GENDER AND SOCIETY​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ HAZEL ANNE A.

MONDIDO
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LESSON 1: LEGAL BASIS FOR THE STUDY OF for national action to end such discrimination.
GENDER & SOCIETY
The Convention defines discrimination against women as
"...any distinction, exclusion or restriction made on the basis of sex
1. CHED Memo No.1, Series of 2015
which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the
“Establishing the Policies and Guidelines on Gender and
recognition, enjoyment or exercise by women, irrespective of their
Development (GAD) in the CHED and Higher Education
marital status, on a basis of equality of men and women, of human
Institutions (HEIs).”
rights and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social,
cultural, civil or any other field."
Introduction
Gender and Development (GAD)
By accepting the Convention, States commit themselves to
●​ is a developmental approach that aims to impact the
undertake a series of measures to end discrimination against
processes and results of policymaking to equalize the
women in all forms, including:
status, condition, and relationships between men and
●​ To incorporate the principle of equality of men and
women.
women in their legal system, abolish all discriminatory
●​ highlights the idea that everyone should benefit from
laws and adopt appropriate ones prohibiting
development despite genders.
discrimination against women.
●​ To establish tribunals and other public institutions to
CHED Memorandum No.1, Series of 2015
ensure the effective protection of women against
●​ together with GAD, is mandated and formulated by
discrimination.
CHED.
●​ To ensure elimination of all acts of discrimination against
●​ has the purpose to establish policies and guidelines on
women by persons, organizations, or enterprises.
GAD in the CHED and HEIs.
●​ outlines the policies and guidelines for promoting gender
The Convention provides the basis for realizing equality between
equality and mainstreaming gender and development
women and men through ensuring women's equal access to, and
concerns within the higher education sector in the
equal opportunities in, political and public life — including the right
Philippines.
to vote and to stand for election — as well as education, health,
●​ aims to create rules and guidelines to ensure gender
and employment.
equality in colleges and universities.
●​ has the goal to make sure that both students and staff,
States parties agree to take all appropriate measures, including
regardless of gender, have equal opportunities and fair
legislation and temporary special measures, so that women can
treatment.
enjoy all their human rights and fundamental freedoms.
●​ includes promoting gender-sensitive practices, preventing
discrimination, and supporting policies that address
The Convention is the only human rights treaty which affirms the
gender issues in education.
reproductive rights of women and targets culture and tradition as
●​ by implementing these guidelines, CHED and HEIs aim to
influential forces shaping gender roles and family relations.
foster an inclusive and equitable academic environment
for everyone.
It affirms women's rights to acquire, change or retain their
nationality and the nationality of their children.
Purpose and Objectives
●​ To introduce and institutionalize gender equality and
States parties also agree to take appropriate measures against all
gender responsiveness and sensitivity in the various
forms of traffic in women and exploitation of women.
aspects of Philippines higher education.
●​ To contribute to women’s empowerment and gender
Countries that have ratified or acceded to the Convention are
equality.
legally bound to put its provisions into practice. They are also
committed to submit national reports, at least every four years, on
There are some examples of laws and legal provisions that
measures they have taken to comply with their treaty obligations.
support gender equality and women's rights:
●​ CEDAW (1981)
Optional Protocol
●​ 1987 Philippine Constitution, Article II, Section 14
The purpose of the CEDAW Optional Protocol is to strengthen
●​ RA 7192 and IRR (1992)
the enforcement mechanisms available for the rights within
●​ Beijing Platform for Action (1995)
CEDAW. The Protocol provides for complaints to be taken directly
●​ RA 9710: Magna Carta for Women (2009)
to the UN.
2. CEDAW (1981)
Although CEDAW represents a strong and valuable statement of
Herstory
women's human rights, it is not always enforced by governments
The Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of
within their domestic legal systems. The rights exist, but they often
Discrimination against Women (CEDAW), A.K.A Women's
fail to be enforced.
Convention, adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, is
often described as an international bill of rights for women.
The Optional Protocol to CEDAW allows women to bring a
complaint about a breach of the rights under CEDAW to the
As of April 2022, there are 189 countries/state parties that ratified
CEDAW Committee.
the CEDAW Convention; meaning that they agree to be bound by
its terms (IWRAW AP Asia Pacific).
To bring a complaint, it must first be shown that all remedies
available through the law in that country have been exhausted.
Consisting of a preamble and 30 articles, it defines what
constitutes discrimination against women and sets up an agenda
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It is important to note that the Optional Protocol does not create ●​ In work of NGOs and specialized agencies
new rights but provides a new enforcement mechanism for existing ●​ In our families, schools, communities
rights that have been in force since a national government became
a party to CEDAW. Key Aspects of CEDAW (UN Women Asia and the Pacific)
●​ Recognizes the role of culture and tradition in the
The CEDAW Convention is built on three foundational principles: maintenance of discrimination against women and
non-discrimination, state obligation and substantive equality. obligates states to eliminate stereotypes that reinforce it.
●​ Non-discrimination is integral to the concept of equality. ●​ Define discrimination and establishes the concept of
The Convention seeks to eliminate discrimination against substantive equality.
women in all fields and spheres and holds both state and ●​ Strengthens the concepts of indivisibility of human rights.
non-state actors in the case of violation of rights. ●​ Obligates states to respect, protect, and fulfill the human
●​ State obligation embodies the elements, that is, respect, rights of each and every woman.
protection, promotion, and fulfillment of human rights. It
also upholds the concept of due diligence which demands 3. 1987 Philippine Constitution, Article II, Section 14
ensuring the prevention, investigation, and sanctioning of “The State recognizes the role of women in nation-building and
private acts of discrimination. The legislature, executive shall ensure the fundamental equality before the law of women and
and judiciary organs of government are responsible for men.”
the fulfillment of all state obligations.
●​ Substantive equality acknowledges as products of Introduction
negative female stereotypes, and consequently seeks to The 1987 Constitution of the Philippines functions as the
eliminate discrimination at the individual, institutional, and nation's supreme legal framework, depicting the principles of
systemic levels through corrective and positive measures governance.
including enabling conditions and affirmative actions. It
seeks to correct imbalance and focuses on achieving Article 2, particularly Section 14, acknowledges the critical
“equality of outcomes” by ensuring equal opportunities, contributions of women to nation-building and reaffirms the
access, and benefits for women. principle of legal equality between men and women.

How could CEDAW achieve its goal of Equality? The state recognizes that women play an essential role in
World Happiness Report (2022) states that by addressing the advancing the nation across various sectors, including politics,
public and private spheres of: economics, education, and social development.
●​ Discriminatory social practices and beliefs.
●​ Stereotypical roles of men and women. By ensuring equal rights and opportunities, the Constitution
●​ The needs of women based on their seeks to foster an equitable environment that enables both women
biological function of reproducing the and men to participate fully in all aspects of societal life.
human species.
●​ Historical and structural discrimination. Purpose of the Topic
●​ Unintentional and direct discrimination. The main purpose of the 1987 Philippine Constitution, Article 2,
Section 14 is to eliminate discrimination and to promote gender
The Summary of the Preamble and Articles of CEDAW equality across all dimensions of society.
●​ Articles 1-5
○​ General framework of the Convention Adoption and Entry into Force
●​ Article 6-16 The 1987 Philippine Constitution, including Article 2 Section 14,
○​ Specific substantive issues was adopted on February 2, 1987, and came into full effect on
●​ Article 17-23 February 11, 1987, following the successful ratification by the
○​ Committee and procedures Filipino people.
●​ Article 23-30
○​ Administration and interpretation Objectives of this Law
The objectives of Article 2 Section 14 are as follows:
In other words, CEDAW obligates states to eliminate all ●​ To acknowledge the critical contribution of women in the
discrimination against women. nation-building process.
●​ To guarantee that women and men are treated equally
Possible uses of CEDAW in advocacy work under the law, without any form of discrimination.
●​ Framework for Analysis ●​ To establish mechanisms to monitor and evaluate the
●​ Monitoring Tool impact of gender equality initiatives and policies at local
●​ Source of Law and national levels.
●​ Source of Standards ●​ To develop policies that ensure equal rights and
●​ Interpretative Tool opportunities for women in various sectors, including
●​ Accountability Mechanism politics, economics, and education.
●​ Over-arching Framework for Work on Women's Rights
Impact of this Law
Uses of CEDAW ●​ since its inception, has played a pivotal role in advancing
●​ In constitutional reform gender equality in the Philippines.
●​ In courts ●​ has improved a range of legislative and policy initiatives
●​ In legislation designed to protect and promote women's rights,
●​ In government policy including anti-discrimination laws, reproductive health
●​ In local governments policies, and empowerment programs.
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●​ has contributed to the creation of a more inclusive and

equitable society, facilitating increased participation of 5. Beijing Platform for Action (1995)
women in the nation’s developmental progress. Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action of 1995
●​ is a visionary agenda for the empowerment of women.
4. Republic Act No. 7192: Women in Development and ●​ remains today the most comprehensive global policy
Nation-Building Act of 1992 and IRR framework and blueprint for action and is a current source
An act promoting the integration of women as full and equal of guidance and inspiration to realize gender equality and
partners of men in development and nation building and for other the human rights of women and girls, everywhere.
purposes. ●​ upholds the international community's commitment to
addressing civil, political, social, economic, and cultural
Introduction inequities while supporting women and girls everywhere
The "Women in Development and Nation Building Act," or RA in their pursuit of gender equality and women's rights.
7192, is a law that was passed into legislation in 1992. Promoting ●​ remains relevant to the status of women today,
women's roles in national development and ensuring their full and emphasizing that women's rights are human rights and
equal involvement in all facets of societal advancement are its that equality between women and men is beneficial to all.
main objectives. It was the initial formal budget initiative for GAD. ●​ also sets out a plan for Governments, international
organizations, civil society, and the private sector to
As per the implementing rules and regulations (IRR), the protect women's human rights and ensure that gender
Philippines is required to allocate a minimum of five percent of equality issues are mainstreamed into all national,
the foreign aid and grants it receives to initiatives and programs regional, and international policies and programmes.
that aim to address gender concerns.
The Platform for Action covers 12 areas of concern requiring
Purpose of the Topic particular action towards the advancement of women:
This law aims to create a society in which men and women are
treated equally and make contributions to society. It guarantees 1. Women and Poverty
that women have equal opportunities and shields them from When women are poor, their rights are not protected and they
prejudice. face double discrimination, on account of their gender and
economic situation. Women, their families, communities, and
Adaption & Entry into Force economies suffer as a result.
This Act is a consolidation of House Bill No. 22466 and Senate
Bill No. 1200 and was finally passed by the House of 2. Education and Training of Women
Representatives and the Senate on December 11, 1991. It was Education is essential for women to reach gender equality and
later approved on February 12, 1992. become leaders of change. While women and girls today are far
more educated than ever before, gaps remain. Educated women
Objective of the Republic Act 7192 benefit entire societies, contributing to flourishing economies and
●​ Gender Discrimination Elimination: To remove the improved health, nutrition, and education of their families.
discrimination against women by providing equal Education and training are also tools to help change harmful
opportunities and treatment to both sexes in every gender stereotypes.
aspect of life.
●​ Promoting Gender-Responsive Education: Aims to 3. Women and Health
give men and women the same opportunities to learn Women need to be healthy to realize their full potential. This
and succeed in life by having lessons in schools that includes proper nutrition, sexual and reproductive rights, and
treat boys and girls equally. To provide women with mental health, as well as freedom from violence.
equal opportunities in sectors like the military that are
dominated by men. 4. Violence Against Women
●​ Protection Against Violence: Because the violence of Violence hurts women and girls and hampers their ability to
women in the country is severe, just as stated by the thrive in multiple ways. Since the Beijing Conference, an historic
Philippine Statistics Authority's 2022 National two-thirds of countries have put laws on the books to stop
Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), 17.5% of domestic violence. Yet gaps in laws, implementation of legal
Filipino women between the ages of 15 and 49 reported protection and lack of access to essential services remain for
having been the victim of physical, sexual, or emotional women globally.
abuse at the hands of their romantic relationships. RA
7192 encourages the creation of crisis centers and 5. Women and Armed Conflict
shelters for abused women and acknowledges the Wars and armed conflict destroy families and societies and leave
significance of shielding women against all types of women and girls particularly vulnerable. Sexual violence is
violence, including domestic abuse. widespread and often used as a war tactic.
●​ Support for Women Entrepreneurs: The gender wage
gap is still one of the most important concerns pertaining 6. Women and the Economy
to gender in the Philippines. In the Philippines, women Whether in businesses, on farms, as entrepreneurs or employees,
only make up 78% of what males do. To give women the or through unpaid domestic or care work at home, women make
financial resources and business expertise they need to enormous contributions to economies. Gender discrimination
launch and grow their own enterprises. means women often end up in insecure, low-wage jobs, and
●​ Gender-Responsive Budgeting: To promote constitute a small minority of those in senior positions.
gender-responsive budgeting in government agencies to
ensure that resources are allocated equitably to address 7. Women in Power and Decision-Making
the specific needs and concerns of women. Once in leadership roles, women make a difference. But they are
GENDER AND SOCIETY​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ HAZEL ANNE A. MONDIDO
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under-represented as voters, whether in elected office, the civil

service, corporate boardrooms, or academic positions. Focus of Magna Carta for Women
●​ Promote and fulfill the rights of women in all spheres
8. Institutional Mechanisms for the Advancement of Women ●​ Protection of women from violence
Specialized institutions have played an important part in informing ●​ Participation and representation (in policymaking or
laws, policies and programmes and advancing gender equality. decision-making bodies in the regional, national, and
Robust laws and policies coupled with stronger mechanisms to international level)
coordinate various actors and ensure their effective enforcement
and implementation can push the agenda. Women’s Right According to Magna Carta
1.​ Protection against violence and abuse, including those
9. Human Rights of Women committed by the state
Women and girls are entitled to the full and equal enjoyment of all ●​ Incremental at least 50-50 ratio of men and
their human rights. women in the recruitment and training of women
in the Police Force, Forensics, Medico Legal,
10. Women and the Media legal/Judicial Services and Social Work Services.
The media plays a significant role in perpetuating and challenging ●​ All Barangays shall establish a VAW Desk and
social norms that condone discrimination or violence against VAW programs and services shall be ensured
women. It can objectify women but also showcase strong women at all times.
leaders and protagonists who can become role models for their 2.​ Safety during calamities and crisis
audience. 3.​ Equal representation to participation in politics and
governance
11. Women and the Environment 4.​ Equal treatment of law and opportunity to get an
Women are among the most affected by climate change. They are education
often the ones gathering water, fishing, or farming land affected by 5.​ Comprehensive health services
flooding. Meanwhile, their voices are often ignored in
environmental planning and management. They also have less Penalty
access to land and productive resources. Under Chapter VI, Section 41, General Provisions of Republic
Act No. 9710:
12. The Girl Child If the violation is committed by a government agency or any
Specific forms of violence and harmful practices, including government office, including government-owned and controlled
female genital mutilation (FGM) and cutting, breast ironing and corporations and local government units, the person directly
child marriage, affect girls, including child sexual abuse. responsible for the violation, as well as the head of the
agency or local chief executive shall be held liable under the
6. RA 9710: Magna Carta for Women (2009) Magna Carta of Women.
The Magna Carta of Women Republic Act 9710 is a thorough
human rights law for women that aims to end discrimination The sanctions under administrative law, civil service or other
against them by recognizing, upholding, and advancing their rights, appropriate laws shall be recommended by the Commission on
particularly those of underprivileged Filipino women or Human Rights to the Civil Service Commission and the
Marginalized Sector. Department of the Interior and Local Government.

Who Developed Magna Carta? Other existing laws that protect rights of women and children:
Sen. Jamby Madrigal, Sen. Pia Cayetano, and Miriam Defensor 1.​ Women in Development and Nation Building Act
Santiago, along with Former President Gloria Macapagal (Republic Act No. 7192)
Arroyo, have initiated the implementation of the Magna Carta for 2.​ Special Protection of Children Against Child Abuse,
Women. Exploitation and Discrimination Act (Republic Act No.
7610)
The Philippine Commission on Women, in collaboration with the 3.​ Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995 (Republic Act No.
Commission on Human Rights and various government 7877)
agencies, will develop the necessary rules and regulations within 4.​ Anti-Rape Law of 1997 (Republic Act No. 8353)
180 days of the law's enactment. 5.​ Rape Victim Assistance and Protection Act of 1998
(Republic Act No. 8505)
The Magna Carta was approved by the Senate on May 19 & 20, 6.​ Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003 (Republic Act No.
2009, and subsequently signed into law by Arroyo. 9208)
7.​ Anti-Violence Against Women and Their Children Act of
Why Was Magna Carta Implemented? 2004 (Republic Act No. 9262)
●​ Basic Premise of RA 9710, Section 8 - "Human Rights of
Women. All rights in the Constitution and those rights
recognized under international instruments duly signed
and ratified by the Philippines, in consonance with LESSON 2: WHAT CONSTITUTES SEX?
Philippine law, shall be rights of woman under this Act to
be enjoyed without discrimination." 1. What is sex?
●​ It adopts the definition of discrimination from the Sex
Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of ●​ pertains to a set of biological attributes commonly found
Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and in humans and animals.
establishes the legal responsibility of the Philippine ●​ is mainly involved with hormone changes, reproductive
government to protect and promote the rights of women. anatomy, gene expression, and chromosomes.
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●​ is usually categorized as male or female; however, there 4.​ expansion of shoulders

is a variety of biological attributes that comprise sex and ●​ In females:
how are these being expressed. 1.​ breast development
●​ is commonly seen as binary, comprised of male and 2.​ hip broadening
female. 3.​ start of menstrual cycle
●​ is categorized on various characteristics related to 4.​ growth of body hair
chromosomes, physical features, genitals, and hormonal
profiles. Example:

Biologically, there is a distinct feature that categorizes sex in

terms of chromosomes. Male having XY chromosomes, and
female consisting of XX chromosomes.

However, these attributes may also not respond to hormones. For Figure 2.1: Muscle Mass and Menstrual Cycle
example, XY chromosomes that cannot respond to androgens
have a great number of breasts’ tissues and female genitalia. This In contrast, non-human animals share distinct secondary sex
condition is also known as intersex condition, a disorder of sex characteristics. These include the manes of male lions, the bright
development. Therefore, this condition may affect one’s identity facial and rump coloration of male mandrills, and horns in
and relationship with their gender. goats and antelopes.

2. Primary Characteristics of Sex Example:

The primary characteristics of sex include the internal and
external genitalia, mainly the testes and vagina, and are unique
and different from secondary characteristics, which usually
appear starting pre-pubescent up to post-pubescent phases.

Commonly determined by the reproductive gland, the primary

characteristics of sex include the production of sperm or egg Figure 2.2: Manes of Lions, Facial Coloration of
cells. Mandrills, and Horns in Goats
In animals, the sperm is produced in testes from males, and the 4. Reproductive Roles and Responsibilities
eggs are produced by the eggs from females. Difference between the terms Role and Responsibility
The word role, as a general definition, is the contribution an
However, a condition called “hermaphroditism” produces both individual makes in a certain group. Meanwhile, responsibilities
sperm and egg cells. In addition, people who are intersex tend to are specified tasks that an individual must fulfill.
have genitalia that do not align with their internal characteristics
sexually. Reproductive role (or Domestic role)
●​ Reproduction is defined as the activities to maintain the
Already present from birth, primary sex characteristics play a well-being and survival of human life.
major role in determining an individual’s biological sex. ●​ Examples include, bearing an offspring, educating
children, cooking food, washing clothes, growing
In males, the penis, testes, and scrotum are visible at their birth, consumable crops.
likewise, the ovaries, fallopian tubes, vagina, and uterus can ​
be found in females. Reproductive responsibility
●​ Segmen’s Medical Dictionary (2011) states that,
Example: reproductive responsibility is used to describe the duty to
avoid unintentional pregnancy.
●​ Reproduction is a crucial part of our society which allows
mankind to reproduce and continue the species
population, minimizing its risk of extinction.
●​ In contrast, it is not innate for every individual to be ready
for different responsibilities of raising an offspring, mainly
Figure 1: Male and Female Reproductive Organs when two individuals undergone premarital sex and had
an unintentional pregnancy.
3. Secondary Characteristics of Sex ●​ In connection, it is important to learn the reproductive
Secondary characteristics of sex are features that occur during responsibilities, as it is a shared responsibilities between
puberty influenced by various specific hormones. They mainly two individuals.
contribute to physical appearance and sexual distinctions among
individuals. Despite numerous changes, these do not directly Responsibilities of Men in Reproduction
correlate with reproduction. When men are actively involved in decisions about sex,
contraception, and parenting, it significantly influences their
Here are some examples: behavior in these areas. It also helps reduce marital conflicts and
●​ In males: boosts their commitment to parenting. Women’s responsibilities in
1.​ increased muscle mass reproduction are affected by this involvement.
2.​ facial and body hair growth
3.​ voice deepening Responsibilities of Women in Reproduction
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Women have an essential role in terms of reproduction. Their is how you express yourself sexually.
onus is to take care of and carry the child in their womb for nine
months until it is ready enough and well-developed for a safe Sexuality is diverse, and there are many different types. It can
delivery. After these, there are other responsibilities they need to take time to figure out the sexuality that fits you best. And your
embrace, such as proper parenting, feeding and nurturing the sexuality can change over time.
child, and upholding maternal support.
According to Lucas and Fox (2023), “sexuality defines the means
Implementation of Contraceptives of biological reproduction, describes psychological and
Individuals can have as many offspring as they please, with the sociological representations of self, and orients a person’s
power of contraception. As stated by the United Nations attraction to others”.
Declaration of Human Rights, every individual has a right to
this. Sexuality: Myths and Facts
Myths Facts
Both male and female may pursue professional and educational
desires that may be hindered by bearing an offspring by delaying 1. LGBTQIA+ people are not 1. Every person is different;
or spacing out their pregnancies. Individuals may feel more normal. every type of sexual orientation
empowered as a result, they are able to have and create more and gender identity is normal
money. Families may spend their time and money on each kid and deserves respect.
when there are fewer children. 2. Parents cause their children 2. People do not choose their
to become gay, lesbian, or sexual orientation. It is a
Young individuals are more likely to have or develop pregnancy bisexual. natural part of who we are.
issues. These individuals are able to delay starting a family until
their bodies are fully developed to do such a thing because of 3. Sexual orientation is 3. You are born with your
contraception. contagious. sexual orientation. You cannot
“catch” being straight, lesbian,
It may also help those older individuals from unwanted gay, or bisexual.
pregnancy. By the use of contraceptives, it lessens the individuals
4. Every person knows their 4. Some people know their
that undergo abortion because of unwanted pregnancy. From this,
gender identity and sexual gender identity and sexual
it lessens the incidence of unsafe abortions, and contributes
orientation by a certain age. orientation at a very young
greatly to maternal mortality globally.
age. Other people take longer
to figure it out.
Sexual and Reproductive Health
Having good sexual and reproductive health embraces
complete physical, mental, and social aspects of an individual's What is Psychosocial?
well-being. It comes from the words “psychological” and “social”, which
deals with psychological and social factors and interaction of
It depicts that an individual has the power to reproduce and the these two.
freedom to choose if, when, and how frequently they want to do
so while fulfilling the chances and maintaining a safe sexual life. Psychological is defined as to anything associated with
To achieve these, they need to have access to accurate cognition, while Social is defined as to human relationships and
information and their preferred ways of contraception that are interactions.
safe, effective, affordable, and acceptable for them.
There are three primary psychological domains:
Additionally, people should also be given an education and 1.​ Affect or affective domain - one’s emotions and
resources to prevent themselves from having sexually feelings.
transmitted infections, or STIs, while for women, they should be 2.​ Behavior or behavioral domain - one’s actions, both
given an opportunity to get in touch with qualified healthcare observable (overt) or not observable (covert).
professionals and support services when they start to think about 3.​ Cognition or cognitive domain – one’s thought
forming a family. This is to ensure that women will have a safe process.
and healthy pregnancy for the sake of the well-being of the child.
To fully understand the illustration, here are some statements to
However, a worse-case scenario might take place when a teen prove their relationship to one another:
woman gets pregnant at such a young age—as it will lead to ●​ how one’s emotions influence one’s thoughts
serious health risks as her body is not prepared enough to carry ●​ how one’s emotions influence one’s behavior
such circumstances and responsibilities. According to Peralta, ●​ how one’s thoughts influence one’s emotions
Botor, and Laude (2019), early pregnancy constitutes a higher ●​ how one’s thoughts influence one’s behavior
risk of pregnancy complications compared to an adult woman's ●​ how one’s behaviors influence one’s emotions
pregnancy since the teen’s body is still in the process of ●​ how one’s behaviors influence one’s thoughts
development.
On the other hand, social factors also affect sexuality in the field
of sociology. Sociology is the study of interaction of an individual
in a society. The social aspect is anchored on sociology and
LESSON 3: WHAT IS SEXUALITY? social psychology. This means the study of gender and
sexuality can also be viewed from the lens of people’s
According to Cambridge Dictionary, sexuality is someone's ability experiences and realities as they interact with other individuals,
to experience or show sexual feelings. In simple words, sexuality groups and institutions.
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Dimensions of Well-Being
Understanding the Psychosocial Dimension To comprehensively grasp well-being's psychosocial condition, we
The psychosocial dimensions of gender and sexuality must consider various dimensions:
constitute complex and intertwined aspects of human identity. 1.​ Physical: Pertaining to physical and biological health.
2.​ Emotional: Involving positive feelings and mood stability.
Our understanding of these dimensions is inherently relational. 3.​ Mental: Encompassing mental clarity and a healthy
As individuals, we possess unique emotional states, cognitive thought process.
processes, and behavioral patterns that contribute to our sense of 4.​ Material: Focusing on available and adequate financial
self. and other resources.
5.​ Social: Concerned with healthy and positive interactions
Gender and the Relational Experience and relationships with others.
Gender, as a psychosocial construct, is not merely an individual
attribute but a dynamic interplay between self-perception and According to Nimbi et al (2021), human sexuality has long been
societal expectations. It encompasses a spectrum of identities a subject shrouded in taboos and controversies. It represents a
and expressions that individuals navigate within a social context. multifaceted realm that has been subjected to societal, political,
and moral scrutiny.
Sexuality and the Ecological Context
Sexuality is another dimension deeply embedded in the However, this dimension of human existence has been
psychosocial framework of human existence. It involves not only recognized as a critical area of research and a focus of global
our individual desires and orientations but also our interactions attention. The World Health Organization (WHO) and the World
within the larger ecological context. Association for Sexual Health (WAS) have played pivotal roles
in advocating for sexual health and well-being as fundamental
Awareness human rights, aiming to enhance the overall quality of life.
According to Merriam-Webster, awareness is defined as a state
of being knowledgeable and understanding that something is What is Sexual Orientation?
happening or exists. Relating to self, having self-awareness is an Sexual orientation refers to a person's pattern of emotional,
essential part of understanding one’s identity. romantic, and/or sexual attraction to people of a particular gender,
which can be male, female, or both.
Applying this in gender and sexuality, being self-aware means
knowing what one’s gender and how one expresses it, what one’s Sexual orientations include gay, lesbian, straight, bisexual, and
sexual orientation, etc. This aspect requires self-reflection and a asexual. This means that being transgender (feeling like your
realistic evaluation of how one interacts with society. assigned sex is very different from the gender you identify with)
isn’t the same thing as being gay, lesbian, or bisexual.
Aside from being self-aware, we try to understand other people as
we are “social beings”. By socializing, we get to know others Sexual orientation is about who you want to be with. Gender
more and have personal development. identity is about who you are.

Intimacy and Relationship Distribution of LGBTQ Characters on Broadcast Networks in

Intimacy is a fundamental aspect of human interaction. It occurs the 2022-23 Season, by Sexual Orientation
when individuals choose to allow others into their personal lives, The graph shows the individual type of sexual orientation and the
fostering bonds through communication and interaction. distribution of characters on it. Fundamentally, gay got a highest
percentage of 34%, lesbian acquire 33%, and bisexual gain
These relationships manifest in various forms, including family, 26%. In addition, 4% in sexual orientation undetermined, 3% in
friendships, and romantic connections. In such relationships, straight, and 1% in queer.
we share resources and emotions while simultaneously striving to
understand ourselves and others. This reciprocal process of
knowing and being known is at the core of intimacy.

Additionally, socialization plays a vital role in shaping our

behaviors within these relationships, instilling cultural norms and
traditions.

Well-Being as a Psychosocial Goal

The ultimate objective of understanding psychosocial aspects is
well-being, characterized by a sense of satisfaction, meaning,
and purpose.

Well-being encompasses both objective and subjective

Gay
dimensions. These two facets of well-being often coexist but can
Gay is a term that primarily refers to a homosexual person or the
also diverge.
trait of being homosexual typically referring to a man.
●​ Objective well-being is observable and can be
assessed through environmental factors.
While scant usage referring to male homosexuality dates to the
●​ Subjective well-being is an individual's personal
late 19th century, that meaning became increasingly common by
experience of satisfaction and happiness. It may or may
the mid-20th century.
not align with the external environment.
Lesbian
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A woman who is attracted to and prefers intimate relationships a lifetime.

with other women.
You may have fantasies about people of the same sex without
Attraction and relationships can be sexual, emotional, romantic being homosexual or bisexual, and you may not indulge in sexual
and/or spiritual. activities with them.

Bisexual What Causes A Particular Sexual Orientation?

Bisexuality is an attraction to more than one gender. Most scientists believe that sexual orientation is influenced by a
combination of environmental, emotional, hormonal, and
Those who identify as bisexual feel a sexual and/or romantic biological factors. Therefore, it may not be necessarily caused by
attraction to people of a different gender as well as their own. any one factor, and these factors may differ from person to
person.
Sexual Orientation Undetermined
Some individuals may choose not to label their sexual orientation Being homosexual or bisexual is not because of how you were
and may refer to themselves as undefined. raised by your parents or because of certain events that
happened in your childhood. Moreover, it does not mean that you
This might be because they resist the use of labels or cannot find are mentally sick. In spite of that, there is nothing abnormal by
one which adequately represents their experience. having a sexual orientation such as homosexuality or bisexuality
that does not fit into societal norms.
Straight
A heterosexual person is attracted to people of the opposite sex. How Can You Reveal Your Sexual Orientation To Your Parents
And Friends?
Boys who like girls and women who like men are heterosexual. Revealing your sexual orientation to parents and family is known
as “coming out.” If you want to come out to them, do it in
Queer whatever way you feel is comfortable and safe for you.
Queer is an umbrella term for people who are not heterosexual or
are not cisgender. Here are some tips that you can use:
●​ Identify the people in your life with whom you will be
Originally meaning 'strange' or 'peculiar', queer came to be used comfortable and who would not overreact about your
pejoratively against those with same-sex desires or relationships sexual orientation. You can get a sense of it by knowing
in the late 19th century. how they feel about topics concerning the LGBTQ
community.
There are many authors who have written about their experiences ●​ Be ready to clear any doubts or misconceptions your
discovering their sexual orientation. Here are some examples: loved ones may have about sexual orientations. This
1.​ Boy Meets Boy by David Levithan may need a bit of research.
In a perfect world, our sexuality wouldn’t matter much, ●​ It is not necessary to confront your family and friends
and we could all go about our lives being who we are. face-to-face while coming out. It is completely okay if you
David Levithan’s breakout novel Boy Meets Boy created want to let them know through email or over the phone.
exactly that world, where the class president at Paul’s ●​ After you decide to come out, be ready to give some time
high school is openly gay, the star quarterback is a to your family and friends to understand the facts.
cross-dresser, and Paul’s homosexuality is a non-issue.
A world without discrimination allows Levithan’s vibrant Can A Sexual Orientation Be Changed?
and complex characters to shine. A must-read for teens, You do not choose your sexual orientation. It is something that
straight, or gay. cannot be exchanged. There is nothing that you should feel
2.​ Oranges Are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette ashamed about being bisexual or homosexual.
Winterson
Writing in the introduction to the published script, Where Can You Look For Support About Revealing Your
Winterson said she wanted to challenge "the virtues of Sexual Orientation?
the home, the power of the church and the supposed You may want to find out how others come out and how to handle
normality of heterosexuality." Oranges Are Not the Only the whole situation. For this, you may look around and, on the
Fruit still stands as a powerful coming of age drama. internet, and find support in the form of:
3.​ Tamed by Moshhihart ●​ Online communities of LGBTQIA+ people.
Zamantha Karssen Abvelino is a sponsored student, ●​ LGBTQIA+ people you know, such as family or
concealing her talent and struggling with a deflated ●​ friends.
self-concept. Her world flips on its axis when a ●​ Straight people who support LGBTQIA+ people.
formidable teacher, Rhio Ritchel Sandoval, feared by all, ●​ A gay/straight alliance at your school.
enters her life and brings a brand-new set of barriers. ●​ A local LGBTQIA+ community center.
●​ LGBTQIA+ organizations such as:
How Do You Know Your Sexual Orientation? ○​ Human Rights Campaign
Knowing your sexual orientation may be tricky. Many people find it ○​ Trevor Project
confusing and difficult, and there is nothing wrong with that. ○​ Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays

You can know your sexual orientation by understanding how you Reflection Quote for Sexuality
feel about people of the other sex or your sex. You may discover “Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is
you have a particular sexual orientation when you are in your teen the bravest thing we’ll ever do.”​ ​ - Brene Brown
or adult years without any sexual experience. This may even take
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“We deserve to experience love fully, equally, without shame, and a person is primarily attracted to individuals of the
without compromise.” ​ ​ ​ - Elliot Page opposite gender.
●​ Being a heterosexual means that a person is sexually or
romantically attracted exclusively to people of the other
sex.
LESSON 4: TYPES OF SEXUALITY
Example: A man who is attracted to women or a woman who is
Introduction attracted to men.
The World Health Organisation defines sexuality as a central
aspect of being human throughout life (that) encompasses sex, HOMOSEXUAL
gender identities and roles, sexual orientation, eroticism, ●​ Homosexuality is when a
pleasure, intimacy and reproduction. person is primarily attracted to
individuals of the same gender.
Sexuality is experienced and expressed in thoughts, fantasies, ●​ Homosexuality refers to
desires, beliefs, attitudes, values, behaviors, practices, roles and romantic or sexual attraction, as
relationships. well as emotional and
affectionate relationships, between individuals of the
While sexuality can include all these dimensions, not all of them same sex.
are always experienced or expressed. ●​ In other words, it involves individuals who are attracted
to or have romantic and sexual feelings for people of
Sexuality is influenced by the interaction of biological, their own gender.
psychological, social, economic, political, cultural, legal, historical, ●​ Homosexuality is a natural variation of human sexuality
religious and spiritual factors. and is part of the diverse range of sexual orientations
that people may experience.
Your sexuality, or sexual orientation, is basically a way to
describe the feelings you have for someone you fancy or are Difference Between Homosexuality and Pansexuality
attracted to. Homosexuality is an exclusive attraction to one's own gender,
while pansexuality is an attraction to people regardless of their
Sexuality is about your sexual feelings, thoughts, attractions and gender identity.
behaviors towards other people. You can find other people
physically, sexually or emotionally attractive, and all those things Example: A man who is attracted to other men or a woman who is
are a part of your sexuality. attracted to other women.

Sexuality is diverse and personal, and it is an important part of BISEXUAL

who you are. Discovering your sexuality can be a very liberating, ●​ Bisexuality is when a person is
exciting and positive experience. attracted to individuals of both
their own gender and the
It has an impact on the way we dress or talk with other people, in opposite gender.
our way of thinking about and imagining things. ●​ A bisexual person is someone
who is romantically and
Sexuality is a part of us. It is probably difficult to find another sexually attracted to more than one gender, which might
domain of human life that is loaded with controversial issues, include women, men, nonbinary folks, and other
stereotypes, prejudices, norms, and taboos. genders.

Sexuality 9 Signs That You May Be Bisexual

●​ Individual’s sexual orientation or attraction to others. 1.​ Your feelings confuse you. - Confused about your
●​ Your sexual feelings, thoughts, attractions, and acts attraction.
towards other people are all part of your sexuality. 2.​ You've had confusing friendships in the past. - Confusing
●​ Other people can pique your interest in a physical, "non-romantic" or "quasi-romantic" relationships.
sexual, or emotional way, and all those things are 3.​ You've felt drawn in by people of more than one gender. -
aspects of your sexuality. You feel an undeniable attraction toward a person's
●​ Your sexual orientation is a unique and deeply personal appearance and looks, regardless of their gender
aspect of who you are. 4.​ Your sexual fantasies aren't always heterosexual in
nature. - Fantasizing physical being with various
Gender genders.
●​ Cultural meanings attached to being masculine or 5.​ One's gender doesn't stop you from wanting a
feminine, which influence personal identities. relationship with them. - The capacity to fully love and
date multiple genders.
Sex 6.​ You are attracted to fictional characters, regardless of
●​ Biological traits that are associated with being male or their gender. - Being attracted to fictional characters or
female. relating to bisexual characters in a movie, book or show.
7.​ You have answered lots of "Am I Bi?" quizzes online. -
Types of Sexuality You tried online quizzes about being bisexual to
HETEROSEXUAL determine if you're one of them.
●​ Heterosexuality, often referred 8.​ The "bi" label resonates. - You relate more when you
to as straight sexuality, is when hear the characteristics and/or the meaning of bisexual
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you find your comfort and validated. those relationships are often focused more on emotional
9.​ You just know it. - You realize that you're one of them intimacy rather than sexual intimacy.
due to one experience, moment or encounter. ●​ Asexuality is a part of the LGBTQ+ community, and it's
important to raise awareness about it to create a more
Bisexual Flag inclusive and accepting society.
Pink - attraction to the same gender. ●​ Visibility helps asexual individuals feel validated and
Blue - attraction to the opposite gender. understood.
Purple - attraction to two or more genders.
Experiences Romantic Attraction And Desire
Example: A person who is attracted to both men and women. ●​ Aromantic: Aromantic people feel little to no romantic
attraction and prefer nonromantic relationships.
PANSEXUAL ●​ Demisexual: Demisexual only experience sexual or
●​ Pansexuality, also known as romantic attraction after forming a deep emotional
omnisexuality, is the attraction connection.
to individuals regardless of their ●​ Gray sexual/Gray romantic: These individuals fall
gender or gender identity. between sexual and asexual/aromantic spectrums,
●​ Pansexual individuals are experiencing attraction or desire in varying, specific ways
attracted to people based on or circumstances.
their personalities and not limited by gender.
●​ Pansexual is the romantic, emotional, and/or sexual Example: A person who does not experience sexual attraction to
attraction to people regardless of their gender. anyone, regardless of their gender.
●​ Like everyone else, pansexual people may be attracted
to some people and not others, but the gender of the Conclusion
person does not matter. Our world is not only comprising of men and women, but human
●​ Pansexual people might refer to themselves as sexuality is complex and diverse, and these categories provide a
gender-blind, asserting that gender and sex are not basic framework to describe different orientations.
determining factors in their romantic or sexual attraction
to others. Many individuals may identify with other labels or have fluid
●​ Gender blindness is an ideology where a person sexual orientations that can change over time.
chooses not to see differences between genders. It can
be harmful. It can further gender inequalities because it Respect for individuals' self-identifications and orientations is
ignores historical differences between people of different crucial to understanding and supporting diverse expressions of
genders. human sexuality.
●​ Pansexuality is also sometimes called omnisexuality.
Omnisexuality may be used to describe those "attracted
to people of all genders across the gender spectrum",
and pansexuality may be used to describe the same LESSON 5: SEXUAL HARASSMENT AND
people, or those attracted to people "regardless of PARAPHILIA
gender".
What is Sexual Harassment?
Example: A person who is attracted to individuals regardless of
According to the Employment Opportunity Commission
whether they identify as male, female, transgender, genderqueer,
(EEOC), unwanted sexual advances, demands for sexual favors,
or any other gender identity.
and any other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature in
a professional or educational setting.
ASEXUAL
●​ Asexuality is the absence of
It is an act, which may be committed physically, verbally, or
sexual attraction or a very low
visually with or without the use of information communication
interest in sexual activity.
technology.
●​ Asexual individuals may still
experience romantic attraction
It refers to unwelcome sexual advances, comments of a sexual
and emotional connections with
nature, requests for sexual favors, and harassment or comments
others but do not experience sexual attraction.
about an individual’s gender, all of which create a hostile work
●​ Asexuality is a sexual orientation where individuals don't
environment.
experience sexual attraction towards others.
●​ It's important to note that asexuality is a valid and
Explicit and Implicit Sexual Harassment
legitimate sexual orientation, just like being heterosexual,
Explicit is stated directly and fully.
homosexual, or bisexual.
●​ touching private parts without consent
●​ To put it into perspective, think of asexuality as a
●​ unwanted touching
spectrum. Some asexual individuals may still experience
romantic attraction and desire romantic relationships,
Implicit is not expressed directly but still understood.
while others may not experience romantic attraction
●​ catcalling
either.
●​ One common misconception about asexuality is that it
Types of Sexual Harassment
means someone is 'broken' or 'not interested in
1.​ Verbal
relationships.' That's simply not true. Asexual individuals
2.​ Non-Verbal
can and do have meaningful, loving relationships, but
3.​ Physical
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affecting both women and men.

Verbal Sexual Harassment
Saying anything of a sexual nature to someone who is an What is Paraphilia?
unwilling recipient. Making sexual offensive jokes and asking The word paraphilia derives from Greek; “Para” means next to,
sex-related questions. and “Philia” means love. “Next to or alongside of love.”

Examples of Verbal Sexual Harassment Persistent and recurrent sexual interests, urges, fantasies, or
●​ requesting sexual favors behaviors of marked intensity involving objects, activities, or even
●​ speaking in sexual tone situations that are atypical in nature.
●​ telling sexual jokes
●​ using sexually suggestive names Characteristics of Persons with Paraphilia
●​ Besides normal sexual behavior, paraphilic disorder
Non-Verbal Sexual Harassment involves aggression, victimization, and extreme
Range of behaviors that convey sexual objectification, disrespect, one-sidedness.
or discomfort, contributing to an uncomfortable and inappropriate ●​ The behaviors exclude or harm others and disrupt the
work environment. potential for bonding between persons. Usually lasts for
6 months.
Examples of Non-Verbal Sexual Harassment ●​ Overly obsessed that if the individual cannot get to their
●​ ogling or staring desired object, they get stressed.
●​ mimicking sexual acts
●​ using explicit hand gestures Examples of Paraphilia
●​ lewd smiles or winks 1.​ Pedophilia - psychiatric disorder in which an adult or
older adolescent experiences a primary or exclusive
Physical Sexual Harassment sexual attraction to prepubescent children.
Type of harassment that is often related to violence, like physical 2.​ Voyeurism - viewing some form of nudity or sexual
attacks or threats. In extreme cases, physical harassment is also activity, accompanied by sexual arousal.
classified as sexual assault. 3.​ Frotteurism - involves the act of touching or rubbing
one’s genitals against another nonconsenting individual
Examples of Physical Sexual Harassment in a sexual manner, to attain sexual gratification.
●​ unnecessary touching 4.​ Necrophilia - being sexually attracted to dead bodies or
●​ negative blackmailing sexual activities with dead bodies.
●​ threats and assault 5.​ Sexual Masochism Disorder - a mental health-related
●​ damaging private body parts issue in which a person is sexually aroused by
experiencing pain or humiliation, and their sexual urges
Where can Sexual Harassment happen? or behavior cause them distress.
1.​ Home
2.​ School/Workplace Ways to Counter Sexual Harassment
3.​ Peer Groups Escape Before the Assault
4.​ Mass Media ●​ Leave in any way you can if they're occupying your
physical space.
Harassment at Home ●​ Scream for help if you're in immediate danger.
This harassment can include demands for sex or sexual acts, ●​ Leave instantly and go to an area with lots of people.
unwelcome advances, requests for favors, and other sexual ●​ Give them an alibi or leave as politely as you can.
harassment.
Escape During the Assault
Includes other unwelcome sexual conduct that makes it hard to ●​ Keep your arms in front of you to protect vulnerable
keep living in or feel comfortable in your home. areas.
●​ Aim a punch at their throat or eyes to deteriorate them
Harassment in School/Workplace fast.
Unwanted and unwelcome behavior of a sexual nature that ●​ Drive a knee into their stomach or groin to break their
interferes with the right to receive an equal educational hold on you.
opportunity. ●​ Push your chin down and pull away their arm if they are
choking you.
Unwelcome sexual advances, requests for sexual favors, and
other verbal or physical harassment of a sexual nature in the Ways Towards Recovery
workplace or learning environment. ●​ Tell someone you trust what occurred.
●​ Go to the hospital for treatment.
Harassment in Peer Groups ●​ Report, address, and speak up about the assault if you
Refers to any sexual abuse that happens between children of a feel you can.
similar age or stage of development.
How to Treat Paraphilia
It can happen between any number of children and can affect any Pharmacologic Therapy
age group. Pharmacologic interventions may be used to suppress sexual
behavior. These treatments may offer genuine help to a variety of
Harassment in Mass Media patients with paraphilic disorders; however, numerous adverse
Sexual harassment is a significant issue in the media industry, effects have been reported.
GENDER AND SOCIETY​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ HAZEL ANNE A. MONDIDO
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Group Therapy The European Commission is where the term originated.

This setting is designed to help paraphilic individuals break
through the denial they so commonly exhibit by surrounding them Body
with other patients who share their condition. Once these ●​ How society defines gender to bodies, how we feel it,
individuals begin to admit that they have a sexual divergence, the and how other people treat us when it comes to our
therapist can begin to address individual issues (e.g., past sexual body. It can be challenging to identify common body
abuse) that may have led to the sexual disorder. mechanics or gestures since they interact with
gender-specific standards. Body movement, gendered
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy attractiveness, and embodied space are three instances
Involves applying behavioral therapy techniques to modify sexual of heteronormative disciplines.
deviations by altering patients’ distorted thinking patterns and ●​ This includes:
making them cognizant of the irrational justifications that lead to ○​ Our own body
their undesirable sexual behaviors. ○​ How society genders bodies
○​ How others interact with us based on our body
Law Against Sexual Harassment
Republic Act 11313 Identity
●​ Also known as “Safe Space Act.” ●​ A name that we adopt to identify as a particular gender
●​ The policy of the State to value the dignity of every depending on our own how we view ourselves.
human person and guarantee full respect for human ●​ It is the belief that a person corresponds to either the
rights. The State also recognizes that both men and male or female gender, neither both, nor anywhere in
women must have equality, security, and safety not only between.
in private, but also on the streets, public spaces, online, ●​ An identity of a person's gender may vary by the same
workplaces and educational and training institutions. as or different from the sex they were assigned at birth.
●​ Includes catcalling, unwanted invitations, misogynistic,
transphobic, homophobic, and sexist slurs, persistent Gender identity is the individual's internal, ingrained
uninvited comments or gestures on a person’s perception of their own gender.
appearance, relentless requests for personal details,
statement of sexual comments and suggestions, or Additional identities​:
flashing of private parts, that is unwanted and has A gender identity that changes over time is genderfluid.
threatened one’s sense of personal space and physical It is consistent on occasion, but not always. When a
safety. person is genderfluid, they may present as one gender
●​ Gender-Based Sexual Harassment for months while occasionally switching every day.
○​ The crimes of gender-based sexual harassment
are committed through any unwanted and Agender is a phrase that means "without gender" and
uninvited sexual actions or remarks against any can be used to indicate either a non-binary gender
person regardless of the motive for committing identification or the absence of a gender identity. People
such action or remarks. who are transgender can present in any way, whether
●​ Was approved on April 17, 2019. they are male, female, both, or fully beyond the binary.

Republic Act 7877 To be genderqueer is to identify as someone who might

●​ The Anti-Sexual Harassment Act of 1995. not belong to heterosexual or homosexual conventions.
●​ The State shall value the dignity of every individual, Genderqueer is a gender identity that is based on the
enhance the development of its human resources, term "queer." It can be used to convey a nonbinary
guarantee full respect for human rights, and uphold the gender identity even though it's usually used to describe
dignity of workers, employees, applicants for a person's sexual orientation.
employment, students or those undergoing training,
instruction or education. Queer is varying in a way that is considered unique or
●​ This bill aims to expand the scope of the anti-sexual new compared to the ordinary or customary. shady,
harassment act to include sexual harassment cases doubtful, or suspicious.
done outside training institutions.
●​ Was approved on March 19, 1995. Two Spirit is an identity, which is used by some
Indigenous and Native Americans to express their
sexual, gender, and/or spiritual identities, refers to a
person who believes they have both a male and a
LESSON 6: WHAT IS GENDER? feminine spirit. Two-spirit persons may also use words
from their native tongues to refer to same-sex attraction
Gender Defined or gender diversity.
Gender refers to your sense of who you are as a boy, girl, or
something else. People express their gender in a variety of ways, Social
making gender identity more complex than merely considering ●​ Ways we demonstrate our gender in public such as:
oneself as "male" or "female." clothes, hairstyles, and behaviors as well as how others
see, communicate with, and try to define our gender.
Dimensions of Gender This also comes with being a woman, man, girl, or boy.
The term "Gender Dimension" refers to the use of sex and Gender is a social concept that varies from culture to
gender analysis in research. culture and can evolve over time.
GENDER AND SOCIETY​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ HAZEL ANNE A. MONDIDO
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●​ This includes: ​
○​ How we present our gender to the world. During these years, discrimination and inequity happened,
■​ Gender expression is how we especially for women. These are some of the typical cases of
communicate our gender through inequality women have to face in those years.
aspects of our expression such as
clothing, hair, accessories, and 1.​ Women has no right to vote
mannerisms. We cannot assume ●​ Women were granted the right to vote much
someone's gender identity from their later than men, and often this was achieved
gender expression. through hard-won battles. The Women's Social
■​ Gender roles and expression are often and Political Union (WSPU), which Emmeline
so entrenched in culture and society Pankhurst established in 1903, is the reason
that it is hard to imagine things another this movement is most well-known in the UK.
way - this is also how norms become This group attempted to enter parliament,
subtly enforced. heckled members of parliament, damaged and
○​ How society uses these roles and expectations chained themselves to property, and
to enforce gender norms. consequently faced abuse from the media and
were physically assaulted by the police.
Lesbian - a woman that has sexual orientation towards
women. 2.​ Women has no right to choose her husband
●​ Women’s livelihoods were historically
Gay - a man that also has sexual orientation towards significantly dependent on who they married as
men. their roles were typically seen as being to raise
children and manage the home whereas the
Genderfluid - an individual that has gender identity that husband earned the income and acted as the
is not fixed or changes over time, similar to head of the household and prime
(androgynous - has masculine and feminine side). They decision-maker. Upon becoming married wives
can feel masculine or feminine in their daily life/ basis. fell under the protection of the husband and
often became one person in the eyes of the law
Bisexual - sexually attracted to both sex or gender. affording them no rights to own property or to
Word bi means double. retain their earnings – all of which became the
property of their husband.
Transgender - a gender identity that is opposite to their
assigned sex. 3.​ Women has no right for education
●​ Women's lives have historically been greatly
Queer - strange/ odd. influenced by the men they get to marry, since
women were expected to take care of the home
Questioning - a person that is not sure of their gender. and raise the children, while men were
They are exploring/ discovering one’s sexual orientation. expected to provide the income, be the primary
provider of the household, and make the
Intersex - a person that is born with a different majority of the decisions. Following their
reproductive system that doesn’t fit their sex. marriage, wives were no longer entitled to
separate property rights or the ability to keep
Asexual - an individual that doesn’t feel sexual desire or their earnings; instead, their husbands gained
attraction towards any gender. all of their property and they were frequently
treated as a single entity for legal purposes.
Pansexual - an individual that is romantically and
sexually attracted to all genders. 4.​ Women in positions of economic and political power.
●​ The rise of women’s and gender history has
History of Gender coincided with the arrival of women in positions
What happened to gender and history? of economic and political power. Women are
The concept of gender had been associated with grammar for significantly underrepresented in political offices
most of history and only started to move towards it being a worldwide, especially in higher-level positions.
malleable cultural construct in the 1950s and 1960s. This issue has drawn increasing attention in
both academic and policy circles. Recent
As Scott noted by 1986, feminists had already adopted the term research in economics and political science
“gender” to refer to the social construction of sex differences, and explores the key reasons why women are
theorists had already posed “gender” as an analytic category, underrepresented in politics, often categorizing
according to class and race. them into “supply-side” and “demand-side”
factors. Supply-side factors include women’s
According to Matthews, the concept of gender gives recognition to potentially lower willingness or ability to run for
the fact that every known society distinguishes between men and political office, influenced by social norms,
women. family responsibilities, or lack of political
networks. On the demand side, voter and party
Therefore, the term/concept of gender is a systematic way of leader biases against women candidates play a
understanding men and women socially and the patterning of significant role in limiting opportunities for
relationships between them. women to hold political office.
GENDER AND SOCIETY​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ HAZEL ANNE A. MONDIDO
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them. Sometimes these folks will substitute "they" for "him" or

How historians study gender history? "her" when using pronouns with specific genders.
Through the study of women's history, the endeavor to include
women in history has grown into a significant scholarly endeavor. The term "Gender Spectrum" refers to a more complex model of
The number and quality of histories about women's daily lives and gender in which it can exist on a continuum rather than as a
political contributions have increased. simple male/female binary, allowing individuals to identify with a
truer representation of their gender.
1.​ Numerous studies of performance and practice are being
conducted in response to the issue of class and sexuality Given the intricacy of gender, the words we use can greatly
as it presents new topics for historical study. The study of influence how we perceive things. There are a variety of
gender history is not unified because some historians commonly used terminologies that we may use to better
continue to advocate for binary distinctions while others comprehend the concepts of gender, even though there isn't a
disagree with the idea that identity may be useful. consensus on their definitions among all parties.
Gender history is still a fascinating and developing topic
of study, and it should be explored in other specialist Agender - A person who is agender does not identify with any
histories. particular gender, or they may have no gender at all. Other terms
for this may include:
2.​ The study of gender, however, has lately focused more ●​ neutral gender
on men and masculinity, which is now perceived as more ●​ null gender
unstable and brittle in the wake of historical rediscovery. ●​ genderless
The issue of feminism and the general or specific claims ●​ neutrois
to rights still needs to be addressed. Rather than
assuming that there are disparities, this issue calls into Androgyne - A person who identifies as androgyne has a gender
question how far a history of inequality can ever get past that is either both masculine and feminine or between masculine
the issue of gender. and feminine.
​
3.​ Examining women in history is not in opposition to Bigender - A person who identifies as bigender has two genders.
gender history or incompatible with it. The methods of People who are bigender often display cultural masculine and
gender analysis are indeed crucial for expanding our feminine roles.
understanding of women. For instance, it's important to
analyze the gender connections between men and Butch - Women, especially lesbians, tend to use this term to
women, as well as men's identities and their capacity to describe the way they express masculinity, or what society defines
attain and execute patriarchal authority over both women as masculinity. However, the LGBTQIA Resource Center states
and each other. that “butch” can also be a gender identity in itself.

4.​ The analysis of gender also enables historians to Cisgender - A cisgender person identifies with the sex that they
understand the origins and perpetuation of women's were assigned at birth. For example, a cisgender woman is
inequality. Even the lingering gaps in our understanding someone who still identifies with the sex — female, in this case —
of women are highlighted by gender history. There are a doctor assigned them at birth.
very few published studies of English femininity in these
periods, let alone many that explore whether women also
faced a range of constructions of femininity, while the
majority of historical studies of early modern or
eighteenth-century English masculinity expose the
diversity of male identities - or masculinities.

5.​ It was recognizing women's negotiating tactics,

adjustments, and strategies in a male-dominated
environment. While gender history sprang from the
feminist agenda, it has quite different goals. It looks into
how institutions and people are gendered while
acknowledging that femininity and masculinity are mostly
social constructs.

Gender Spectrum and Non-Binary

If gender were a spectrum with male and female at either end,
then some people would feel like they fit into a category other
than the gender they were given at birth and would migrate from
one side to the other, while others would feel like they are a mix
and would be located somewhere in the middle.

Some people completely reject the term "spectrum" because

they don't feel like they belong on it.

When a person's gender does not fit into the gender binary
system, some individuals use the term "non-binary" to describe