GENDER SENSITIVITY

JOHN-JOHN S. SAMANTE
Office of the City Vice-Mayor
GAD Trainer
Let’s do a quick
review of the
Role of Women in
Philippine History
 Pre-Colonial Philippines
During pre-colonial times, women shared
equal footing with men in society. They
were allowed to divorce, own and inherit
property, and even lead their respective
barangays or territories.

In matters of family, the women were for

all intents and purposes the working
heads, possessing the power of the purse
and the sole right to name their children.
They could dictate the terms of their
marriage and even retain their maiden
names if they chose to do so.
 Spanish Era
During the Spanish Era, women’s role in
the family and in society took a big step
backwards:

• Women became private properties of

their husbands.
• Education was denied to women.
• Ownership of wealth or land was no
longer allowed.
• Served as debt payment to landlords.
• Submissive to men’s decision.
 American Era
During the American Era, the treatment of
women became better:

• Women were given access to

education.
• Women were allowed to work at lower
pay and positions.
• Women were allowed to form
associations.
• Women were allowed to vote.
 Japanese Occupation
The Japanese Occupation was a dark
time for Filipino women:

• Economic activities were halted.

• Menstruation of women stopped due
to weight loss and starvation.
• Women were abused and raped in
the garrisons.
What was the date when
Filipino Women were allowed POP
QUIZ
to vote? #1
Let’s do a quick
review of SEX
and GENDER
Concepts…
What is Sex?
Sex refers to the two categories of
being MALE or FEMALE, needed
for biological reproduction.

It is biologically determined and

is constant across time, societies
and culture.
What is the meaning of POP
INTERSEX? QUIZ
#3

Intersex is a general term used

for a variety of conditions in which
a person is born with a reproductive
or sexual anatomy that doesn't fit
the typical definitions of female or
male.
What is Gender?
Gender refers to the socially
constructed characteristics of
women and men, such as:
norms, roles and relationships
of and between groups of
women and men.
 The DIFFERENCE between
SEX GENDER
• Biologically determined • Socially and culturally constructed.

• Created, produced, reproduced

• Natural attribute that a person is
and maintained by social
born with.
institutions.

• Acquired/learned. Can be
• Natural. Born. Fixed.
unlearned.

• Gender characteristics are not

• Sex characteristics are universal. universal. It may differ from society
to society.
 The DIFFERENCE between
SEX GENDER
• Sex characteristics are equally • Gender characteristics are marked
valued and equally important by inequality

• Uses terms like masculine and

• Uses terms like male and female
feminine

• Fixed. Sex roles can be performed • Interchangeable. Gender roles can

by only the male or the female be performed by both sexes

• Constant regardless of time place • Time and place-bound

What is the meaning of POP
LGBTQ? QUIZ
#2

Lesbian
Gay
Bi-Sexual
Transgender
Queer
 GENDER SOCIALIZATION
The process of learning and internalizing culturally approved
ways of thinking, feeling and behaving according to one’s
gender.
Agents of Gender Socialization
• Family
• School
• Religion
• Media
• State
Some Gender Issues:

Personhood
Development
Economic
Violence Marginalization
Against
Women Women
Political
Subordination
Multiple of Women
Burden
Gender
Stereotyping
 FAST FACTS
Males Females
95.8% are LITERATE 96.8% are LITERATE

66 y/o 73 y/o
Life Expectancy Life Expectancy

55,028,825 54,552,260
number of males in
the Philippines or
6.6% 8.9% number of females
in the Philippines or
50.22% of the Age 15-24 are Age 15-24 are 49.78% of the
UNEMPLOYED UNEMPLOYED
population. population.
RESPECT
goes both ways
Maraming salamat!!!