Liceo de Cagayan University

College of Arts and Sciences

Social Sciences Department

A Course Module on Gender and Society

Module 1 Subject Title: Sex versus Gender and Theories on Gender

Development

Objective: At the end of this module, the student should be able to 1) define and
differentiate sex and gender; 2) understand the different gender concepts; 3) learn how
biological views explain gender development; and 4) apply their understanding of these
concepts in real life.

Preliminary Term

Week 1

Course Learning Outcome: The student should know the difference between sex and gender
based on their distinct definitions.

Performance Indicator: The student is able to use the terms sex and gender properly in class
discussions and in real life setting.

Topic: Defining Sex and Gender

Discussion of Topics

In general, “sex” refers to categories that people are assigned to at birth based on
reproductive characteristics. Meanwhile, the World Health Organization (WHO) defined
“gender” as socially constructed characteristics of a male or a female person. This definition
implies that gender is not inborn, but rather it is dependent on what society deems to be
acceptable qualities of a male or a female person.

Activities:

Students will reflect on the following questions and write a brief answer for each.

1) How do you define sex? How do you define gender?

2) What or who influenced your views on these topics?

3) Have you experienced discrimination because of your gender? Or have you

witnessed people discriminated for their gender? Describe what you felt. Why did
you feel that way?

4) If you were to give a message on how to treat people whose self-expression do

not conform to traditional views of being a man and being a woman, what
would you say?
Assignment:

Research on the following theoretical perspectives on gender and give their theoretical
arguments:

1) Structural functionalism 3) Feminist theory

2) Conflict theory 4) Symbolic interactionism

Quiz: 10 points

A. Based on what you have learned, explain the following terms in your own words (2
points each):

1) Sex

2) Gender

B. Write down the differences between Sex and Gender in the table below. (6 points)

Sex Gender

References:

Tolibas, Gallinero, Dumanlag, Ramos, Oregines. (2020). Gender and Society. Mutya Publishing
House
“What is the difference between sex and gender?”
https://www.ons.gov.uk/economy/environmentalaccounts/articles/whatisthedifferencebetweensexandgender/20
19-02-21#:~:text=The%20World%20Health%20Organisation%20regional,expression%2C%20and%20how%20they
%20behave.

Theoretical Perspectives on Gender

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/alamo-sociology/chapter/reading-theoretical-perspectives-on-gender/

Week 2

Course Learning Outcome: The student should learn how biological views explain gender
development.

Performance Indicators: The student is be able to correctly discuss the biological theories of
gender development.

Topic: Biological Theories of Gender Development

Discussion of Topics:

What is a theory? A theory is a logical statement of ideas explaining observed facts or

phenomena. A theory started as a hypothesis or a group of hypotheses about an observed
phenomenon and is supported by data through experimentation.

Gender development refers to the process by which a person builds his or her sense of
self within the context of the gender norms expected by his or her community. Regardless of
one’s birth, gender development is the process of how a person expresses their femininity or
masculinity as influenced by nature or nurture.

Activities:

Watch Episode 6 of The Gender Wars of the 1997 documentary The Human Sexes by
Desmond Morris. In this episode, Morris narrated his findings on how the male and female
evolved from equal standing in pre-historic times to the current status of male dominance.

Based on the documentary, write a 300-word essay on what it means to be “different but
equal”.

Assignment:

Look up and briefly define the following terms:

1) Chromosomes 2) Hormones

3) Testosterone 4) Estrogen 5) Evolution

Quiz: 5 points each

1) Discuss the role of chromosomes on gender development.

2) Discuss the role of the testosterone and estrogen on gender development.

3) Discuss the evolutionary explanation on gender development and give its core basic
assumptions.

References:

Tolibas, Gallinero, Dumanlag, Ramos, Oregines. (2020). Gender and Society. Mutya
Publishing House

The Human Sexes by Desmond Morris (6 of 6) The Gender Wars (1997)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkGxOxk4I4E

Biological Theories of Gender https://www.simplypsychology.org/gender-biology.html