Session on Understanding GenderGender Fairness as Good Business Practice

Isis-International Manila

Paradigmatic (Traditional)

Post Paradigmatic (Challenging)

Scripts are a metaphor for conceptualizing the production of behaviour within social life◦ Intrapsychic scripts is the symbolic

reorganisation of reality in ways to fully realise the actors many layered and multi-voiced wishes.

◦ Interpersonal scripts is the mechanism through which appropriate identities are made congruent with desired expectations.

◦ Cultural scenarios are the instructional guides at a level of collective life.

Traditional Gender Messages◦Difference of how boy and girls are

handled◦Sex designated toys, chores, and colors◦Girls are treated protectively, and boys

given more freedom◦Girls are valued for their femininity, boys

for their masculinity◦Housework and childcare are seen as

responsibility of women

There have been shifts in how children are raised in the families

Traditional Gender Messages◦Media depiction that

suggests that women should be passive, weak and sexually available

◦Advertising often markets the separate parts of women’s bodies, ex: pair of legs

Traditional Gender Messages:◦Women shown in extremely unnatural or

unrealistic positions that make them look childish

◦Representations of women blushing, looking away and covering their faces, reinforce the attitude that women should be coy

◦Very few women will ever conform to the standards of beauty by media

◦Irrelevant sexualisation

MediaWatch a Canadian Media Organisation that works to eliminate sexism in the media:◦ Media that should reflect the full spectrum of

diversity and experience of contemporary men and women

◦ Portrayal of men and women in all shapes, sizes, races, ethnicity, ages, expressions of sexuality, ranges of physical ability

◦ Portrayal of men and women in non-stereotypical, non-racist media protrayal

◦ Portrayal of men and women in a broad range of occupations, roles, activities and lifestyles.

Activate Self Esteem: BEAUTY is about RESPECT to ourselves, to

others, to our life

Defend Human Rights: We will always support those who fight for

the basic freedoms we enjoy.

Educational system itself is authoritarian in Educational system itself is authoritarian in naturenature

Teachers admitting to imposing different Teachers admitting to imposing different standards of discipline on boys than on standards of discipline on boys than on girlsgirls

The existence of Sex segregated schools The existence of Sex segregated schools (exclusive schools), principle behind which (exclusive schools), principle behind which is:is:

Schools and teachers also channel boys Schools and teachers also channel boys and girls towards gender appropriate and girls towards gender appropriate behavior and activitiesbehavior and activities

Women and men have different roles in lifeWomen and men have different roles in life The need to protect them from each otherThe need to protect them from each other

The school as a site for changing gender roles, that promotes equal

access and quality of education for boys and girls.

Traditional Gender Messages◦ Religious Roots of Women’s Oppression

Women in the Bible and Church History Women relegated to support positions in the Church

◦ Teachings on marriage that emphasize women’s secondary, passive, and subservient role in the family

◦ The Church structure as hierarchical and since only men can become clergy, the women are excluded from major decision-making in the Church

◦ Moral Theology based on the dichotomy of body and soul has identified woman with sex and sin.

Third world theologians committed to challenging sexism in the church, and contributing to on-going discourses in Feminist Theology.

Self-affirming Empowering Integral Liberating Contemplative Healing Easterly Continuous process

According to Sen. Legarda’s Women Empowerment Bill, 2002, she said women are:◦ 2 of15 Supreme Court Justices◦ 13 of 51 Court of Appeals Justices◦ 3of 15 Sandiganbayan◦ 4 of 24 Cabinet Secretaries◦ 3 of 24 Senators◦ 14 of 74 Governors◦ 19 of 113 City Mayors◦ 113 of 1,522 Municipal Mayors

Traditional Gender Messages◦ The male breadwinner, and provider of the family◦ The female responsibility over the reproductive

sphere (housework and child rearing)◦ Non-valuation of housework◦ Sex specified jobs

Male – doctors, engineers, politicians and lawyers Female – nurses, teachers, waitresses, stewardess

Recognition of partnership and equality of men and women in the

private and public sphere, productive and reproductive.

Why study gender?Why study gender?

• Gender is an important human variable

• Women and men show a wide range of variations within and between genders

• People react differently to men and women

• Women are less visible than men in many important areas

Why is there a need Why is there a need for gender for gender awareness?awareness? There is a need to identify problems

arising from gender inequality and discrimination, even if these are not evident on the surface and are “hidden” or re not part of the general and commonly accepted explanation of what and where the problem lies. Gender Awareness means a high level of gender conscienticization.

Gender mainstreaming is an important aspect of good governance. It seeks to ensure that institutions policies and programs respond to the needs and interests of women as well as men, and distribute benefits equitably between women and men. It contributes to social economic and political progress. It leads to greater fairness, equity and justice for women and men, thus enhancing the accountability of governments to achieve results for all citizens.