CHAPTER 1 - BASIC GENDER CONCEPTS

UNDERSTANDING SEX
Even today, it is common for people to be confused about sex, gender and
gender identity. They are really different concepts.
"Sex" refers to the biological or physiological differences between men and
women such as genitalia, chromosomes, hormones and other genetic
differences (Newman, Medical News Today, 2018).
It is a label, either male or female, that was assigned to a newly-born baby
based on the genitalia that the attending health personnel found after the
delivery. This is reflected in the birth certificate. It is what we are born with
and which cannot be changed.
For other experts, sex is a physical or physiological difference between male
and female, including both primary sex characteristics (the reproductive
system) and secondary characteristics such as height and muscularity
(Heather & Keirns, 2015).
The levels and types of hormones present in male and female bodies are
different. Women have 46 chromosomes including two Xs and men have 46
including an X and a Y.
Both men and women have testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone. However,
women have a higher level of estrogen and progesterone, and men have higher
level of testosterone.
A person's sex may not always correspond to his gender. However sex and
gender are not interchangeable. A boy who has male genitalia at birth is male.
As he grows and if a detectable feminine aspect appears, he may opt to live out
his feelings as a girl (Heather & Keirns, 2015) and as a refined young lady.
Same thing with a girl. She may have some characteristics of a male and later
act out as a young boy and very much inclined to manly activities and may
even find a lover of the same sex.
Male and female belong to 'sex' categories and the aspect of sex will not vary
from one generation to another generation and from one human society to
another human society.
Examples of Sex Characteristics
1. Women have their menstruation (monthly period) while men do not.
2. Men have testicles while women do not have.
3. Women have developed breasts for lactation while men do not have.
4. Men generally have massive bones than women.
5. Men get easily bald than women.
6. Men have Adam's apple; women do not.
7. Women have fallopian tubes and womb, men do not.
8. Men have beard; women do not.
9. Women have ovaries; men do not.
10. Men cannot experience post partum syndrome while birthing women can.
UNDERSTANDING GENDER
Gender - generally refers to the role of a man or woman in society. The World
Health Organization (WHO) defines; "Gender is a socially. constructed
characteristics of women and men, such as norms, roles, and relationships of
and between groups of women and men" (WHO, 2011).
This emphasizes gender as the person's masculinity and femininity being a
product of social, cultural and psychological factors and is acquired by an
individual in the process of becoming a man or woman in the society where he
or she is a part of.
Gender is a social construct. A social construct is an idea or notion that has
been created and accepted by the people in a society. It can also be a notion
that appears to be natural and obvious to people in a given society who accept
it.
Gender, as a socio-cultural construct, refers to masculine and feminine
qualities, behavior patterns, related roles and responsibility and many more.
In talking about the social and cultural construction of masculinity and
femininity, gender allows us to see these dimensions of human roles and
personalities as based not on nature but on social factors. It then allows us to
address issues like subordination and discrimination as issues where change
is possible.
Gender is a primary dimension of identity, socialization, institutional
participation, and life chance.
Examples of Gender biased practices
1. Boys are expected to be tough and be like their fathers.
2. Girls are expected to learn household chores and imitate their mothers.
3. Boys are expected to play basketball and other physically- inclined
outdoor games and activities.
 4. Girls are expected to engage in indoor games and less physical activities.
SEXUAL ORIENTATION
A person's sexual orientation is their physical, mental, emotional, and sexual
attraction to a particular sex (male and/or female). Sexual orientation is
typically divided into several categories: heterosexuality, the attraction to
individuals of the other sex, homosexuality, the attraction to individuals of the
same sex; bisexuality, the attraction to individuals of either sex; asexuality, a
lack of sexual attraction or desire for sexual contact; pansexuality, an
attraction to people regardless of sex, gender, gender identity, or gender
expression; and queer, an umbrella term used to describe sexual orientation,
gender identity or gender expression (Heather & Keirns, 2015).
Heterosexuals and homosexuals are referred to as "straight" and "gay."
respectively but more inclusive terminology is needed. Proper terminology
includes the acronyms LGBT and LGBTQ, which stands for "Lesbian, Gay,
Bisexual, Transgender" and "Queer" or "Questioning" when the Q is added
(Heather & Keirns, 2015).
 MALE
 FEMALE
 TRANSGENDEN
 HETERO
 GAY
 LESBIAN
 BISEXUAL
 ASEXUAL
Figure 1: Sexual Orientation icons source: https://media.istockphoto.com
Sexual orientation is an enduring pattern of romantic or sexual attraction (or a
combination of these) to persons of the opposite sex or gender, the same sex or
gender, or to both sexes or more than one gender. These attractions are
generally subsumed under heterosexuality, homosexuality, and bisexuality
while asexuality (the lack of sexual attraction to others) is sometimes identified
as the fourth category (www. wikipedia.org).
Let us try to consider another term which is oftentimes used interchangeably.
Closely related and
SEXUALITY
Sexuality refers to the capacity for sexual feelings and attraction
(www.lumenlearning.com/boundless-psychology). It is a person's capacity for
sexual attraction to a particular sex-male or female.
Sexuality is not about who you have sex with, or how often you have it.
Sexuality is about your sexual feelings, thoughts, attractions and behaviors
towards other people. You can find other people physically, sexually or
emotionally attractive, and all those things are a part of your sexuality
(https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au).
In short, sexuality is a feeling of interest in and attraction to others.
Sexuality or sexual orientation is typically divided into four categories:
1. Heterosexuality, the attraction to individuals of the opposite sex;
2. Homosexuality, the attraction to individuals of one's own sex;
3. Bisexuality, the attraction to individuals of either sex, and
4. Asexuality, no attraction to either sex.

GENDER EQUALITY AND EQUITY

Gender Equality denotes women having the same opportunities in life as men,
including ability to participate in the public sphere (National Gender Policy,
2014).
Gender equality is the absence of discrimination on the basis of a person's sex
in opportunities and the allocation of resources or benefits or in access to
services (Gender Awareness and Development Manual-UNDP, 2007).
Gender Equity refers to the different needs, preferences and interests of women
and men. This may mean that different treatment is needed to ensure equality
of opportunity. This is often referred to as substantive equality (or equality of
results) and requires considering the realities of women's and men's lives
(WHO, Gender mainstreaming for health managers: a practical approach,
2011).
Gender equity entails the provision of fairness and justice in the distribution of
benefits and responsibilities between men and women. It recognizes that
women and men have different needs and power and that this differences
should be identified and addressed in a manner that rectifies the imbalance
between the sexes (Gender Awareness and Development Manual- UNDP, 2007).
It denotes the equivalence in life outcomes for women and men, recognizing
their different needs and interests, and requiring a redistribution of power and
resources (Reeves and Baden, 2000).
GENDER ROLES AND STEREOTYPES
Gender roles are learned behaviors in a given society or community, or other
special group that condition which activities, tasks and responsibilities are
perceived for male and for female (Gender Awareness and Development
Manual-UNDP, 2007).
It explained further that gender roles are affected by age, class, race, ethnicity,
religion, by geographical condition, educational system, economic and political
environment. Changes in gender roles are due to call of time that is
characterized by economic, natural or political circumstances and development
efforts.
The term gender role is used in sociology and psychology to refer to the
prescribed behaviors, attitudes and characteristics associated with one's
gender status as a female or a male (Greenglass, 2001).
It can be said that the concept of gender roles are based on norms, or
standards, created by society which elaborates that men and women are
expected to act and how they should behave according to the society where
they are living.
Gender Stereotypes are the relatively fixed and overgeneralized attitudes and
behaviours that are considered normal and appropriate for a person in a
particular culture based on his or her biological sex (Pam, N.S., 2013).
However, Holly Brewer (2011) puts in it this way, gender stereotypes are
generalizations about the roles of each gender, Gender roles are generally
neither positive nor negative; they are simply inaccurate generalizations of the
male and female attributes, she said.
Since each person has individual desires, thoughts, and feelings, regardless of
their gender, these stereotypes are incredibly simplistic and do not at all
describe the attributes of every person of each gender, she added.
The following is a list of some of the most common gender stereotypes as they
pertain to either men or women. Remember that these are stereotypes because
they claim to apply to all men or women (Brewer, 2011).

Female Gender Stereotypes

 Women are supposed to have "clean jobs" such as secretaries, teachers,

and librarians
 Women are nurses, not doctors
 Women are not as strong as men
 Women are supposed to make less money than men
 The best women are stay at home moms
 Women do not need to go to college
 Women are not politicians
 Women are quieter than men and not meant to speak out
  Women are supposed to be submissive and do as they are told
 Women are supposed to cook and do housework
 Women are responsible for raising children
 Women do not have technical skills and are not good at "hands on"
 projects such as car repairs Women are meant to be the damsel in
distress; never the hero
 Women are supposed to look pretty and be looked at
 Women love to sing and dance
 Women do not play video games
 Women are flirts
 Women are never in charge
 You sent
 Male Gender Stereotypes
 All men enjoy working with cars
 Men are not nurses, they are doctors
 Men do "dirty jobs" such as construction and mechanics; they are not
secretaries, teachers, or cosmetologists
 Men do not do housework and they are not responsible for taking care of
children
 Men play video games
 Men play sports
 Men enjoy outdoor activities such as camping, fishing, and hiking
 Men are in charge; they are always at the top
 As husbands, men tell their wives what to do
 Men are lazy and/or messy

 Men are good at math

 It is always men who work in science, engineering, and other technical
fields
 Men do not cook, sew, or do crafts

GENDER AWARENESS, IDENTITY, SENSITIVITY AND GENDER-BLIND

Gender awareness is the understanding that there are socially determined
differences between women and men based on their learned behavior and these
behaviors have impact in their ability to access and control resources.
Gender identity is a person's internal feelings of being a woman, man both, or
neither. Most people have a gender identity and or gender expression through
appearance or behavior that match their sex at birth.
However, some people have a gender identity or gender expression that is
different from their sex at birth. These are people who are said to be
'transgender' or 'nonconforming gender' to describe their gender identity.
Gender can be expressed in many ways: through clothes, speech, activities,
hobbies, and behaviors.
Gender sensitivity is when a person has an encompassing ability to
acknowledge and highlight existing gender differences, issues and inequalities
and always incorporate these into strategies and actions.
Gender-blind or gender blindness is a failure of the person to recognize that
gender is essential determinant of social outcomes in any programs, projects,
policies, and activities.
WOMEN'S EMPOWERMENT
Women's empowerment is a concept of giving women full participation in the
economic and decision-making process to improve their quality of life and to
achieve goals for sustainable development.
It is a 'bottom-up' process of transforming gender power relations, through
individuals or groups developing awareness of women's subordination and
building their capacity to challenge the condition.
The essential factors for empowerment include: self-confidence, exposure and
independence. Women must possess these essential factors. Empowerment
and nation-building are partners in social development, just like men and
women - they are partners in nation building.