Sex, Sexuality, Gender Relations | Prof. Mary Barby P. Badayos-Jover

Summary

This script explores the distinctions between sex, gender, and sexuality, emphasizing their cultural and biological dimensions. It delves into the concept of gender as a social construct, influenced by societal expectations and norms. The script also covers issues related to sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression, explaining how these elements interact and differ. It highlights processes like gender socialization and how societal institutions, such as family and media, reinforce gender roles. Additionally, it examines the gender division of labor and its impact on women, particularly focusing on the phenomenon of multiple burdens that women face in balancing reproductive, productive, and community work.

Takeaways

• 😀 Sex refers to biological characteristics such as chromosomes, gonads, and genitals, and is consistent across time and cultures.
• 😀 Gender is a social construct that includes roles, behaviors, and expectations attributed to men and women, which can change across cultures and time.
• 😀 Judith Butler defines gender as a performance, influenced by societal norms, while gender non-conformity refers to behaviors that deviate from these norms.
• 😀 Sexuality encompasses emotional, romantic, or sexual attraction, and includes a person's sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.
• 😀 Sexual orientation refers to the lasting emotional or sexual attraction to others, while gender identity is how one perceives and identifies their gender, which may or may not align with their assigned sex at birth.
• 😀 Gender expression is how a person presents their gender identity to the world, through behavior, clothing, voice, or appearance, and may not align with cultural gender norms.
• 😀 Transgender refers to individuals whose gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth. Being transgender is not linked to any specific sexual orientation.
• 😀 Gender transition involves aligning one's gender identity with their external appearance through social or physical changes, which may include changing names, pronouns, or undergoing medical procedures.
• 😀 Gender dysphoria is the psychological distress experienced when one's gender identity does not align with their assigned sex at birth.
• 😀 Gender socialization involves four key processes: manipulation, canalization, verbal appellation, and activity exposure, all of which encourage children to conform to gender norms.
• 😀 Gender roles are culturally defined expectations and responsibilities for men and women, often leading to the gender division of labor in both private and public spheres, reinforcing traditional gender inequalities.

Q & A

What is the difference between sex and gender?

Sex refers to the biological characteristics such as chromosomes, gonads, and genitals, which are considered constant across time and cultures. Gender, on the other hand, refers to the roles, behaviors, and characteristics attributed to men and women by society, which vary across different cultures and can change over time.

What does Judith Butler's concept of gender suggest?

Judith Butler suggests that gender is a learned performance, imposed by normative heterosexual societies. Gender is not an inherent trait but rather something that individuals perform based on societal expectations.

How does the American Psychological Association define gender-normative behavior?

Gender-normative behavior refers to behaviors that align with cultural expectations for a particular gender. In contrast, gender non-conformity refers to behaviors that do not meet these expectations.

What is human sexuality, and what does it encompass?

Human sexuality is a broad concept that includes people's interest in or attraction to others, their capacity to experience erotic responses, and encompasses emotional, physical, and sometimes spiritual responses. It includes sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression.

What is the gingerbread person model used to illustrate?

The gingerbread person model is a widely accepted graphic illustration used to explain the concepts of sexual orientation, gender identity, and gender expression. It helps visualize how these aspects of human identity are interconnected yet distinct.

What does the term 'transgender' mean?

Transgender is an umbrella term for individuals whose gender identity or expression differs from the cultural expectations based on the sex they were assigned at birth. Transgender people may identify as straight, gay, lesbian, or bisexual, and their gender identity does not necessarily match their assigned sex.

What is gender dysphoria, and how is it defined by the American Psychiatric Association?

Gender dysphoria is a clinically significant distress experienced when a person's assigned gender at birth does not align with their gender identity. The American Psychiatric Association uses this term to better characterize the experiences of those affected, replacing the older term 'Gender Identity Disorder'.

How do socialization processes, like manipulation and canalization, affect gender roles?

Socialization processes, such as manipulation and canalization, teach children gender-specific roles from a very young age. Manipulation involves handling boys and girls differently, while canalization directs children towards gender-appropriate toys and activities, reinforcing societal expectations of masculinity and femininity.

What role do institutions like family, education, and media play in gendering?

Institutions such as the family, formal education, and mass media play crucial roles in gendering by promoting certain behaviors, expectations, and stereotypes. Families often teach children gendered tasks, schools may reinforce gender-specific subject choices and behaviors, and media often portrays stereotypical gender roles through advertisements and portrayals of men and women.

What is the gender division of labor, and how does it manifest in different types of work?

The gender division of labor refers to the allocation of different tasks, roles, and responsibilities to men and women based on cultural norms. Reproductive or care work, such as child-rearing, is often assigned to women, while productive work, such as paid labor, is typically assigned to both genders. Community work is also gendered, with women often handling community management tasks, while men participate in formal political activities.