Leslie Ann O.

Potenciano
Bs Biology 1 C
Gender and Society
Chapter 3

Pre-work for the Chapter 3

Observe yourself for a day and answer the following questions:

1. How do you speak to your female friend and how do you speak to your male friends? Do you
shift in tone or word choice?
I speak with my female and male friends same way. It’s not necessary to change my tone just because
they were male or female. We were kind of comfy with the word we use as long as we respect each other
also manners to the language we use.
2. How do you use communication to assert yourself ideas? How do you think people of the other gender
would use language to assert themselves? Would it be the same or different? Why
and why not?
Men and women had different way of thinking and figuring things out , we have different approach of
solving a problems and dealing with it. Men tend to relate to other men on a one-up, one-down basis.
Status and dominance is important. Women focus on building rapport, by sharing experiences and asking
questions. Men like to tell and give information rather than ask questions.
3. How do you describe feminine speech? How about masculine speech?
Feminine speech was always delivered in a soft and careful manner. Even in the way we speak we do it
with the “ mahinahon “ and clam way. Masculine speech impost formality and authority. They always use
deep voice and impost their opinion. The way they delivered the masculine speech you can sense on it
the character of a strong man .

4. How differently do men from older generation speak as compared to women from generations
speak as compared to women from their generation? How is it different from how you and
your friends speak today?
Older generation speak formally. They have this tone of authority and courteous. Every words for them
should be measure and deliver properly with formality. Especially men’s generation as they ruled or
dominate the worlds in their generation. The are full of authority in the way they talk and act. They have
this aura of being strong and independent that is why even when they speak with the deep tone of their
voice we easily follow. In the women side we were used to being “masunurin” which we basically do and
follow the norms of the society on how they defined as a woman. We don’t have this kind of voice to
speak out our opinion. Which is very different in the present time. Millenials were free to talk and express
themselves no matter what the gender is. We commonly use informal language where some older
generations hate. We easily express ourselves from the we talk, act and move which is sometimes for
them is very in appropriate. We already have different language we use in our society. Specially we
Filipino’s love to invent new language for example the jejemon and the gay languange. Millenials always
breaks the norm of what society viewed us as a young youth.
Activity 1
1. Why is language important?
Language is very important because language helps express our feelings, desires, and queries to the world
around us. Words, gestures and tone are utilized in union to portray a broad spectrum of emotion. The
unique and diverse methods human beings can use to communicate through written and spoken language
is a large part of what allows to harness our innate ability to form lasting bonds with one another.
2. What is sexist language?
The sexist language is the use of language which values members of one sex, almost invariably women,
and thus fosters gender inequality.
3. In what ways can language be used to discriminate?
Language discrimination occurs when a person is treated differently because of her native language or
other characteristics of her language skills.For example, an employee may be experiencing language
discrimination if the workplace has a “speak-English-only” policy but her primary language is one other
than English. Language can be used to abuse, such as in the case of sexual harassment or to perpetuate
stereotypes.
4. How can name give power to ideas?
Giving things name help us to address the issue or a certain things. If the things are unnamed it wont we
address or even notice by the society. For example naming issues like rape and harassment to men and
women. The issue wont be address if we don’t put a name with it.
5. What are some steps that can be taken to achieve gender-fair language?
The use of gender-fair language in educational institutions and the removal of sexist language
as imperative to gender-responsiveness. A ban of sexist language in all official communication and
documents in the House of Representatives. The creation of a comprehensive gender-fair language policy
and the evaluation of the effectiveness of gender-fair language in institution are indicators for a gender
fair institution.

Activity 2
Accomplish the following task.
1. Find texts which are supposed to be gender neutral. For instance, you can look for laws,
religious texts, or even local textbooks. Examine these texts and mark specific parts that
violate gender-fair language. After having identified the discriminatory parts, provide
gender-fair edits or revisions. Pick five samples which you can present.

2. Research the lyrics of your favorite rap song or song that speaks to or about women. How
are women portrayed in this song? What words are used to describe men and women?
What verbs are used to discuss them? If there is a music video, how are men and women
portrayed? How would you write a more gender-fair version of this song?

Woman by Boa
All trapped in the same way of thinking
Why can’t you go forward? It’s right in front of you
If you take one step, your vision will broaden
So run farther ahead
Just cuz you know something, doesn’t mean you know everything (y’all no no)
We have our own expressions and movements (I’ve got it)
There aren’t two of me inside (I know it)
There’s no second person
Feels good to be a woman
Hey yeah yeah yeah
No comparing
I shine just as I am, I’m beautiful enough
To be a woman
Hey yeah yeah yeah
In a stylish and modern picture
I’m enjoying this adventure
A true woman
You want me to be me?
Then show me yourself
You have a pearl but you’re looking for a diamond
You’re getting deceived, you’re being slanderous
Don’t be deceived by the eyes on you, oh yeah
When they were forcing femininity (girls on top)
When I didn’t even know what it was to be a woman (didn’t know that)
Now I know, what I really need (I’ve got it)
I have the best inner beauty
Feels good to be a woman
Hey yeah yeah yeah
Don’t believe everything you see
I haven’t shown you everything yet
To be a woman
Hey yeah yeah yeah
Whatever you say, inside of me
Under the flashing spotlight
There’s a true woman
Rising confidence, I’ve got it
Freedom is mine, paycheck
My smile aims for you, heart queen
Everything’s perfect, all set
Feels good to be a woman
Hey yeah yeah yeah
No comparing
I shine just as I am, I’m beautiful enough
To be a woman
Hey yeah yeah yeah
In a stylish and modern picture
I’m enjoying this adventure
A true woman
I had so many recommended song about women like Twice Girls like us and NO by CLC, But this song
of Boa is the song that really fit in into this topic. I really love KPOP , I’m a girl group stan. I love
TWICE, Redvelvet, Mamamoo, Snsd, Fx , Sistar , Little Mix and many more. One of my favourite artist
is Boa in this song of her Title Woman was release last October 24 2018. I really love this comeback
specially this Title track of her Woman. This song is about how Boa herself viewed the word “woman”
and how world should viewed “woman as woman”. We can see a lot of point of view of the society of
what women should be . And I like the first 2 parts of the lyrics where it says that this norms should be
break off. People on our society had still the old thinking of what should be woman like, how they should
act, and how they should move as a woman. And in this lyrics of Boa is reminding us that we are not like
before we should move forward and change people’s mind on how they viewed woman as a woman. The
society should not defined woman , woman should define themselves. This song gives us a lot of glimpse
of what woman can be according to themselves and being who they want to be. It shows women building
up more self-confidence. I really like the way Boa said on one of her interview about this comeback
where she explained her song “woman” . She said “I know there are times when women feel less
confident as they get older. So I wanted to share a message of finding our own definition of beauty,
and not the one society imposes on us, and becoming confident and great women. My friends and I
talk about how we tend to focus on the negative aspects of ourselves when we have so many positive
attributes. Because of this, I wanted to express my idea of a confident woman as being someone who
focuses on her strengths and making herself a better person rather than dwelling on her weaknesses
and trying to become like someone else.”