C.

PREVAILING AND CURRENT GENDER PERSPECTIVES (page 62-65)

1. Gender Role

Gender Role is a set of societal norms dictating what types of behaviors are generally considered
acceptable, appropriate, or desirable for a person based on their actual or perceived sex.

WOMEN

-in charge of taking the children

-do house chores

-work as teachers, secretaries, librarians

MEN

-provide for their families

-in charge of finances

-works are related to science, engineering

The World Health Organization defines gender roles as “socially constructed roles, behaviors, activities
and attributes that a given society considers appropriate for men and women.”

Categorization of gender-related behavior:

● Masculine
● Feminine
● Androgynous

New World Encyclopedia further explains gender role as a set of behavioral norms associated particularly
with males or females in a given social group or systems, often including the division of labor between
men and women.

2. Theories on Gender Role

● Sandra Lipsitz Ben (1981), a psychologist – developed Gender Schema Theory – she believed
that through gender-schematic processing, a person spontaneously sorts attributes and
behaviors into masculine and feminine categories.
● Talcott Parsons – developed a model of the Nuclear Family in 1995. He believed that the
feminine role was an expressive one, and the masculine role was instrumental.
● John Money (1921-2006) – developed the use of gender to describe one’s feelings about oneself.
According to his team, a child’s gender identity can be changed without undue psychological
stress.
● Robert Stroller – focused on gender identity rather than gender role. He emphasized the role that
one’s environment plays in the development of one’s gender identity, arguing that parents and
culture at large were more responsible for gender identity than biological characteristics.
● Judith Butler (1990) – Gender Trouble – asserted that gender is fluid rather than dichotomous,
that gender was an activity that one does rather than a trait one has.

3. Gender Role Development (World Bank, 2012)

● Gender Role Development is one of the most important areas of Community Development.
 ● Gender is always an important consideration in development. It is a way of looking at how social
norms and power structures impact on the lives and opportunities available to different groups of
men and women.
● Process towards sustainable way of community development incorporating all the gender with
equal participation and involvement.
● Real development considers all contributions of diverse components of society.

4. Gender Sensitive

The concept of Gender Sensitivity has been developed as a way to reduce barriers to personal and
economic development created by sexism. Gender Sensitivity helps to generate respect for the individual
regardless of sex. (UNESCO, 2017)

5 best ways to practice gender sensitivity:

● Learn more about gender issues.

● Keep an open mind.
● Know the law.
● Stand up against harassment of any kind.
● Be respectful.

5. GENDER DIFFERENCES (I didn't elaborate some parts since they're self explanatory and some examples
were already provided by the book.)
- Distinctions between men and women based on biological adaptations such as differences in our
physical body (e.g. reproductive system - testes and ovaries) as well as in significant
characteristics.
- Scientifically, there is only a SMALL difference when it comes to psychological
characteristics such as follows:

a. Differences in Cognitive Abilities

Stereotype: Boys are good at math while girls are good at English.
Fact: No differences in math ability in Elementary School. While by early adulthood, men tend to be better
at math.
Fact: Men are slightly ahead of women when it comes to spatial ability (e.g. rotating figures in their head,
finding their way around the town.)

However, there is no gender difference in overall intelligence as there is only a small discrepancy
between the two. (Meta-Analysis by Janet S. Hyde, 1999)

b. Differences in Personality Traits and Self-Esteem

Facts for women: They score higher in anxiety, neuroticism, and extraversion (linked with positive
emotions). Hence, women experience more emotional ups and downs than men (Analysis by Alan
Feingold). Additionally, they lose their self-esteem during adolescence.
Facts for men: They tend to have higher self-esteem than women. (Kristen Kling, 1999)

c. Differences in Attitudes
Women are more liberal on social issues and more progressive in their attitudes about women's roles.
They are more tolerant on gay men, but both genders have no differences in attitudes towards lesbians.

d. Differences in Behavior
Men are more interested in things like cars, buildings, and machines. Women are more interested in
people — how people think, and how their bodies work. However, these could be caused by cultural
expectations, biological sex differences, or both.
Profession: Men more likely prefer professions centered on the "manipulation of objects, tools, machines,
and animals," while women prefer "activities that entail the manipulation of others to inform, train,
develop, cure, or enlighten." (Richard Lippa, 1998)
Examples: Men: technicians, mechanics, electricians; Women: Care workers, home carers, assistants

6. GENDER CROSS-CULTURAL DIFFERENCES

Gender is a cultural construct and perceptions that differ from culture to culture or even during different
periods even in a single culture or society. It cannot be understood outside of its cultural and historical
context. Gender differences remain in its unique culture and history.

Examples:
- In some parts of the US, it is normal to smile at a stranger while walking past or to make small
talk in public, while in some cultures this is less accepted or might be an invitation for unintended
interactions.
- Public displays of affection are viewed differently from culture to culture. In some countries they
are very accepted and common. In others, even holding hands is unacceptable or unusual.

7. GENDER-NEUTRAL
The idea that policies, language, and other social institutions (social structures, gender roles, or gender
identity) should avoid distinguishing roles according to people's sex or gender, to avoid discrimination
arising from the impression that one gender is more qualified for certain social roles or functions than the
other (Richard, 1994).

Examples:
- Designating gender-neutral bathrooms and on-campus housing
- Not separating toys in gender-specific areas
- Chairman/chairwoman → Chairperson, chair
- Mankind → people, humanity, human beings

D. GAD MAINSTREAMING in the PHILIPPINES