Intro to

Gender
● Objectives:

● At the end of the lesson, the students are able to:

● 1. Define gender and gender concepts/terms.

● 2. Reflect on gender and gender differences and
their implications to societies.
● 3. Familiarize the national and international legal
frameworks for gender equality.
● Topics: 
● Introduction to Gender 
● 1.1 Gender Concepts/Terms 
○ 1.1.1 Sex vs. Gender 
○ 1.1.2 Gender Equality vs. Gender Equity 
○ 1.1.3 Gender Equality vs. Women's Rights 
○ 1.1.4 Transgender vs. Transsexual 
● 1.2 Gender GAP and Patterns of Gender Inequality 
● 1.3 Other Gender Terms/Terminologies  
● Introduction

● The concepts of gender and sex are distinct but connected.

Sex: Sex refers to biological and physiological characteristics.
In Britain, the terms “male” and “female” are used in birth
certificates to denote the sex of children. Gender: Gender
refers to socially constructed roles, behaviours, activities, and
attributes. The terms “man”, “masculine”, “woman”, and
“feminine” denote gender. Sex and gender, and the terms,
“male/female” and “man/woman” are often used and
understood interchangeably. However, in the research
literature, sex and gender are considered separately. These
definitions are taken from the Equality and Human Rights
Commission's publication.
Gender norms are learned and are not fixed; they evolve and
change over time. The roles, behaviours or activities accepted
as “normal” can differ between societies. Societies vary in how
rigidly they apply gender stereotypes, and the amount of
flexibility they allow individuals in interpreting their own gender
identity. Unless challenged, gender stereotypes can be formed
and reinforced very early in a child's life. Unquestioned social
acceptance of gender stereotypes implies more limited
opportunities for individuals, and physical and mental health
risks if they do not comply with those stereotypes. Harassment
and discrimination based on sex are illegal in the Equality Act
2010.
● Biological sex does not only consist of the simple
binaries of male and female (Sen et al, 2007.
People can choose their gender, including non-
binary gender identities, while sex can also be
changed in both a physical and a legal sense. The
challenge to heterosexual norms by the LGBT
(Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender)
movement goes beyond biological sex to reflect
how sexuality and gender are defined and
expressed. (Information from the Scottish Public
Health Observatory, 2020
 Gender Concepts and Terms
● I. Definition of Sex vs. Gender
● At birth, the difference between boys
and girls is their sex; as they grow up
society gives them different roles,
attributes, opportunities, privileges and
rights that in the end create the social
differences between men and women.
 1. SEX 1. GENDER
Biological characteristics (including genetics, Socially constructed set of roles and
anatomy and physiology) that generally define responsibilities associated with being girl and boy or
humans as female or male. Note that these women and men, and in some cultures a third or
biological characteristics are not mutually exclusive; other gender.
however, there are individuals who possess both
male and female characteristics.
Born with. Not born with.
Universal, A-historical Gender roles vary greatly in different societies,
No variation from culture to culture or time to time. cultures and historical periods as well as they
depend also on socio-economic factors, age,
education, ethnicity and religion.

Cannot be changed, except with the medical Although deeply rooted, gender roles can be
treatment. changed over time, since social values and norms
are not static.

Example: Only women can give birth. Only women Example: The expectation of men to be economic
can breastfeed. providers of the family and for women to be
caregivers is a gender norm in many cultural
contexts.
However, women prove able to do traditionally male
jobs as well as men (e.g. men and women can do
housework; men and women can be leaders and
managers).
 2. Gender Equality vs. Gender Equity
Equity leads to equality! Equity means that there is a need to continue taking
differential actions to address historical inequality among
men and women and achieve gender equality.
Gender Equality Gender Equity

The state or condition that affords women and Justice and fairness in the treatment of women and
men equal enjoyment of human rights, socially men in order to eventually achieve gender equality,
valued goods, opportunities and resources, often requesting differential treatment of women
allowing both sexes the same opportunities and and men (or specific measures) in order to
potential to contribute to, and benefit from, all compensate for the historical and social
spheres of society (economic, political, social, and disadvantages that prevent women and men from
cultural). sharing a level playing field.

Example: A family has limited funds, and both Example: Provision of leadership training for women
daughter and son need new pair of shoes for the or establishing quotas for women in decision-making
new school year, but only one can get new shoes positions in order to achieve the state of gender
this year. If the family decides (and who in the equality.
family decides?) which child will get the new shoes
based on the child’s NEED, and not on the child’s
sex, this is an example of gender equality.
 3. Gender Equality vs. Women’s Rights

● Women‘s rights:
● o Entitlements that women have on the basis that they are human.
● o Normatively based in several international human rights documents
(e.g. The Convention on the Elimination of Discrimination Against
Women (CEDAW)).
● o Arranged around the concept of duty bearer& rights holder

● Gender equality and non-discrimination on the basis of sex are

fundamental human rights. It implies equal enjoyment of rights by man
and women.
 4. Transgender vs. Transsexual

● Transgender: refers to those trans people who live

permanently in their preferred gender, without necessarily
needing to undergo any medical intervention/s.
● Transsexual: refers to people who identifies entirely with
the gender role opposite to the sex assigned to at birth and
seeks to live permanently in the preferred gender role.
Transsexual people might intend to undergo, are
undergoing or have undergone gender reassignment
treatment (which may or may not involve hormone therapy
or surgery).(Source: ILGA-Europe
 II. Gender GAP and Patterns of Gender Inequality

● Gender Gap focuses on the differences between men and women at the
national level, seeing both groups as a homogenous one. However,
gender differences are significantly linked to factors such as age, race,
ethnicity, etc.
● The gender gap is the difference in any area between women and men
in terms of their levels of participation, access to resources, rights,
power and influence, remuneration and benefits. Of particular relevance
related to women’s work is the “gender pay gap”, describing the
difference between the average earnings of men and women (ILO,
2007).
● The Global Gender Gap Report 2014 benchmarks national gender gaps
of 142 countries on economic, political, education- and health-based
criteria. 2014 was a 9th edition of the Index
● Patterns of Inequality

• Inequalities in political power and representation: Women are often

underrepresented in formal decision-making structures, including
governments, community councils, and policy-making institutions.
● Inequalities in economic participation and opportunities: In most
countries, women and men are distributed differently across sectors.
Women are receiving lower wages for similar work, are more likely to
be in low-paid jobs and unsecured work (part-time, temporary, home-
based) and are likely to have less access than men to productive
assets such as education, skills, property and credit.
● Educational attainment: In most countries women have lower literacy
rate, lower level of enrolment in primary, secondary and tertiary
education.
● Patterns of Inequality (cont’d)

● Sexual and domestic violence: Women tend to be more often

victims in a form a domestic violence by woman’s intimate
partner, sexual exploitation through trafficking and sex trade, in
wars by an enemy army as a weapon of attempted „ethnic
cleansing‟ etc.
● Differences in legal status and entitlements: There are many
instances in which equal rights to personal status, security, land,
inheritance and employment opportunities are denied to women
by law or practice.
● III. Other Gender Terms and Terminologies
● Inspired by International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies,
2003
Other Terms Definitions

Disaggregated Data Data broken down by sex, age or other variables to reflect the different
needs, priorities and interests of women and men, and their access to and
control over resources, services and activities

Gender Blind Ignoring or failing to address the gender dimension.

Gender Analysis The study of differences in the conditions, needs, participation rates,
access to resources and development, control of assets, decision-making
powers, etc., between women and men in their assigned gender roles.

Gender Awareness The recognition of the fact that life experience, expectations, and needs of
women and men are different, that they often involve inequality and are
subject to change.
 Other Gender Terms and Terminologies
Gender Balance Having the same (or a sufficient) number of women and men at all levels
within the organization to ensure equal representation and participation in
all areas of activity and interest.
Gender Focal Point A person within the organization (field or headquarters) who is identified
as being a reference point for issues concerning gender.

Gender Roles The sets of behaviour, roles and responsibilities attributed to women and
men respectively by society which are reinforced at the various levels of
the society through its political and educational institutions and systems,
employment patterns, norms and values, and through the family.

Gender Mainstreaming The systematic integration of the respective needs, interests and
priorities of men and women in all the organization’s policies and
activities. This rejects the idea that gender is a separate issue and
something to be tacked on as an afterthought.
Feminism A collection of movements and ideologies that share a common goal: to
define, establish, and achieve equal political, economic, cultural,
personal, and social rights for women. There are several outdated and
false stereotypes on feminism (e.g. feminism meant wanting women to
defeat or overtake men into submission).