Villanueva, January Isaac M.

Republic of the Philippines

Pangasinan State University
Bayambang Campus
Bayambang, Pangasinan

Name: January Isaac M. Villanueva Date: July 22, 2022

Course, Yr. & Section: BPED I-2 Instructor: Ms. Vemma Mae Guinto

GENDER AND SOCIETY

ACTIVITY 1

1. How does your society, social institutions, or culture teach you how to think, act and feel in certain
ways based on your gender? How can it be liberating and limiting?

The society, social institution, and culture that I grew up in taught me to think, act, and feel cognizant
and also careful in certain ways based on my gender. It is always limiting and I can't imagine how one
could find it liberating. As men, in the common environment, we are often depicted as "too strong" or
"someone who can do it all". We are often overlooked and dismissed as someone who is capable of
emotions. Men, as species, are actually also emotional. In the opinions of many, we shouldn't cry or we
shouldn't be sad during failures. We are often called the leaders or the ballers, in layman's terms.

Personally, it has been very difficult for me to express or move in a society like so. There are times
when failure comes and difficulties rain down when I can only do is cry or be gloomy. What is more
difficult than being targeted by problems is being targeted by taboos. If I show that my emotions are
stalling I would be labeled as "gay", because in common minds showing sadness or being vulnerable is a
"woman's job" or is very feminine. I can call myself very assailable with feelings, little problems mostly get
the best of me mentally thus the transparent view of my inner thoughts. A third person's opinion or point
of view has taken a toll on my inner confidence. I have slowly built an emotional barrier in which I choose
the people whom I show my most genuine self.

In conclusion, the society, social institution, and culture that I grew up in indeed taught me to think,
act, and feel cognizant as well as careful in certain ways based on my gender. And it is indeed that when
it comes to inequality, men are also big targets of strong hate opinions. However, in general, not everyone
is often close-minded. Some see the invulnerability that we can show. If most of us only learn how to draw
inspiration and strength from the kind-hearted ones, we can become greater versions of more than what
society demands.