms and values, and through the
family. Gender roles are culturally regarded as feminine and masculine. Example: Child rearing and
bottle feeding are gender roles of men.
Sex roles are biological functions belonging to a particular sex category: male and female. Example:
Childbirth and lactating are sex roles of women.
Gender stereotypes are preconceived ideas whereby females and males are arbitrarily assigned
characteristics and roles determined and limited by their gender (European Institute for Gender
Equality).
Gender stereotyping can limit the development of the natural talents and abilities of girls and boys,
women and men, as well as their educational and professional experiences and life opportunities in
general. Stereotypes about women both result from, and are the cause of, deeply ingrained attitudes,
values, norms and prejudices against women. They are used to justify and maintain the historical
relations of power of men over women as well as sexist attitudes that hold back the advancement of
women.
Gender equality is the state or condition that affords women and men equal enjoyment of human
rights, socially valued goods, opportunities and resources, allowing both sexes the same opportunities
and potential to contribute to, and benefit from, all spheres of society (economic, political, social, and
Module 1: Introduction to Sex and Gender: Basic Concepts

cultural). Ex. A family has limited funds, and both daughter and son need a new pair of shoes for the
new school year, but only one can get new shoes this year. If the family decides (and who in the
family decides?) which child will get the new shoes based on the child’s NEED, and not on the child’s
sex, this is an example of gender equality.
Gender equity is justice and fairness in the treatment of women and men in order to eventually
achieve gender equality, often requesting differential treatment of women and men (or specific
measures) in order to compensate for the historical and social disadvantages that prevent women and
men from sharing a level playing field. Ex. Provision of leadership training for women or establishing
quotas for women in decision-making positions in order to achieve the state of gender equality.
Equity leads to equality! Equity means that there is a need to continue taking differential actions to
address historical inequality among men and women and achieve gender equality. In the Philippines
we have enacted the Magna Carta of Women or RA 9710, a law that seeks to eliminate discrimination
against women by recognizing, protecting, fulfilling and promoting the rights of Filipino women,
especially those in marginalized sectors. You may read more about the Magna Carta of Women here.

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Discussion Forum 1: Gender as a performance
How do we perform gender? Reflect on your daily activities? Do you think the way we perform
gender reinforces gender stereotypes?
As a young adult male navigating life in the Philippines, I am aware of how the performance
of gender plays out in my daily activities and how it intersects with deeply ingrained cultural norms
and expectations. The way we perform gender, often shaped by these norms, can either reinforce or
challenge established gender stereotypes. Reflecting on my daily routines, I see both traditional and
evolving elements in how I, and those around me, embody masculinity and femininity.
Historically, Philippine society has assigned distinct roles and expectations to men and
women. Men were often seen as the primary breadwinners, responsible for providing for the family,
while women were expected to manage the household and take on caregiving roles. These traditional
gender roles could lead to the reinforcement of stereotypes, painting men as stoic providers and
women as nurturing homemakers. However, as societal norms shift and evolve, so too does the way
we perform gender.
In my daily life, I encounter various instances where the performance of gender is at play.
One such example is my approach to household chores. In the past, these responsibilities were
predominantly assigned to women. However, I actively challenge this stereotype by participating in
cooking, cleaning, and other domestic tasks. My willingness to engage in these activities breaks away
from the traditional notion that housework is exclusively a woman's domain. This shift represents a
broader movement in the Philippines towards more equitable gender roles, where both partners share
responsibilities within the household.
Furthermore, the way I communicate and express my emotions reflects changing perceptions
of masculinity. Traditional masculinity often emphasized emotional restraint and stoicism, with the
belief that men should not openly express vulnerability. However, I believe that authentic
communication is essential for healthy relationships and mental well-being. I engage in open
conversations with friends and family about my feelings, experiences, and struggles, rejecting the
notion that men should suppress their emotions. This challenges the stereotype that men must
conform to a rigid, emotionally distant ideal of masculinity.
Module 1: Introduction to Sex and Gender: Basic Concepts

Additionally, my interactions with friends and peers exemplify the changing dynamics of
gender performance. We actively challenge stereotypes related to interests and hobbies. For instance,
some of my male friends have embraced artistic pursuits like painting and dancing, while female
friends have shown interest in sports and outdoor activities. These choices defy conventional gender
norms and showcase a more inclusive perspective on how individuals can express their interests and
passions, irrespective of their gender.
Despite these positive shifts in gender performance, challenges and stereotypes persist,
especially in more traditional or conservative pockets of Philippine society. Some still hold onto rigid
beliefs about what it means to be a man or a woman. This can lead to resistance when individuals try
to break free from these expectations.