GENDER AND SEXUALITY AS A SOCIAL REALITY

LESSON 1. SEX, GENDER, AND SEXUALITY

Lesson Objectives: When you finish reading this chapter, you should be able to:
1. differentiate sex, gender, and sexuality;
2. discuss the implication of these differences; and
3. contemplate about your own sexuality and on the importance of
appreciating sexual diversity.

Introduction

What does it mean to be a male or a female, to be feminine or masculine,

or to be man or woman? The human mind and body are so complex such that
to answer this question, we have to trace our journey from the moment we were
born, and go back to the journey we humans have across the life span.
First thing you need to understand is the complexities of defining and
differentiating sex, gender, and sexuality. Having a clear grasp of these concepts
is crucial since we will be using these terms over and over again in succeeding
discussions. Likewise, there are nuances in the meanings of these terms, which
have an implication on at which context we can appropriately use them.
Moreover, as we start our discussion of gender and sexuality as social realities, we
also want to understand how a person's gender is expressed from birth to
adulthood. Our ultimate goal is to foster understanding of the diversity of how
humans experience and express their sexuality.
SEX
Let's talk about sex the good, the bad, and the complicated. While sex is
often referred to as the act of reproduction (scientifically, copulation), it is,
nonetheless, an Important notion of how pop culture sees sex. According to
popular culture, sex is something done for pleasure, and perhaps in a more
Freudian sense, it is what drives people to do certain things. The association of sex
with pleasure and vice versa may make people dismiss it as a serious topic for
study.
Meanwhile, because sex is so often equated with and related to gender,
gender as a topic for discussion is likewise disregarded. Yet, by showing the
difference between sex and gender, and laying the groundwork for this
difference, perhaps you as the reader may start questioning discriminatory
practices in society that relate to sex and gender.

Sex is the biological dimension of your gender and sexuality. Also referred
to as biological sex or physical sex, the term generally pertains to your identity
depending on your sexual anatomy and physiology—the parts of your body that
are relevant to reproduction and the function of these parts.
Sex is typically determined by examining your genitals—these are external
organs that are associated with reproduction—the process or the abilities to
create offspring. Among humans, sex is often assigned at birth. If at birth, a child
is observed to have a penis and testicles, then the child is categorized as male. If

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on the other hand, a child is observed to have a vagina, then the child is
categorized as female.
However, there are cases when the baby's genitals appear to be a
conglomerate of male and female organs such that it may be difficult to classify
the baby's sex without further examination. In the past, this condition is referred to
as hermaphroditism (from Hermes, a male Greek god, and Aphrodite, a female
Greek goddess). In modern times, the term intersexuality is used to refer to this
phenomenon. Hermaphroditism or intersexuality is a naturally occurring variation
in humans and animals (1 in 1,500 births) according to the American
Psychological Association (APA) (2006).
Since it may be difficult to distinguish biological sex by merely examining
the genital there are other biological markers used. For instance, your
chromosomes—protein structures which contain your genetic materials—are also
used to determine sex. There are specific chromosomes referred to as sex
chromosomes, which marks a person's biological sex. An individual with a set of
XY sex chromosomes is said to be a male, while an individual with a set of XX sex
chromosomes is said to be a female. The level of some hormones-- chemicals in
our body that are responsible for sustaining bodily processes—are also use as
markers. For example, human males tend to have higher levels of testosterone,
which is associated to sex drive and aggressions. On the other hand, human
females tend to have higher levels of estrogen and progesterone, which are
associated to lactation, menstruation' and other female reproductive functions.

GENDER
However, humans are meaning-making organism. Our ability for higher
order thinking and our tendency to create social norms, allow us to attach social
and cultural meanings, including our sex. For example, males are typically
expected be masculine and females are expected to be feminine. Once parents
are aware of their child's sex (male or female) during birth or through prenatal
procedures such as ultrasound, they automatically attach social and cultural
meanings to their child's sex and in doing so, they already set an expectation in
terms of how their child should behave and how they should treat their child. This
social dimension of one's sexuality is referred to as gender.

There are many ways through which gender is manifested. As soon as a

new baby arrives in the family, adults surrounding the baby manifests their social
interpretation of the baby's sex by the colors assigned to the baby. For example,
it is common for families to buy blue apparels and toys when the baby is a Male,
as the color blue is associated with boyhood. Conversely, female babies are often
assigned the color pink, such that families would buy clothes and toys that are
color pink because the color is associated with girlhood. Remarkably, the
moment a baby is born, the name, toys, and apparels are picked by parents and
relatives based on their interpretation of the baby's sex.
Throughout childhood and adolescence, this assignment becomes more
complex as the expectations go beyond the kind of clothes worn, but also in
terms of how the person must or must not behave. There are set of behaviors that
all female individuals must follow and so with the male individuals, and all are
expected to stick to these behaviors that are aligned with their biological sex. This
phenomenon of determining the normality of a behavior based on whether it

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conforms or not to the expectations relative to one's biological sex is referred to
as heteronormativity. In the Filipino culture, girls are expected to have certain
characteristics of-being gentle, caring, and loving while boys are encouraged to
be strong, rough, and assertive. These expectations also extend to how men and
women are expected to behave, the college courses they take, and the jobs
they apply to.
However, there are people who do not follow culturally-accepted
standards of masculinity and femininity like girls not wanting to wear dresses and
boys not wanting to play rough sports. This is a natural variation of the human
gender expression, Social and cultural practices change through time Just 60
years ago, women could not wear pants without social disapproval, and now
wearing pants is already an accepted fashion trend among people of different
genders. How we express our gender is largely based on our social and cultural
setting. Most are comfortable with their sex and gender; men who are masculine
and women who are feminine. Each culture also has different standards on how
to be a man and a woman and how they should present themselves according
to their sex and gender.

Gender Identity
One important aspect of our gender is our sense of who we are: Do we see
and experience our lives as a man, a woman, or neither. This refers to our gender
identity. Typically, males are comfortable identifying as a man and females are
comfortable identifying as a woman.

However, there are cases wherein a person’s biological sex does not align
with one's gender identity. People with this experience are referred to as
transgender, such as a male who does not feel comfortable identifying as a man
(transgender woman) or a female who is not comfortable identifying as a woman
(transgender man). Transgender people may undergo gender reassignment
surgery to align their physical characteristics to their gender identity. However,
due to many factors such as belief systems, culture, and economics, some do not
opt for surgery.
Table 1. Main Differences between Sex and Gender

Sex Gender
Biological characteristics (including Socially constructed set of roles and
genetics, anatomy and physiology) responsibilities associated with being
that generally define humans as girl and boy or women and men, and
female or male. Note that these in some cultures a third or other
biological characteristics are not gender.
mutually exclusive; 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
No variation from culture to culture or societies, cultures and historical
time to time. periods as well as they depend also on
socio-economic factors, age,
education, ethnicity and religion.

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 Cannot be changed, except with the Although deeply rooted, gender roles
medical treatment. can be changed over time, since
social values and norms are not static.
Example: Only women can give birth. Example: The expectation of men to
Only women can breastfeed. be economic 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).

Does Sex Correspond to Gender?

Many scientists, psychologists, and sociologists believe that sex does not
determine one's gender. Femininity, or the behavior that one associates with
females, may not actually be tied to a woman's sex. Similarly, masculinity is not
tied to one's gonads. The whole idea of being a woman, therefore, is based on
gender and society's belief in how a woman should act, instead of biological
functions that are inescapable. The notion that one's biology predetermines the
roles one must have in life should not be the case at all.
Doing household chores are said to be a woman's job, yet there are some
men who do the cooking and cleaning at home. Aggressive sports are said to be
more for men, but for every men's sports team, there is a counterpart for women.
In these types of scenarios, gender role socialization comes in.

Gender role socialization is defined as the process of learning and

internalizing culturally approved ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving. It starts
as soon as one is born and manifests from the color associated with one's gender
to the roles one sees his or her gender perform the most. Socialization affects all
parts of one's identity by dictating what is acceptable to do because of one's
educational background, class, religion, and gender. Thus, female and male
gender roles develop.
One's socialization regulates his or her perceptions of genders to two ways-
-external regulations and internalized self-control. Each society has social norms
that have been developed over time due to the values and beliefs that it holds.
External regulation involves various institutions dictating what is proper and normal
based on one's identity. It affects how one sees his or her gender, and that gender
in relation to other genders. External regulation can happen through censorship
of some forms of sexuality ("Homosexuality is bad!") or subtle forms of control such
as micro aggression (subtle messages with sexist assumptions behind them—"Only
girly boys do housework!"). Because of these external regulations enforced by
society, notions of gender are absorbed and internalized social control is formed.
Internalized social control causes a person to police himself or herself according
to society's standards and norms. Consistent practice will eventually affect all
aspects of his or her personality, in turn, resulting in the policing of others,
expanding and perpetuating this regulation. Similarly, if someone finds himself or

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herself deviating from what society finds normal, he or she may become deviant
and excluded from society.

Gender stereotypes
Gender stereotypes develop when different institutions reinforce a biased
perception of a certain gender's role. These institutions include the family, the
church, the school, the state, and the media. These beliefs can be limiting if seen
as prescriptive of a gender's role rather than descriptive of the many possible roles
one can have.
Gender stereotypes are of four types:
1. Sex stereotypes are a generalized view of traits that should be possessed
by men and women, specifically physical and emotional roles. These
stereotypes are unrelated to the roles women and men actually
perform.
2. Sexual stereotypes involve assumptions regarding a person's sexuality
that reinforce dominant views. For example, a prevalent view is that all
men are sexually dominant. Another notion is heteronormativity, the
assumption that all people are only attracted to the sex opposite theirs.
3. Sex-role stereotypes encompass the roles that men and women are
assigned based on their sex and what behaviors they must possess to
fulfill these roles.
4. Compounded stereotypes are assumptions about a specific group
belonging to a gender. Examples of groups subject to compounded
stereotypes are young women, old men, single men or women, women
factory workers, and the like.
SOGIE

The abbreviation SOGIE stands for sexual orientation and gender identity
and expression. Sexuality is different from sex, as the former is the expression of a
person's thoughts, feelings, sexual orientation, and relationships, as well as the
biology of the sexual response system of that person. The different terms standing
for SOGIE are further defined below.

1. Sexual orientation covers the three dimensions of sexuality, namely:

a. sexual attraction, sexual behavior, sexual fantasies;
b. emotional preference, social preference, self-identification; and
c. heterosexual or homosexual lifestyle.

Sexual orientation involves the person to whom one is attracted and how
one identifies himself or herself in relation to this attraction which includes both
romantic and sexual feelings.
2. Gender identity refers to one's personal experience of gender or social
relations. It determines how one sees himself or herself in relation to gender
and sexuality. A person could identify himself or herself as masculine or
feminine.
3. Gender expression determines how one expresses his or her sexuality
through the actions or manner of presenting oneself.

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LGBTQIA+
The abbreviation LGBTQIA+ is short for lesbian, gay, transgender,
queer/questioning, intersex, asexual, the "+" sign is inclusive of those that belong
to this group whose sexual orientation or gender identity is not in the acronym
LGBTQIA. This category describes distinct groups outside of heteronormativity who
are usually defined by their SOGIE. Heteronormativity is defined as the notion that
being heterosexual or attracted to the opposite sex is the standard for
correctness. Heterosexual or straight refers to people who have sexual and
romantic feelings mostly for the opposite gender—men who are attracted to
women, and women who are attracted to men. Homosexual describes people
who have sexual and romantic feelings for the same gender—men who are
attracted to men, and women who are attracted to women. Cisgender is
someone whose gender identity corresponds with his or her biological sex.
A person can be a homosexual and at the same time a cisgender (identify with
the gender they were assigned to at birth because of their sex).

In addition, lesbian pertains to women who are attracted to other women.

Gay refers to men who are attracted to other men. It can also be used as an
umbrella term for homosexuality. Bisexual or "bi" denotes people who are
attracted to both genders. Finally, transgender is an umbrella term that refers to
someone whose assigned sex at birth does not represent his or her gender identity.
The labels were created to recognize the identity of those who are
considered outside the norm of society. These words and terms were popularized
to show those who fell outside the norm that they are not alone and that others
are facing the same struggles. While these are the usual words used when
discussing LGBTQIA+ issues, they are in no way stable, fixed, or exclusive. They are
temporary as the terminologies for sex and sexuality can change depending on
the direction of the LGBTQIA+ movement.
These scenarios are brought to light because of how trans issues are slowly
coming to public awareness, but the same issues have been faced by women
throughout history.

APPRECIATING DIVERSITY
According to the American Psychological Association (APA), nature and
nurture play a complex role in shaping our sexual orientation. Homosexuality and
heterosexuality are part of the human sexuality and is a large part of the human
experience.
Identifying as a heterosexual, lesbian, bi, gay, or transgender is a deeply
personal process, so it may be more difficult for others to 'come out' or for them
to become comfortable enough with their sexuality that they feel safe to share it
with other people. For others, it comes early in adolescence while for some, it may
take time to understand and discover themselves.
According the Psychological Association of the Philippines, “we can only
truly tell if the person is gay, lesbian, or bisexual if the person shares with us his or
her experiences and feelings of attraction towards them.” That is why it is

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important for everyone to feel safe as they share their sexuality since it is a
personal and sensitive topic. We can do that in an environment wherein we do
not feel judged and discriminated upon. People who experience prejudice and
discrimination suffer negative psychological effects (APA), so we must work
towards an inclusive environment where everyone feels safe.

Summary

The complexities of the human sexuality can be quite overwhelming. We

need to look at our own experience on our journey of discovering our sense of
being a man and a woman for us to understand others. We also need to engage
in conversations with others for us to appreciate the many different faces of
human sexuality.

A baby is born and is given an assigned sex based on its genitals. In toddler
years: they are raised to be a 'man' or a 'woman' based on accepted social and
cultural standards. We know that these standards change through time, what is
not acceptable now may be acceptable in the future.
Adolescence is when we discover our emotional and sexual attraction
towards other people. For most, it is easy to identify who they are attracted to,
but for others, it can be a long and difficult process. Fostering an inclusive
environment wherein everyone feels safe is very important at this stage.

ASSESSMENT
Direction: Answer the following questions. Write your answer on a separate sheet
of paper and take a picture of it. (Deadline of submission: September 8, 2023)
Send it on my messenger account.
Test I. Write S if the statement refers to Sex and G if the statement refers to Gender.
Write your answer on the space provided before each item.
____1. Women give birth to babies, men don't.
____2. Girls are gentle, boys are rough.
____3. In one case, when a child brought up as a girl learned that he was actually
a boy, his school marks improved dramatically.
____4. Amongst Indian agriculture workers, women are paid 40-60 per cent of the
male wage.
____5. In Europe, most long-distance truck drivers are men.
____6. Women can breastfeed babies, men can bottle-feed babies.
____7. Most building-site workers in Britain are men.
____8. In ancient Egypt men stayed at home and did weaving. Women handled
family business. Women inherited property and men did not.
____9. Men's voices break at puberty; women's do not.
____10. In one study of 224 cultures, there were 5 in which men did all the cooking,
and 36 in which women did all the housebuilding.
____11. According to UN statistics, women do 67 per cent of the world's work, yet
their earnings for its amount to only 10 per cent of the world's income.
____12. There are more women than men in the caring professions such as nursing.
____13. Men are susceptible to prostate cancer, women are not.
14-20. What are the differences of sex and gender?