MODULE 1: GENDER AMD SEXUALITY AS SOCIA; REALITY

SEX- Biological traits that society associates with being male or female.

GENDER- Cultural meanings attached to being masculine & feminine, which influence personal
identities. (E.g., Man, Woman, Transgender, Intersex, Gender Queers, among others)

SEXUALITY- Sexual attraction, practices & Identity which may or may not align with sex and gender. (E.g.,
Heterosexual, Homosexual (Gay or Lesbian), Bisexual, Queer, among others)

The Nineteenth Century

- New ideas about the female body led to a decline in the belief that women were the more lustful sex;
now women were idealized as mothers - Towards the end of the century new jobs outside the home
became available, and many women became clerks, typists, and shop assistants. - The concept of the
respectable male “breadwinner”, who had the responsibility for providing financially for his entire
family, was increasingly influential in this period. women were expected to give up their jobs when they
got married - Both men and women were present in many aspects of public and private life.

FEMINISM

First-wave feminism of the 19th and early 20th centuries focused on overturning legal inequalities,
particularly addressing issues of women’s suffrage.

Second-wave feminism (1960s–1980s) broadened debate to include cultural inequalities, gender norms,
and the role of women in society.

Third-wave feminism (1990s–2000s) refers to diverse strains of feminist activity, seen by third-wavers
themselves both as a continuation of the second wave and as a response to its perceived failures.

HISTORICAL VIEWS ON GENDER

Greek - Women are inferior and are properties of men. Their job was to obey the husbands and bear
children. They were forbidden to learn philosophy, politics, and science.

Egypt - Women can inherit property and engage in trade and politics. Women enjoy higher social status
than Greek women in Herodotus’ time and changed overtime in Alexander the Great’s conquests.

China - “Three obedience’s and four virtues.” and “Precepts of Women” of Confucianism.

MODULE 2: BIOMEDICAL PERSPECTIVE IN GENDER AND SEXUALITY

PUBERTY- is the time in life when a boy or girl becomes sexually mature. It is a process that usually
happens between ages 10 and 14, for girls and ages 12 and 16 for boys. It causes physical changes, and
affects boys and girls differently.

In girls:

- The first sign of puberty is usually breast development. - Then hair grows in the pubic area and armpits.
- Menstruation (or a period) usually happens last.

In boys:

- Puberty usually begins with the testicles and penis getting bigger. - Then hair grows in the pubic area
and armpits. - Muscles grow, the voice deepens, and facial hair develops as puberty continues.

FEMALE PUBERTY

- It is the sloughing off the uterine lining if conception has not occurred. It lasts within two to six days
with a cycle ranging from 24 to 42 days.

- Menstrual cycle marks the beginning of puberty in females. First episode (11 yrs -15 yrs old) is called
Menarche.

MENSTRUAL CYCLE – The menstrual cycle is the hormonal process a woman’s body goes through each
month to prepare for a possible pregnancy. Many women also premenstrual syndrome (PMS)
symptoms. • The menstrual cycle starts with the first day of the period and ends when the next period
begins. • Hormone signals are sent back and forth between the brain and the ovaries, causing changes
to the sacs in the ovaries that contains egg (follicles) and the uterus • The first part of the cycle prepares
an egg to be released from the ovary and build the lining of the uterus. • The second part of the cycle
prepares the uterus and body to accept a fertilized egg, or to start the next cycle if pregnancy doesn’t
happen.

OVERVIEW • Menstrual: the period- the shedding of the uterine lining. Levels of estrogen and
progesterone are low. • The follicular phase- the time between the first day of the period and ovulation.
Estrogen rises as an egg prepares to be released. • The proliferative phase- after the period, the uterine
lining builds back up again. • Ovulation – the release of the egg forms the ovary, mid-cycle. Estrogen
peaks just beforehand, and then drops shortly afterwards. • The luteal phase – The time between
ovulation and before the start of menstruation, when the body prepares for a possible pregnancy.

• The secretory phase- The uterine lining produce chemicals that will either help support an early
pregnancy or will prepare lining to break down and shed if pregnancy doesn’t occur.
MODULE 3: PSYCHOSOCIAL PERSPECTIVE IN GENDER AND SEXUALITY

Sociology- is the study of societies and how humans act in groups. A society is the community of
people living in a particular country or region and having shared customs, laws, and
organizations. Emmanuel-Joseph Sieyès in 1780 was first to use the term.

THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF UNDERSTANDING THE PSYCHOSOCIAL ASPECTS OF

OUR EXPERIENCES IS WELL-EBING- A STATE OF STAISFACTION, MEANING, AND
PURPOSE.
 LOVE, INTIMACY, AND RELATIONSHIP

What is love?
Love is a human experience differently defined and conceptualized.
SEXUAL RESPONSE CYCLE
 Master and Johnson’s Model (four phases)
 Kaplan\s Model (three phases)
MALE PUBERTY • Body shape- his shoulders will broaden and his muscle will develop more definition
too. • Sweating, Hair, and Acne • Penis and Testicle Growth – the first sign of puberty actually begins
with the growth of testicles and scrotum, which will more than double in volume. • Nocturnal Emissions
and Erection- One may begin to have nocturnal emissions, or “wet dreams”, in which he ejaculates at
night. • Voice change • Breast growth • Mood swings- like girls, boys can also have mood swings thanks
to the hormonal, physical and emotional changes they’re experiencing.

TANNER STAGES OF SEXUAL DEVELOPMENT

MODULE 5: MEN AND MASCULINITIES

Men’s rights lobby – one of the main founding texts of this lobby is by Warren Farrell in his work, “The
Myth of Male power: What are men the Disposable Sex?” (1994)
According to Warren Farrell work- “Men are now the gender victims as a result of feminism having gone
too war, with men having increased responsibilities, but few rights around issues of marriage, divorce,
child custody, and access to children.”

MASCULINITY- qualities or attributes regarded as characteristic of men. Or is a set of attributes,

behaviors, and roles associated with men and boys.
“We equate manhood with being strong, successful, capable, reliable, in control”
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE (GBV)
- Any harmful act that is perpetrated against a persons’ will and that is based on
social-ascribed differences between males and females.

SURVIVOR
- Is the preferred term instead of “victim” of a person who has lived through an
incident of gender-based violence.

PERPETRATOR
- a person, group, or institution that inflicts, supports, or condones violence or
other abuse against a person or group of persons.

A. Persons with real or perceived power;

B. Persons in decision-making positions; and
C. Persons in authority
HUMAN RIGHTS
 The right to life, liberty and property of persons;
 The right to the highest standard of physical and mental health;
 The right to freedom from torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or
punishment;
 The right to freedom of opinion and expression and education;

POWER
- Perpetrators can have “real” or “perceived” power.

Social- peer pressure, bullying,

Economic- the perpetrator controls money or access to goods/services/ money.
Political- elected leaders, discriminatory law.
Physical- strength, size, use of weapons, controlling access or security.
Gender-based males are usually in a more powerful position than females;
Age-related-young and elderly people have least power.

USE OF FORCE/VIOLENCE
- Force may be physical, emotional, social, or economic in nature. It may involve
coercion or pressure. Includes intimidation, threats, persecution, or other forms of
psychological or social pressure.

INFORMED CONSENT
- Consent mean saying “yes”. “Informed” means making an informed choice freely
and voluntary by persons in equal power relationship.
If a perpetrator uses force to get someone to say yes, it is NOT informed consent.
- Children (under 18) are deemed unable to give informed consent for acts such as
female genital cutting (FGC), Marriage, sexual relations, etc.

CYCLE OF VIOLENCE
Tension Phase- This feels like walking on eggshells.
Violent Phase- This is the actual violent. It includes physical, emotional, or sexual
abuse. A crime is committed.
Honeymoon Phase- The abuser could Ignore, deny, or act sorry for the violence.
The abuser may try to “make Up” through gifts or favors.