GENDER AND SEXUALITY

ACROSS TIME
1. Discuss the historical roots of our
understanding of gender and
sexuality; and
2. Show appreciation of how this
understanding evolved through time
affected various aspect of human life
 Divine Feminine
(the sacredness of the woman due to
her ability to conceive children)
 EGALITARIAN
Men and women have
equitable power and
roles
 PATERNITY
Role of father in
conception
Agricultural
Era
 Societies have
privilege men over
other genders,
mainly because of
the preferential
given to them in the
productive sphere
(world of public
work)
Women who have been
revered due to their ability
to conceive has been
viewed as solely capable
only of reproductive
affairs (world of home and
related tasks such as
suckling the young, child
rearing, and home
management)
 Gender Disparity
intensified during the
Industrial Era
PATRIARCHY
Greek word Patriarkhes which means “the rule of the
father”. A social system where men primarily holds
power in the political and private spheres. A system
based on the control and oppression of women wherein
they are perceived to be the weaker sex.
 Patrilineal Society follows
Patriarchal Society
Only men can inherit property and family
name.
Women are left with no inheritance and
are expected to marry a man who can
support her economically.
Women are not allowed to go to schools or
even vote
Social construct and not as a biological
phenomenon
 Friedrich
Engels
“Patriarchy
came about
when people
started having
private property
instead of a
communal
living.”
Historical Views on Gender
 Aristotle, Plato and other
philosophers viewed women
as the inferior sex and are
properties of men.
Obey their husband, bear children, and take care of
household. Forbidden to learn philosophy, politics,
and science.
 Herodotus, Greek historian said that
women enjoyed higher social status than
Greek women because they can inherit
property and engage in trade and politics.

Greek influenced them through the conquests

of Alexander the Great across Asia and Africa.
 Confucianism
Written rules that dictate how women
should conduct themselves.
 “Three obedience’s and four virtues”
“Precepts of women”
Women should obey their father, when married she is to obey
her husband, and when widowed she is to obey her son.
Sexism- prejudice, stereotypes, and
discrimination based on sex

Gender pay gap- men earn more than women

Underrepresentation in politics, military,

executive positions, etc.

Rape on women and the stigma making women

ashamed to report the crime
Very conservative expectations on women on
how they behave

Unrealistic depictions of women in fiction, often

very sexualized

Women do more housework and childcare

Boys where trained to be leaders while women

were trained to do house chores