GENDER AND

SEXUALITY ACROSS
TIME
Historical accounts show that across time human
conception of Gender and Sexuality has also
changed.
 Archeological artifacts reveal that in the past,
human societies have high regard for women
 The concept of DEVINE FEMININE has prevailed
thus women are treated equally with men
 (sacredness due to her ability to conceive)
 GENESIS 1: 27-30
27 So God created man in his own image, in
the image of . God he created he created
him; male and female he created them.
28 and said to them. Be fruitful and subdue
itGod blessed them . Rule over the fish of the
sea and the birds of the air and over every
living creature that moves on the ground.
 GENESIS 2:15

15 The Lord God took the man and

put him in the garden of Eden to
Work it and Take Care of it.
 MEN AND WOMEN ARE EQUAL
God created man in his own image.

Men and Women have equal Blessings

Men and Women have equal task

Men and Women are both chosen by God

 PATERNITY
However, humans’ discovery of paternity.
 (role of the Father in conception)
 During the agricultural era men were preferred
because they did not have to bear children, and
because of their perceived physical strength.
 This make societies PATRIARCHAL, “ the rule of
the Father”
 PATRIARCHY SYSTEM
 This means that in this social system, society
is organized and maintained in a way that men
rule over women and their children
 In the social, legal, political, and economic
men are expected to lead, while women are
expected to obey
 This means only men can inherit property and
the family name
 EGALITARIAN SYSTEM
 This makes societies egalitarian that men and
women have equal power and roles.
 Men and women contribute to society and they
enjoy the same social status.
 History suggest an egalitarian system rather
than patriarchal system
 HISTORICAL VIEWS ON GENDER
GREEK

Aritotle, Plato viewed women as the inferior

sex and are properties of men whose only job
was to obey their husbands, bear children and
take care of the household. They were
forbidden to learn philosophy, politics and
science.
 HISTORICAL VIEW OF EGYPT
Herodotus, Greek historian citing that
Egyptian women enjoyed higher social status
than Greek women because they can inherit
property and engage in trade and politics.
However, Greek influence quickly spread in
Egypt through the conquest of Alexander the
Great across Asia and Africa.
 HISTORICAL VIEW OF CHINA
Confucianism has written rules that dictate
how women should conduct themselves.
“States that women should obey their
Father, when married she is to obey
Her husband, and when widowed
She is to obey her son.”
 GENDER IN ANCIENT PATRIARCHAL
SOCIETIES
Gender biases in ancient
patriarchal societies were very
strict, heavily enforced, often
violent
Imagine not being able to go to
school just because you are a
woman.
Not being able to express your
opinion on important matters.
Even when it concerns your future,
and not being able to say no to any
man.
 PATRIARCHY FORMS OF
OPPRESSION
 Sexism – prejudice,and discrimination
 Gender pay gap – men earn more than women
 Under representation in politics, military,
executive positions
 Rape on women, making women ashamed to
report the crime.
 Very conservative expectation on women
 Unrealistic depictions of women in fiction
often very sexualized.
 Women do more housework and childcare.
 Boys were trained to be leaders while women
were trained to do house chores.
 WOMEN EMPOWERMENT
Women’s liberation movement, that aims to
challenge the patriarchal society that creates
these oppressive political structures, beliefs
and practices against women.
They started in different countries during the
19th and early 20th century, as women
demanded for their rights.
 UNITED NATIONS REPORT

Reports that women do more work than men

because even they work at the office, they are
still expected to do household task.
Women perform 66 percent of the worlds work,
produce 50 percent of the food, but earn 10 of
the income and own 1 percent of the property.
 SALIENT POINTS THAT WOMEN
DEMANDS EQUALITY
1. Women suffrage – women were not allowed
To vote because they were viewed irrational
not able to make decisions. This changed
after World War I wherein women uprooted
from the household they took on jobs, and
letting women vote.
2. Equality in Politics and Society – for hundred
of years women’s voices were silenced.
Representation is very important for women
so that their genuine concerns are heard in
politics and in society.
3. Reproductive Rights – means the woman is in
control of her body and she can decide for
herself on what she sees is best for her.
Contraception, abortion and other
reproductive options available to women.
4. Domestic Violence – such as marital rape and
physical abuse are often by society
as part of a “marriage”. Although we have
RA 9262 or Anti Violence Against Women and
their Children, our culture still dismiss such
incidents as “away mag-asawa”.
5. Sexual Harassment and Sexual Violence –
Center for Women’s Resources in the Phil.
estimates that one woman or child is raped
every hour mostly by someone they know.
6. Other Rights – the right to divorce their
husbands, the right to make decisions on her
pregnancy, equitable wages, and equal
employment opportunity.