Introduction to Gender and Society

Fundamentals
Violeta L. Arcipe, MAEd

Part I: Discrimination
Discrimination means treating some people differently from others
There are different kinds of discrimination:
 Racial – Race
 Direct – when you’re treated differently and worse than someone else for certain
reasons.
 Indirect – when there’s a practice, policy or rule which applies to everyone in the
same way, but it has a worse effect on some people than others.
 Gender- Inequality between people of opposite Gender
 Lookism – A term used to describe discriminatory treatment towards physically
unattractive people.
 Caste – the term used to describe the complex system of social divisions that
pervades life in India.
Part II: Gender and Sexuality
Gender is socially constructed, and Sex is biological
Sex is biological, universal, born with, generally unchanging, and does not vary while
Gender is socially constructed roles, responsibilities, and behaviors. Also, cultural,
learned behavior, changes over time, and varies within and between cultures.
Part III: Gender Stereotypes
A stereotype is generalized view or preconception about attributes or
characteristics that are or ought to be possessed by members of a particular
social group or the roles that are or should be performed by, members of a
particular social group.
 Gender stereotypes can be both positive and negative for
example, “women are nurturing” [+] or “women are weak” [-].
A stereotype is harmful when it limits women’s or men’s capacity to develop
their personal abilities, pursue their professional careers and make choices about
their lives and life plans.
 Both hostile/negative or seemingly benign stereotypes can be
harmful.
Gender Stereotypes
Gender stereotyping is wrongful when it results in a violation or violations of
human rights and fundamental freedoms.
 Example: Failure to criminalize marital rape based on the
stereotype of women as the sexual property of men.
 Example: Failure of the justice system to hold perpetrator of sexual
violence accountable based on stereotypical views about women’s
appropriate sexual behavior.
Part IV: SOGIE Bill
SOGIE Bill refers to the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and
Expression Equality Bill.
 It was proposed to protect people against discrimination based on
their sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression. Particularly,
members of the LGBT community.
 It will aid people from discriminatory acts such as the denial of
access to public services like health services and other general
facilities open to the public.
Part V: Why Should We Equate Gender Issues with Women’s Issues?
Globally, women have fewer opportunities for economic participation than men,
less access to basic and higher education, greater health and safety risks, and
less political representation.
Guaranteeing the rights of women and giving them opportunities to reach their
full potential is critical, not only for attaining gender equality, but also for meeting
a wide range of international development goals.
Empowered women and girls contribute to the health and productivity of their
families, communities, and countries, creating a ripple effect that benefits
everyone.
Facts on why we should Equate Gender Issues with Women’s Issues
 The World Economic Forum (WEF) recently ranked the United States as 19 th in
the world on its gender gap index
 With women comprising less than one fifth of elected members of
Congress, the report identifies political empowerment as the
greatest gender equity issue for the United States.
 The U.S. ranked higher in economic empowerment, but women’s earning power
remains approximately 20% lower than men’s.
 Women in the United States have a vey high ranking of educational attainment,
though, with high levels of literacy and enrollment in primary, secondary, and
university education.
 At present, there are more U.S. women attending college than men.
 Globally, no country has fully attained gender equality
 Scandinavian countries like Iceland, Norway, Finland, and Sweden lead the
world in their progress toward closing the gender gap.
 In these countries, there is relatively equitable distribution of available income,
resources, and other opportunities for men and women.
 The greatest gender gaps are identified primarily in the Middle East, Africa, and
South Asia. However, a number of countries in these regions, including Lesotho,
South Africa, and Sri Lanka outrank the United States in gender equality.