1
A Strong Partner for Sustainable Development
Module
In
GEE 1
GENDER AND SOCIETY
WPU-QSF-ACAD-82A Rev. 00 (09.15.20)
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Module No. 1
Sex and Gender
1st Semester 2023-2024
CHIN JAE S. PRAC
Instructor
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Table of Contents
Page
Introduction
Chapter 1 (Sex and Gender)
Overview
Learning Outcomes
Module 1 Pretest
Lesson 1 (Difference Between Sex and Gender)
Activities/Exercises
Evaluation/Post-Test
Lesson 2 (Biological Perspective)
Activities and Exercises
Evaluation/Post-Test
Lesson 3 (Psychological Perspective)
Activities and Exercises
Evaluation/Post-Test
References
4
6
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7
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11-13
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16
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INSTRUCTION TO THE USER
This module would provide you an educational experience while
independently accomplishing the task at your own pace or time. It aims as
well to ensure that learning is unhampered by health and other challenges. It
covers the topic about sex and gender.
Reminders in using this module:
1. Keep this material neat and intact.
2. Answer the pretest first to measure what you know and what to be
learned about the topic discussed in this module.
3. Accomplish the activities and exercises as reinforcement for better a
understanding of the lessons.
4. Answer the post-test to evaluate your learning.
5. Do not take pictures in any parts of this module nor post it to social
media platforms.
6. Value this module for your learning by heartily and honestly
answering and doing the exercises and activities. Time and effort were
spent in the preparation in order that learning will continue amidst
this Covid-19 pandemic.
7. Observe health protocols: wear a mask, sanitize and maintain physical
distancing.
Hi! I’m Blue Bee, your WPU
Welcome to Western Philippines University!
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STAY SAFE AND HEALTHY!
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Before introducing to you the topics of this course, let me introduce first myself to
you. I am Chin Jae S. Prac, a registered social worker and I will be your instructor for
this course, Gender and Society.
I believed that what we will be discussing here is somewhat familiar to you in one
way or another because each of us has sex and gender and lives in a particular
society. So, what practically we will be doing here is to level off our experiences about
gender and society.
To tackle the entirety of this course, the modules that will guide you in this learning
experience are the following:
Module 1 - SEX AND GENDER
Module 2 - GENDER AND SOCIALIZATION
Module 3 - GENDER IDENTITY
Module 4 - GENDER DIVISION OF LABOR
Module 5 - MANIFESTATION OF GENDER BIAS
Module 6 - POWER AND GENDER
Module 7 - GENDER EQUALITY AND WOMEN EMPOWERMENT
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CHAPTER 1
SEX AND GENDER
OVERVIEW
We are often asked about our sex and gender especially when we fill up an
application or registration form. In those forms, sex and gender are interchangeably
used. But we do not bother to ask the difference between sex and gender.
Knowing the difference between sex and gender is a step to be aware of ourselves and
gender problems in our society and become an advocate of gender equality.
Learning Outcomes
At the end of this module, you can:
1. Differentiate sex and gender;
2. Describe and distinguish the biological characteristics of sex;
3. Explain the psychosocial perspective in gender; and,
4. Relate different perspectives on sex and gender to real-life experience.
Module 1 Pre-test
Identification
Identify each statement below if it pertains to Gender or Sex. In your answer sheet,
write G if it pertains to Gender and write S if it pertains to Sex.
1. It is our mother who gives birth, not our father.
2. It is appropriate for Junjun to play with a toy gun because he is a boy.
3. A mother told to her daughter, “Remember that you are a girl. It is not
good for you that you will be the one to court a boy. It must be the other way
around.”
4. It is my wife that can breast-feed our babies.
5. Susan and Randy are farm workers. Susan’s wage is lower compared to
Randy because women receive lower wages than men.
6. Many of the social workers are women.
7. During puberty, girls’ voices do not break but boys’ voices do.
8. Liza has two children, a boy and a girl. She gives attention to training
the girl to do house chores as preparation for becoming a mother.
9. It will be very difficult for Vice President Leni Robredo to become a
president because a woman has no capacity to rule a country like the Philippines.
10. Having a monthly menstrual period is normal for a woman.
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LESSON 1
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SEX AND GENDER
A. Learning Outcomes:
At the end of the lesson, you can:
1. Differentiate sex and gender;
2. Recognize the society’s perspective on sex and gender.
B. Time Allotment – 3 hours
C. Discussion
When we fill up any application form we
are often asked about our sex or gender.
Many of us think that they are just the
same. We do not bother their difference.
What I am trying to tell you now is that
sex and gender are not the same. Though,
they are very much related and many use
interchangeably.
https://www.clipartkey.
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com/view/ihbwTxw_gen
der-and-sexuality/
To differentiate sex and gender, let
me discuss first to you the sex. Our own
physiological set-up would tell us about
our sex. If a child is recognized to have a
penis, then we say that the child is a male. If a child is recognized to have a
vagina, then the child is a female. Meaning, we determine sex by identifying
the genitals.
There are cases where genitals are difficult to distinguish because of
abnormality. In these cases, the chromosomes are used to determine sex.
Chromosomes are protein structures that contain our genetic materials and
there is a specific chromosome that marks the biological sex of a person which
is called sex chromosomes (Peralta et al, 2019). A male individual has a set of
XY sex chromosomes while a female has a set of XX sex chromosomes.
Other markers used in determining biological sex are the level of some
hormones such as testosterone, estrogen and progesterone. Hormones
are the chemicals in our body that are responsible for sustaining bodily
processes (Peralta et al, 2019). Testosterone (associated with sex drive and
aggression) is more likely to be higher in human males while estrogen and
progesterone (associated with menstruation, lactation and other female
reproductive functions) are more likely to be higher in a human female.
Sex is said to be the biological dimension of our gender and sexuality
(Peralta et al, 2019).
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For a human to reproduce themselves, there must have male and
female sex. The male cannot reproduce alone and so is the female. They need
each of them to continue human existence.
As male and female play their role
in reproduction, they find meaning and
express expectations to each other and
establish norms.
Society has expectations from us of being a male or a female as early as we
were born. For example, if you have a newly born baby boy and my presence
to him is pink apparel, the people around will surely react and say that pink
colors are for girls and not for boys. Even in giving a name to a child the
society has a set of norms. We usually assign the names ending with the letter
‘O’ to the boys while those ending with letter ‘A’ to the girls. For example, Lito,
Mario and Lucio are names for boys while Lita, Maria and Lucia are for girls.
Society’s expectations of our sexuality are referred to as gender. Therefore,
gender is the social dimension of one’s sexuality (Peralta et al, 2019).
D. Activities/Exercises
Lesson 1 Activity/Exercise
REFLECT
Kindly go back to your memory and think of the events that made you
aware of your sex and gender. The following are your guide questions:
• How did you become aware of your sex, that you are a male or a
female?
• What are those expectations from the society (family, relatives,
church, school, media, etc.) that were being laid down on you as a
male or a female and how were they being laid down?
• How do you conform or deviate from their expectations?
_
_
_
_
_
Your reflection paper must be in 300 to 500 words. It might be a hand
written or computerized, a picture or a text format, and submit it in our
google classroom.
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E. Evaluation/Post-test
Lesson 1 Post Test
Test 1. True or False.
In your answer sheet, write True if the statement is true and write
False the statement is false.
1. Sex and Gender are the same.
2. Sex and Gender are not related.
3. The social dimension of being a female or a male is what being
referred to as gender.
4. Identifying the genitals is the only way to distinguish if an
individual is a male or female.
5. Gender is expressed even in the choice of color.
6. Testosterone is more likely to be higher in human female.
7. One is said to be a male if he has a set of XY sex chromosomes.
8. Hormones have nothing to do with sex.
9. Sex is the biological dimension of your gender.
10. Like human beings, dogs have gender.
Test II.
Identification
Identify each statement below if it pertains to Gender or Sex. In your
answer sheet, write G if it pertains to Gender and write S if it pertains to
Sex.
1. It is our mother who gives birth, not our father.
2. It is appropriate for Junjun to play a toy gun because he is a boy.
3. A mother told to her daughter, “Remember that you are a girl. It is not
good for you that you will be the one to court to a boy. It must be the
other way around.”
4. It is my wife that can breast-feed our babies.
5. Susan and Randy are both farm workers. Susan’s wage is lower
compared to Randy because women receive lower wages than men.
6. Many of the social workers are women.
7. During puberty, girls’ voices do not break but boys’ voices do.
8. Liza has two children, a boy and a girl. She gives attention in training
the girl to do house chores as preparation of becoming a mother.
9. It will be very difficult for Vice President LeniRobredo to become a
president because a woman has no capacity to rule a country like the
Philippines.
10. Having monthly menstrual period is normal for a woman.
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LESSON 2
BIOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
A. Learning Outcomes
At the end of this lesson, you can:
1. differentiate the reproductive systems of male and female;
2. express the significance of the process of human reproduction
B. Time Allotment: 3 hours
C. Discussion
In this lesson, we will be discussing the terms which are taboo for our
culture. The terms such as sexual intercourse, vagina, penis, orgasm, etc.
are the terms that we feel uneasy to discuss with our family or with the
public. The helping professionals are convinced that there is a need to
engage in discussions and conversations about human sexuality and how
societies view and make sense of it (Peralta, 2019). It is part of this course
to discuss these terms squarely. Now, let us start the discussion.
Sex characteristics that are present at birth are the primary sex
characteristics (Britanica). These are the vagina and ovaries for
females, and penis and testes for males.
There are cases where the primary sex characteristics are hard to
identify. The baby’s genital appears to be a conglomerate of female and
male organs. This condition is called hermaphroditism.
During puberty (8-14 years old), other characteristics that emerge in
both males and females which are referred to as the secondary sex
characteristics (Peralta et al, 2019). In females, the beginning of puberty
is marked by their menstruation and there would have a widening of hips
and pelvis, growth of pubic hairs, and enlargement of breasts. Unlike
females, males have no menstruation during puberty but there would have
growth of pubic hairs, deeper chest cavity, broadening of shoulders and an
elongation of vocal cords that cause a lower voice.
Different sex characteristics of male and female complement each other
in the process of reproduction. The ovaries (female gonads) and testes
(male gonads) produce germ cells and sex hormones. The male germ cells
are called sperm while the female germ cells are called ova (egg).
Absence of either sperm or ova, the process of reproduction would not take
place.
Ovaries and testes also produce sex hormones (estrogen, progesterone,
and testosterone) that give humans the desire (Eske, 2019) to have sexual
intercourse.
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In sexual intercourse, the penis of the male is inserted into the vagina
of the female and it culminates in orgasm and ejaculation of sperm.
Hundreds of sperm swim to reach the fallopian tubes where the egg or
ovum has been released. When the sperm penetrates the egg in the
fallopian tube, fertilization happens and the sperm and the egg become
one and it is now called the embryo. Then the embryo attaches to the
inner lining of the uterus, which is called the implantation. This process,
from fertilization of the egg by the sperm to the implantation, is called
conception. Life begins in conception. Within five to seven days, the ball
of cells (embryo) floating in the uterus develops into a fetus and thus,
pregnancy begins and lasts normally for nine months.
D. Activities/Exercises
Lesson II Activities/Exercises
1. My existence is…
(Your answer must not be less than 300 words but not more than 400
words.)
From the millions of sperm cells produced by the testes of your father
and from the hundreds of egg cells released by the ovary of your mother, a
particular sperm cell and a particular egg cell had met, became an embryo,
then a fetus, then a child. And now, it is you.
Kindly reflect using the following guide questions:
1. What do you think of your existence, is it accidental or a God’s plan?
Please explain.
2. What do you think is the purpose of your existence?
2. My sex, my responsibility
(Your answer must not be less than 200 words but not more than 300
words.)
Try to give meaning of your own responsibilities as demand by your
assigned sex (male or female).
E. Evaluation/Post-test
POST TEST (Lesson 2)
Test I. Multiple Choice
Direction: On your answer sheet, write the letter of your choice for each
item.
1. Which of the following is a sex hormone?
a. Estrogen
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b. Progesterone
c. Testosterone
d. All of the above
2. The process from fertilization of the egg by the sperm to its
implantation is called
a. Conception
b. Implantation
c. Embryo
d. All of the above
3. Which of the following belongs to the primary sex characteristics?
a. Vagina
b. Penis
c. Ovary
d. All of the above
4. There are cases that baby’s genital appears to be a conglomerate of
female and male organs and this is called
.
a. Hermaphroditism
b. Primary sex characteristics
c. Secondary sex characteristics
d. None of the above
5. Which of the following is part of the secondary sex characteristics?
a. Growth of pubic hairs
b. Widening of hips and pelvis
c. Broadening of shoulders
d. All of the above
6. Which of the following are female gonads?
a. Testes
b. Ovaries
c. All of the above
d. None of the above
7. Which of the following are male gonads?
a. Testes
b. Ovaries
c. All of the above
d. None of the above
8. Which of the following produce sperm?
a. Testes
b. Ovaries
c. All of the above
d. None of the above
9. Which of the following produce ova?
a. Testes
b. Ovaries
c. All of the above
d. None of the above
10. When the sperm penetrates the egg in the fallopian tube, fertilization
happens and the sperm and the egg become one and it is now called
.
a. Conception
b. Implantation
c. Embryo
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d. All of the above
Test II. True or False
Direction: On your answer sheet, write True if the statement is true and
write False if the statement is false.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
The sex of a person is always identifiable at birth.
Growing of pubic hairs is part of the primary sex characteristics.
It is normal for Lucio to have egg cells because he is a boy.
Life begins when an egg is fertilized by a sperm.
It is normal for Susana to have menstruation during puberty and it is
part of her primary sex characteristics.
6. It is abnormal for a girl to have sex drive.
7. Testes are the male gonads.
8. Unlike the sperm cells, ova are essential to reproduction.
9. It is not a part of the process of reproduction when the penis of the
male is inserted into the anus of the female during sexual intercourse.
10. Estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone are the sex hormones
produced by the stomach.
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Lesson 3
Psychosocial Perspective
A. Learning Outcomes
At the end of this lesson, you can:
1. Define ‘psychosocial’;
2. Explain the psychosocial aspect of gender and sexuality; and,
3. Reflect deeply on the meaning and purpose of life as a sexual and
gendered being.
B. Time Allotment : 3 hours
C. Discussion
We learned from the preceding chapters that all of us have sex and
gender. Being a female and being a male is equally important in the
reproduction of human life for they have their own roles. Without one of
them, life could not continue in its existence. Out of their role performance
in reproduction, people give meanings and expectations to oneself and
another. Since the human female has the biological capability of bearing a
child, society expects her that, as a woman she must have to fulfil a
reproductive role. Since the human male has no biological capability of
bearing a child but has a muscular-skeletal frame that is relatively larger,
society expects him to perform the productive role such as farming,
fishing, etc. However, without such limiting expectations, both men and
women can actually perform productive roles and child-rearing roles.
It is in this context that we must have to understand that the
perspective of gender and sexuality is not only biological and physiological
but also psychological and social, thus the term psychosocial
perspective (Peralta et al, 2019).
Anything associated with mental process and behaviour is what is
referred to as the psychological (Peralta et al, 2019). Therefore, when we
say the psychological dimension in sex and gender, we mean that our
sexual behaviour and gender-related behaviour are coming from what we
sense, think, and feel.
On the other hand, anything associated with human relationships,
connection, and interaction is what being referred to as the social
(Peralta, 2019). It means that as we perform our productive and
reproductive roles, we establish relationship; we connect and interact with
each other.
To look into the psychosocial dimension of our sex and gender, we need
to examine our awareness, socialization, intimacy and relationship, and
well-being as a psychosocial goal.
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Awareness
Miriam-Wesbster defines awareness as the quality or state of being
aware: knowledge and understanding that something is happening or
exists. Every day, there is always something that is happening in us.
Knowing and understanding of what is happening to oneself is selfawareness and it is in a constant process. We ask: Who am I? What is
God’s plan for me? What is the purpose of my being? Why do I need to
study? Can I do this and that? What makes me feel bad or good? What is
my gender? Why am I attracted to him/her? Is it love I am feeling right
now? These are some of the questions that we ask to ourselves. Answering
questions about ourselves would lead us to be more aware of ourselves.
On the other hand, we also ask those questions to the people around us
because we live every day in relation to others. We are social being. We are
also in a constant process of knowing and understanding others or, let us
say, a constant process towards other-awareness. We ask: What do
they like and dislike? What do they want in life? How do they know me?
Do they accept me?
Socialization
As we relate with other people every day, we are oriented with society’s
norms and traditions. We know what they expect from us and what can we
expect from them. We learn on how to “properly” behave as a man and a
woman. We also learn how to balance our personal goals and social goals.
This process of learning might be passed on to us through the family,
neighbourhood, school, church and media. Such process of learning of
society’s norms and traditions is what being referred to as socialization
(Peralta et al, 2019).
Intimacy and relationship
In the process of socialization, we continue to know and understand
ourselves and others. We forge different forms of human relationships
such as romantic relationships, family, friendship, etc. Human
relationship is a bond formed between two or more people, manifested
through communication and interaction (Peralta et al, 2019).
As we continually know and understand ourselves and others, we can
find somebody with whom we are comfortable to deal with the different
aspects of our lives. We share with them more often our time, resources,
emotions and aspirations. The bond formed in this relationship becomes
closer while communication and interaction become frequent. In such
relationship, the in-depth process of knowing and understanding between
people is called intimacy.
Well-being as a Psychosocial Goal
We always think and feel as a result of what we have sensed from
ourselves and our environment. We then connect and interact with others
about what we have thought and felt. Now the question is why do we need
to interact with others about what we have thought and felt? It is because
we need satisfaction of our needs and attainment of the meaning and
purpose of our lives. It is the well-being that we need to advance and
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safeguard. Well-being is the state of satisfaction, meaning and purpose and
it is the ultimate goal of understanding the psychosocial aspects of our
experiences (Peralta et al, 2019).
D. Activities/Exercises
Lesson 3 Activity/Exercise
CONTEMPLATE
Contemplate on the following questions and write your answers (75-100
words per question) at your answer sheet.
1. Based on your experience as a sexual and gendered being, what is the
meaning and purpose of your life? (Sight your experience that leads you
to articulate the meaning and purpose of your life.)
2. What relationships do you have that could help you to attain the
meaning and purpose of your life?
3. What are the factors that might hinder you to attain the meaning and
purpose of your life?
E. Evaluation/Post-test
Lesson 3 Evaluation/Post-test
Part I. True or False
1. Psychosocial is the only perspective of gender and sexuality.
2. My sexual behaviour is dictated by nature. What I sense, think and feel
have nothing to do with it.
3. Anything associated with mental process and behaviour is what being
referred to as ‘social’ in psychosocial.
4. No one could live without a relationship.
5. There is always an intimate relationship between individuals who
engage in sexual intercourse.
6. The purpose and meaning of life are part of self-awareness.
7. Self-awareness and other-awareness are very important in having
intimate relationships.
8. An intimate relationship is only for a romantic relationship.
9. The church is an institution responsible for transmitting society’s
norms and traditions. But I am not a church-goer. Therefore, I could
not learn anymore about society’s norms and traditions.
10. Well-being is the ultimate goal of understanding the psychosocial
aspects of our experiences.
Part II. Essay (20 points)
1. By giving example from your experience, explain what psychosocial
aspect of gender and sexuality is.
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References
Eske, J. (2019). Medical News Today. What to know about female sex hormones?
Peralta, et.al (2019), Gender and Society: A Human Ecological Approach
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Vision 2020
WPU: the leading knowledge center for sustainable
development of West Philippines and beyond.
Mission
WPU commits to develop quality human resource and green
technologies for a dynamic economy and sustainable
development through relevant instruction,
research and extension services.
Core Values (3CT)
Culture of Excellence
Commitment
Creativity
Teamwork
WPU-QSF-ACAD-82A Rev. 00 (09.15.20)