BASIC CONCEPTS

OF GENDER AND
DEVELOPMENT
PRELIMINARY ACTIVITY:
In pairs, try to list as many
biological/behavioral
differences you can think of
between males and females.
The term SEX refers to the
biological and physiological
status as either male or
female and can be defined
by chromosomes, hormones
and anatomical differences.
Biological Differences:

GENETALIA Penis, scrotum Vagina, clitoris

INTERNAL REPRODUCTIVE Testes Uterus, ovaries, fallopian
ORGANS tube, ovum
CHROMOSOMES XY XX
HORMONES Testosterone Estrogen , Progesterone
 CANNOT
BE
Sex Characteristics: CHANGED
• Women menstruated while men do not
• Women have developed breasts that are usually
capable of lactating while men have not
• Women can give birth .
• Men can supply sperm.
• Men have testicles while women do not have.
Gender refers to the
socially constructed roles
and relationships,
personality traits, attitudes,
behaviors, values, relative
power and influence or the
expected roles of the two
sexes within society.
INSTITUTIONS THAT PERPETUATE
GENDER POWER RELATIONS
FAMILY • Manipulation
• Canalization
• Verbal Appellation
• Sexist Activities
• Etc.
 Composition of Family
ROLE OF EACH MEMBERS IS OFTEN DEFINED BY GENDER

FATHER – responsible for

the material well being of MOTHER – responsible for
the wife, children and the emotional and spiritual
elderly dependents, welfare of the family unit.
Gender stereotyping and
gender biased inequality in
the family begins with child
care and rearing.
• COLORS
• CLOTHES
• TOYS
• ACTIVITIES BOYS AND
GIRLS ENGAGE WITH
• FAIRYTALES KIDS GREW
UP WITH
 • Textbooks
SCHOOLS • Language
• Curriculum
• Toys
• Learning Materials
• Career Options
• Segregation
• Etc.
 - Heavy block, balls,
trucks, airplanes and
In nursery and carpentry for boys
- Dolls and home making
kindergarten
equipment for girls
classes, boys and
girls taught what
toys and games are
appropriate for their
gender.
TRADITIONAL BEGINNING OF THE
TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM

“GOOD MORNING BOYS AND GIRLS”

- Emphasizes the differences b/w males and females

The notion that males excel in math, science and technology
and women excel in arts are few of the many cultural beliefs
and cultural influences that are passed down through
generations and until now still difficult to detach.

The idea that boys and girls are naturally better at certain
things is part of past ignorance of the difference between
biological sex and socially constructed gender.
 CLASSROOM DYNAMICS
• Teachers call on boys more often
and spend more time with them
• Asks boys more challenging
questions
• Wait longer for boys to answer
• Urge boys to try harder, constantly
telling the boys that they can do it.
TEXTBOOK IMAGES
CHURCH
 MASS MEDIA

• Advertisement
• Radio/TV Programs
• News Articles and Highlights
• Soap Operas
• Songs
 These constructed or mediated
realities may have normative or
prescriptive values
IDEAL MAN = ADONIS

IDEAL WOMAN = BARBIE Thin

 MASCULINITY AND SPORTS MEDIA

• Sports is dominated by men

• Transmit powerful ideas about
manliness and masculinity
• Refer to men as athletes as “ big”
“strong” “gusty” and “brilliant”
• Call men by their last names…
 WOMEN AND SPORTS

• Women occupy usually only 2% of air

time
• Sports commentators describe women
athletes as “panicked” “fatigue” “weary”
“vulnerable”
• Usually use the first names of women
• Photos are sexualized, emphasizes
beauty rather than the game
 IMAGES OF MEN IN MEDIA

• Success, leisure and good life are men

prerogatives
• Boys and men shape the future
• Men are firm, decisive, strong, possess
leadership qualities
 IMAGES OF WOMEN IN MEDIA

• Focus on slenderness, dieting, attaining

a feminine ideal as not just thin but also
weak and vulnerable
• Women “eager for male companionship”
• Women are gauged by their ability to
catch a man”
 BUSINESS/MARKET

• Business Opportunities
• Positions
• Wage Rates
• Trafficking of Women
• Sexual Harassment
• Etc.
 LAWS/POLICIES/POLITICAL
PARTICIPATION AND REPRESENTATION
Because of the uneven and unjust GENDER
POWER RELATIONS women and men are
BOXED into situations which CONSTRAIN
their CAPACITY TO DO AND TO BE
CAPACITY TO DO means – ABILITY or POWER
• To do productive and satisfying work
• To have control over once’s income and benefit from it
• To enjoy nature and the natural environment
• To procreate and rear children
• To care for others
• To travel in search of opportunities
• etc
CAPACITY TO BE means – RIGHT and OPPORTUNITY

• To be knowledgeable and skillful

• To be healthy
• To be confident of own abilities
• To be comfortable with achievements, independence
and power
• Etc.
 GENDER
ISSUES/CONCERNS
 “issues, concerns or problems arising from
societal expectations and perceptions on the roles
of women and men that impede one’s
opportunities to participate in the development
process and enjoy its benefits.
 GENDER BIASES AGAINST MEN
• Inherently aggressive and violent
• Don’t feel pain/incapable of experiencing human
relations
• Inherently expressive in their sexuality
• Don’t need closeness, reassurance and
attention.
 WOMEN’S GENDER ISSUES

Manifestations of gender biases

GENDER STEREOTYPING
The process of attributing a set of characteristics, roles and traits,
favorable or unfavorable, to all members of a social group based
on sec: GENDER
STEREOTYPES
• Child rearing • Fixed unquestioned
• Religion
• Occupations beliefs or images we
• Education carry in the back of our
• Language minds
• Behavior • About women and men
• Government Programs • Transmitted from
• Media
generation to generation
• Popular Culture
MARGINALIZATION (economic)

- The process which forces women out: into periphery of economic and social life
- On the periphery of decision-making process
- As well as diminishing the value of the activities in which they engage and
through which they contribute to the national development process.

Meaning
-Under or non-valuation/recognition of women's work
- Women have less access to and control over resources and benefits
- Unequal pay to work of equal value
- Last to be hired, first to be fired
- Limited opportunities
- Exacting sexual favors
SUBORDINATION (Political)
- One sex is inferior to the other, gender subordination is the institutionalized
domination by men of women

POSITION – very women in politics and top positions

STATUS – weaker sex
DECISION MAKING – women are not included in planning and decision making
process
PROCESS OF SOCIALIZATION

Meaning:
WOMEN – weak, oppressed, followers, second class, owned
MEN – strong, dominate, leaders, first always, owner
MULTIPLE BURDEN
- Involvement in the three spheres of work; reproductive, productive
and community work.
a. Parenting
b. Housework
c. Community Work
d. Work in the Public sphere/informal sector

Meaning:
Gender Division of Labor
- The assignment of tasks and roles to men and women on account of
sex
 Manifestation of Gender Bias
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN:
• All forms of gender violence (verbal, psychological and
physical)
- - jokes, wolf-whistles, peeking, chancing/sexual passes,
sexual harassment, domestic violence, rape, prostitutions,
commodification (act of treating women as commodity or object
and not a person)—
• Women constantly in fear of abuse
• Freedoms curtailed
• Legal and judicial systems not gender-sensitive
Gender Issues and Biases
affect Women more
 NEGATIVE EFFECTS ON
PERSONHOOD
• No self-determination and self-actualization
• Low self-esteem/lack of self-confidence
• Inability to set higher goals
• Etc.
WHAT IS GENDER AND
DEVELOPMENT?
• GAD is about recognizing that gender biases impede
development because:

1. They prevent people from attaining their full potentials

2. They exacerbate social inequity and inequality
3. They distort the understanding of social realities
 DEVELOPMENT IS FOR ALL:

Justice and equity demands that everyone in society, whether

male or female, has the right to the same opportunities to
achieve a full, satisfying and peaceful life.
 KEY PRINCIPLES:

Development that a gender-responsive should:

- EXPANT/ENLARGE women’s range of CHOICES and

OPPORTUNITIES
- Deliberately ADDRESS OBSTACLES to women’s effective
participation in and their enjoyment of the benefits of
development
- STRENGHTEN their capabilities to attain a full satisfying and
peaceful life.
SO WHAT IS GENDER SENSETIVITY ON A BROADER
ANALYSIS?

- A perspective
- A way of thinking; a manner of viewing things
- Conscious of the gender issue- that the other half of
humankind is unable to enjoy life to the fullest because of
gender biases.
- Actively promotes gender equality and equity
Due to continuous exposure
and reinforcement of gender
differences, they say gender
roles and relations are
resistant to change, BUT
THEY DO CHANGE
EQUALITY AND EQUITY
RESPECT
CULTURAL REVOLUTION
-end-