Input 1: Sex and Gender

a. What is sex?
Sex refers to the physical characteristics of a person and is biologically
determined. By this, we can mean that sex is inherent – from God, nature.
You are born male or female – you cannot change it, you did not choose it.

The sex of a person is determined by the reproductive parts of our body. If

you are male, then you have a male reproductive system with male
reproductive organs (penis, testicles and sperm), hormones (testosterone,
androgen) and chromosomes (xy). If you are a female, then you have female
reproductive organs (vagina, ovaries, and ova, mammary glands, fallopian
tube, and uterus), hormones (progesterone and estrogen) and chromosomes
(xx).

Aside from the difference in sex or reproductive systems, are there any other
difference between male and female?

NONE. If we look at both male and female from head to toe, we will notice
that except for the reproductive organs, they have basically the same physical
characteristics. They both have a head, a pair of eyes, nose, two ears, a
mouth, a pair hands and feet. Even the non-visible parts of the body have no
differences: brain, heart, intestines, lungs, stomach, etc. yet, many believe
that female ways and manners differ from males. This can be true in some
instances but not necessarily true at all time. This is where gender roles come
in.

b. What is gender?
Gender refers to the traits that are attached to a particular sex. If sex is
physical or biological, gender is cultural or social. Gender refers to the
characteristics that culture or society teaches and expects from people based
on their sex. For example, we think males having masculine traits and
females having the feminine traits.

If you are a masculine, then you must be brave, intelligent, aggressive,

decisive and resilient. On the other hand, being feminine, means you are
sweet-tempered, demure, nurturing and emotional. Because gender
characteristics are attached to a specific sex, then this means masculine traits
are exclusive to the male while feminine traits are exclusive to the females.
This is where the problem lies. Prescribing these characteristics to specific
sex has resulted to specific expectations from each sex. Moreover,
masculine traits are considered superior and are valued more.
c. What are the differences between sex and gender?

Sex
Biological/physical
Natural (inherent / in-born)
Cannot be changed
(permanent / fixed)
Pre-determined (without choice)
Universal
Gender
Cultural/social
Taught/nurtured (acquired / learned)
Can be changed (impermanent)
Culturally determined (with choice)
Time-bound; place-bound

d. What is gender sensitivity?

Gender sensitivity is the awareness of the situation of the other sex,

acceptance and recognition of the roles and duties and responsibilities of
women and men in the community and the relationships between them. One
does not treat either sex base on traditional and outdated views on the roles
of women and men. It can be shown through the use of more inclusive or
gender neutral language, by not pitting women against men and by
respecting each other’s needs, aspirations, potentials and abilities/skills.
One is able to recognize issues related to gender and the different
perceptions and interests of women due to their different social position and
gender roles.

e. Examples of Gender- Sensitive Language

Occupational References
BIASED BIAS-FREE
alumni graduates
chairman, chairwoman chair, chairperson
committee man, committee committee member
woman
corporate wife corporate spouse
faculty wife faculty spouse
freshman first-year student
front man front, figurehead
hostess host
housewife, househusband homemaker
middleman go-between
man and wife husband and wife
ombudsman troubleshooter
self-made man self-made person, entrepreneur
spokesman spokesperson
 Role References
BIASED BIAS-FREE
businessman business executive, entrepreneur
career girl, career woman professional, manager, executive
cleaning lady cleaner
delivery boy courier, messenger
forememan supervisor
girl Friday clerk, office assistant, receptionist
insurance man insurance agent
ladlady, landlord proprietor, building manager
mailman mail carrier, letter carrier
newsman journalist, reporter
policeman police officer
repairman repairer, technician
saleslady, salesman sales clerk, sales representative,
sales agent
serviceman service representative
steward, stewardess flight attendant
waitress waiter, server
workman worker

Group References
BIASED BIAS-FREE
brotherhood kinship, community
common man common person, avarage person
country men compatriot
fatherland native land
fellowship camaraderie
forefathers ancestors, forebears
fraternal warm, intimate
Frenchmen the Frence
man, mankind humankind, humanity, humans
mother tongue native language
rise of man rise of civilization
thinking man thinking person, thinker, intellectual
working man, working woman wage earner, taxpayer

Other Stereotypes
BIASED BIAS-FREE
king-size jumbo, gigantic
kingmaker power behind the throne
lady woman
 ladylike courteous, cultured
like a man resolutely, bravely
maiden name birth name
maiden voyage first voyage
man (verb) staff, run
man enough strong enough
manhood adulthood
manly strong, mature
manpower human resources
master (noun) owner, expert, chief, superior
master (verb) learn, succeed at, overcome
master (adj) expert, gifted, accomplished
master of ceremonies host, emcee, moderator, convenor
masterful skilled, authoritative, commanding
mastermind (noun) genius, creator, instigator
mastermind (verb) oversee, launch, originate
masterpiece work of genius, chef d'oeuvre
masterplan comprehensive plan, vision
masterstroke trump card, stroke of genius
manmade artificial, synthetic, machine-made
man of action dynamo
man of letters scholar, writer, literary figure
man of the world sophisticate
man-hour staff hours, hours of work
motherly loving, warm, nurturing
one-up manship upstaging, competitiveness
statesman diplomat, public servant, political
leader
workmanship quality construction, expertise

Phrases
BIASED
All men are created equal
be his own boss
best man for the job
Boys will be boys
everybody and his brothers
Every man for himself
A man's home is his castle
John Q Public
Every schoolboy knows
gentleman's agreement
no-man's-land
to a man
BIAS-FREE
We are all created equal
be one's own person
best person for the job
Kids will be kids
everybody and his cousins
Everyone for themselves
Your home is your castle
the average citizen
Every school child knows
honorable/informal agreement
limbo, unclaimed territory
to a person, without exception
 Compiled by Service-Growth Consultants Inc., May 2003

The Gender Socialization Process and Gendering Institutions

a. The process of learning and internalizing culturally approved ways of thinking,

feeling, behaving according to one’s gender is known as gender role
socialization. In other words, gender socialization refers to the raising and
maturation of a person into a given gender.

b. Learning of gender roles begin in the early stages of childhood. As an

outcome, male gender roles and female gender roles develop.

i. Female gender roles are associated with appropriate concepts of

femininity and traits such as submissiveness, modesty, and nurturance.

ii. Male gender roles are associated with appropriate concepts of masculinity
and traits such as dominance and aggressiveness

iii. Gender stereotypes pervade in society. These are fixed, unquestioned

beliefs, images we carry in the back of our minds about women and men.

c. Four processes involved in a child’s learning of gender identity [Ruth Hartley]

i. Manipulation – people handle girls and boys differently, even as infants –

more physical and visual on male infants, more verbal stimulation on
female infants.

ii. Canalization – people direct children’s attention to gender-appropriate

objects – little boys are given war toys, cars and machines while little girls
are given dolls, tea sets and toy houses.

iii. Verbal appellation – telling children what they are and what is expected of
them – brave boys don’t cry and pretty girls don’t hit their playmates.

iv. Activity exposure – children are familiarized with gender appropriate tasks
– girls are expected and encouraged to help their mothers with housework
and the care of younger siblings, while their brothers are encouraged to
play or work outside the home.

d. The assignment of particular roles to men and women is further reinforced by

the following socio-cultural institutions:
 i. In schools through textbooks and visual aids portraying gender role
stereotypes; and gender tracking of subjects and courses;

ii. Media by constantly showing images of women as housewives, martyrs

or victims and villainess; while men are shown as professionals,
courageous, determined and violent;

iii. Religion through its dogma, religious taboos, teachings of holy men

iv. language: while Filipino has no gendered pronouns or terms for many
positions, there are many idiomatic expressions or phrases that are
derogatory to women such as walang bayag (no balls) referring to a weak
or timid person, or pataasan ng ihi (seeing who can piss higher)

e. The main message or core value advanced by society, particularly through

the social and political institutions is the sexual division of labor or
“production-reproduction divide:”

i. Production is the creation of commodities, i.e., goods and services for

exchange. It has an economic and social value and is therefore paid.
Production is traditionally viewed as men’s sphere;

ii. Reproduction includes not just the bearing of children, but also the other
tasks associated with it: childbearing and maintenance of the household.
Although these activities are necessary for survival, it is perceived as not
having any economic and social value. Reproduction is traditionally
viewed as women’s sphere.

f. Gender issues result because in reality, women are also engaged in

production – they are also found in factories, plantations or offices; take on
income-earning work within the home; or render unpaid work in family fields
or enterprises.

g. The sexual division of labor also extends to community or political affairs by

which the productive sphere is also called the public sphere where men are
recognized as the decision-makers; and the reproductive or private sphere
where women’s involvement in matter beyond home and family is limited to
that of community management workers or volunteers.