Cultural Variations and Social Differences (Gender)

Gender and Gender Roles

People play different roles in society depending on age and
occupation. There are jobs that require a specific gender to
perform tasks while other jobs are open to both men and
women.

Gender
• Gender refers to social, cultural, and psychological
characteristics or traits related to males and females based on
certain social contexts.
• It is different from sex, which refers to the biological
characteristics that distinguish a male from a female.
• Thus, sex makes a person male or female, while gender
makes a person masculine or feminine.
Gender Roles
 Gender roles refer to attitudes and behaviours that the society
expects a person to exhibit based on his or her sex.
 For example, in traditional Philippine society, women are expected to
be plain housewives and take care of their children, while men are
expected to be professionals and provide the needs of their family.
 Another example is that society expects women to be more
emotional and sensitive while men are expected to be strong and
capable of doing things that women cannot do.

Gender Roles in Pre-colonial Philippine Society

In pre-colonial Philippines, males and females enjoyed the

same rights and privileges. Different social functions were assigned
to different members of society. There were functions that were
specifically given to males, females, or both.
Aside from being a priestess, the babaylan was also
considered a healer, an adviser, and a seer.
Gender Roles in Philippine Society During the Colonial Period
Gender roles during the colonial period changed drastically.
Women were restrained from other activities outside their homes,
while men were given more social functions. These roles also
changed as the Philippines was occupied by new colonizers.

 With the coming of the Spaniards and the introduction of

Catholicism, the babaylan lost their role in the religious life
of the community. This role was taken over by Catholic
priests. Women were relegated to doing household chores
and taking care of children. More often than not, young
women were not sent to school but instead trained to be
good wives and mothers for their future families. Some
women were also forced to marry for economic and
political gain.
  During the American period, women had more
freedom in society. They were allowed to study and
work in any field they wanted. They also adopted
American values. Men and women became equal in
the sense that it became acceptable for both genders
to have jobs and be educated.

 Although men and women were able to maintain their

status in society during the Japanese period, women
were usually kept inside their houses to protect them
from abusive Japanese soldiers. Men also became busy
defending the country, with most of them serving as
soldiers.
Gender Roles in Current Philippine Society
At present, Philippine society is more open to
allowing both men and women to perform
different tasks not based solely on gender, but on
an individual’s capabilities and strengths. For
example, fields like engineering, architecture,
and medicine, which are often associated with
men, have long been open to women. Likewise,
there are also lots of male teachers, nurses,
chefs, and hairdressers now a days.
 THANK YOU
AND GOD BLESS
!!!