Name: Centeno, Danakey F.

     Date: October 22, 2021 BSP- 3E  SSP101c     

Title: Challenging Beliefs: Philosophical-Historical Approach to Explain Gender

A. What beliefs do you have were challenged by learning about the pre-colonial societal

gender roles in the Philippines, and the history of the hatred of the church towards the

gay community? Give min 3 max 5.

1. Growing up in a very religious family, we are taught to classify all homosexual

behavior to be wicked in God's view.

2. God only created a man and a woman, so being gay, lesbian or Trans is not

acceptable and a sin.

3. You will not go to heaven if you engage in homosexual activities or

relationships.

4. Women are not great leaders because they are too softhearted and emotional.

5. Women are only bound to their traditional duties as mother, wife, and

housekeeper.

B. What was your reaction to this new information on the gender roles in the time of pre-

colonial Philippines from different historical books and researches? Explain in 1-3

sentences.

- It was a shocked to me that during pre-colonial period, women actually as equal as

men. They have a place in the society and your gender will not dictate what is your

role in the society instead it was your use, functions and what you can do to help

others. It makes me sad that due to Spanish colonialism that peaceful and beautiful
 society that performs equally in both men and women replaced with a society that

mainly patriarchal, where men rising as the dominant gender and the real Filipina

were replace by the ideal woman dictated by the Spaniards.

C. How can existential philosophy (specifically of Sartre) help you process these new

information on gender roles? Or how can you apply the existential philosophical

approach in your personal life with regards to your roles or function based on

gender? Explain in 1-3 sentences.

- In my perspective, Sartre's concept of "existence before essence" argues that we, as

humans, first exist and then decide our essence by our choices and actions. On the

other hand, to put it another way, we are who we are because of what we do, not

because of what we were born with because we are not born with a definite purpose.

Humans are free to be who they want to be in the society because their function is

more important than what gender identity they possess.