Final Examination

GE 11 Gender and Society

JOHN MICHAEL P. APAO
Instructor

VINCOY, JOHN LLOYD A.

BSME IV

Instruction: Answer the following question on the best of your ability.

1. Discuss the following.

A. The primary and secondary characteristics of sex.

Primary and secondary characteristics of sex refer to the physical aspects that distinct
men and women. Primary characteristics are those physical aspects you have since
birth like the vagina and the penis. As for the secondary characteristics, these are those
physical aspects that develop while growing up. For example, over time, men grow
beard or mustache. Meanwhile, women tend to get voices with high pitch.

B. Reproductive Roles
Reproductive roles refer to things or activities a woman or a man should necessarily do
in her or his existence according to society. For women, they are expected to bear a
child, to do the household chores, and to stay at home to take care of his husband and
children. Meanwhile, men are expected to work and be the breadwinner of the family. A
man must provide for his family. Regardless of gender, everyone is also expected to
take care of their parents and to give back for their sacrifices. Although these roles are
being eliminated slowly, we cannot deny the fact that these are roles are still instilled to
the minds of the people around us.

C. Reproductive Responsibility
Reproductive responsibility means being obliged to be aware and conscious with
unwanted pregnancy. I think this also includes the long-run maternal care. Mostly, this
responsibility is carried by a woman. Although there are condoms and procedure like
vasectomy for men as contraception, it is still more visible that women take
contraceptives than men. Women, more often, consults doctors to be prescribed with
birth controls. Some also undergo procedures which can alter her body functions.
Moreover, women are also responsible for the maternal care of her children until
adulthood.

2. Excerpt from the Magna Carta for Women explain further these statements

A. Human rights are interdependent and interrelated. The fulfillment of one

right often depends, wholly or in part, upon the fulfillment of others

This means that each individual is equal as human beings. No one should suffer
discrimination regardless of ethnicity, culture, race, gender, etc. Each person must not
be discriminated just because they do not fit the standards established by society.
Therefore, when practicing our rights, we must also think of other people. Because after
all, we are on the same equal page.
 B. No sports event or tournament will offer or award a different sports
prize, with respect to its amount or value, to women and men winners in the same
sports category: Provided, That the said tournament, contest, race, match, event,
or game is open to both sexes: Provided, further, That the sports event or
tournament is divided into male or female divisions.

This statement firmly addresses that the sports prize of the same sports category for
men and women should not be different. In a case before in Cebu for a triathlon game,
women were offered less prize than men just because they were fewer than men. They
think that just because they were slower than men, they did not exert the same much
effort. Thus, this excerpt from Magna Carta for Women is vital. Women are as
competent as men. The only difference of these two are their physical characteristics,
not their potential nor their skills.

C. Prevention and management of infertility and sexual dysfunction

pursuant to ethical norms and medicals standards.

From Magna Carta of Women under Women’s Right to Health, at all times, the state will
provide for a comprehensive, culture-sensitive, and equitable education system. They
also provide gender-specific health services and initiatives for everyone and their stages
of life cycle which addresses the major causes of women’s mortality and morbidity. One
good example of a community that follows this law is, each province and city shall
ensure the establishment and operation of hospitals with adequate facilities and
qualified personnel that provide emergency obstetric care and address each and every
woman’s reproductive health issue.

D. Recognizing the interrelation of the human rights of women, the State

shall take measures and establish mechanisms to promote the coherent and
integrated implementation and enforcement of this Act and related laws, policies,
or other measures to effectively stop discrimination against and advance the
rights of women.

The state must provide the appropriate procedures to ensure that women's rights are
respected and to adopt and carry out all legal measures required to nurture and protect
them. State must support women's equal participation in and contribution to the growth
of the political, economic, social, and cultural spheres. The state is ensuring that
women's interests are fully included into the political process. State will offer to them the
several possibilities to improve and learn new skills, find work, and contribute to the
community to the best of their talents for their families and communities
3. Compare and Contrast Magna Carta for Women to Violence against Women
and Children.

Magna Carta for Women refers to any gender-based distinction, exclusion, or

restriction which has the effect or purpose of impairing or nullifying the recognition,
enjoyment, or exercise by women, irrespective of their marital status, of human rights
and fundamental freedoms in the political, economic, social, cultural, civil or any other
field. While in the other hand, Violence against women and their children refers to
any act or a series of acts committed by any person against a woman who is his wife,
former wife, or against a woman with whom the person has or had a sexual or dating
relationship, or with whom he has a common child, or against her child whether
legitimate or illegitimate, within or without the family abode, which result in or is likely to
result in physical, sexual, psychological harm or suffering, or economic abuse including
threats of such acts, battery, assault, coercion, harassment or arbitrary deprivation of
liberty.

4. Under these Gender Identities, choose at least three and expound some of your
understandings.
A. Gendered Family Dynamics
B. Gendered Education
C. Gender and Religion
D. Separate and Unequal: The Gendered Workplace
E. Gendered Communication
F. Gendered Media

A. Gendered Education

Historically, women were not allowed to attain any education at all. Only men are
allowed to have access to education. In our country, nowadays, men are mostly
expected to be excellent in Math. Women who are considered good at Math must be
compared to men. They must be able to compete or work harder than men. For
example, in engineering classes, they call it rare when women enroll in these classes
when in fact, it should be normalized. This is just one example of a gendered education.
Another example is that women are more verbally intelligent than men. So, in contests
like oration, extemporaneous speech, debate, etc. women are more likely chosen as
representatives. However, gendered education is not that highly alarming like before
because everyone has the equal opportunity to access education regardless of gender.

B. Gender and Religion

Religion has played a dominant role in gender relations. For example, Catholics believe
that husbands and wives must respect each other’s roles and value each other equally.
These roles include women taking care of the home, and men providing financially for
the family. This example already shows that religion has beliefs about genders. Another
example is that Catholics do not agree with same-sex relationships. They also do not
allow women to be priests.
 C. Gendered Communication

This refers to the differences between men and women when they communicate.
According to research, the way women communicate is entirely different from men. For
example, facial expressions are mostly done by women rather than men, like rolling her
eyes. Men do not do this kind of expression. Women also speak a lot more than men.
Men only talk when it is necessary, while women talk about everything. Men are also
considered more likely to do physical touch than women. Although these examples are
based on research, we still cannot conclude that these are accurate to everyone
because we have different personalities and way of communicating.

5. 2 things I want my instructor to know;

1. I have learned a lot in our subject. As a person who does not read a lot regarding
these kinds of topics, I have now understood its relevance to our society.
2. I am thankful for your kindness and positive response to our requests, Sir. I thank
you for being understanding and open-minded.