GENDER AND SOCIETY: Sex and Gender. What Are They and How They Differ?

Republic of the Philippines
UNIVERSITY OF EASTERN PHILIPPINES

University Town, Northern Samar
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MODULE 1
GENDER AND SOCIETY: Sex and Gender.

What are they and how they differ?
W elcome to the first module of Gender and Society. For this lesson, we will be able to
differentiate ‘Sex’ and ‘Gender’, and define what is meant by ‘Gender Identity’, ‘Sexual
Orientation’, and ‘Gender Roles’. It is necessary for us to gain better understanding of
ourselves, to be able to understand what is happening in this changing society, particularly
about gender issues from the international to the Philippine setting, so that we can address
it and promote gender equality. I am hoping that you will learn and enjoy this lesson as this
module takes you to a fresh insight about Gender and Society.
Learning Outcomes
If you are interested in gaining more knowledge After studying this module, you
about this topic, you can download Sex and Gender in will be able to:
the Philippine Society and Sociology of Gender which I 1. Differentiate sex and
gender; and
will be providing the reference at the end of this module.
Happy learning! 2. Discuss what is meant
by sexual orientation,
gender identity, and
gender roles.
Sex vs. Gender
When filling out a document such as a

job application or school registration form you
are often asked to provide your name, address,
phone number, birth date, and sex or gender.
But have you ever been asked to provide your
sex and your gender? Like most people, you
may not have realized that sex and gender are
not the same. However, sociologists and most
other social scientists view them as conceptually distinct. Sex refers to physical or
physiological differences between males and females, including both primary sex
characteristics (the reproductive system) and secondary characteristics such as height and
muscularity. Gender refers to behaviors, personal traits, and social positions that society
attributes to being female or male. In other words, the terms “sex” and “gender” refer to two
different identifiers. Sex denotes biological characteristics differentiating males and
females, while gender denotes social and cultural characteristics of masculine and feminine
behavior. Sex and gender are not always synchronous.
Sexual Orientation
We are often confused if we were asked about our sexual orientation and gender
identity. To fully understand, a person’s sexual orientation is his or her physical, mental,
emotional, and sexual attraction to a particular sex (male or female). Sexual orientation is
typically divided into four categories: heterosexuality, the attraction to individuals of the
other sex; homosexuality, the attraction to individuals of the same sex; bisexuality, the
attraction to individuals of either sex; and asexuality, no attraction to either sex.
Heterosexuals and homosexuals may also be referred to informally as “straight” and “gay,”
respectively.
Activity 1
Excited for a quick activity? Differentiate sex and gender in your own words. Good
luck!
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________
Gender Identity
Our society allows for some level of flexibility when it comes to acting out gender
roles. To a certain extent, men can assume some feminine roles and women can assume
some masculine roles without interfering with their gender identity. Gender identity is a
person’s deeply held internal perception of his or her gender. It refers to each person's
deeply felt internal and individual experience of gender, which may or may not correspond
with the biological sex assigned at birth, including the person's sense of the body and other
expressions of gender.
Gender Roles
As we grow, we learn how to behave from those around us. In this socialization
process, children are introduced to certain roles that are typically linked to their biological
sex. The term gender role refers to society’s concept of how men and women are expected
to look and how they should behave. These roles are based on norms, or standards,
created by society. In most cultures like in the Philippines, masculine roles are usually
associated with strength, aggression, and dominance, while feminine roles are usually
associated with passivity, nurturing, and subordination. Role learning starts with
socialization at birth. Even today, our society is quick to outfit male infants in blue and girls
in pink, even applying these color-coded gender labels while a baby is in the womb.
One way children learn gender roles is through play. Parents typically supply boys
with trucks, toy guns, and superhero paraphernalia, which are active toys that promote
motor skills, aggression, and solitary play. Daughters are often given dolls and dress-up
apparel that foster nurturing, social proximity, and role play. Studies have shown that
children will most likely choose to play with “gender appropriate” toys (or same-gender toys)
even when cross-gender toys are available because parents give children positive feedback
(in the form of praise, involvement, and physical closeness) for gender normative behavior
(Caldera, Huston, and O’Brien 1998).
Behaviors that come to be understood as masculine and feminine vary across

cultures and they change over time. As such, the way in which we understand gender is
based on our culture and the way we were taught, but we should also broaden our
understanding about gender, and this module will help us to fulfill that.
BREAK
How are you doing so far? Before we proceed to

our activity, you may have a short break to freshen
up your mind.
And here’s a motivational quote for you:
“Education is the most powerful

weapon which you can use to change
the world.”
-Nelson Mandela
ACTIVITY 2
Read the following essay and make a 1 page reaction paper about it.
Feedback time!
Tell us what you think about Lesson 1. Do you have questions or find any of the topics
hard to understand? We are glad to answer them.
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________________
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Summary and Conclusion

Sex and gender are two different concepts: sex is biological fact, gender a social
construction. The distinction of male and female, and the definitions of these categories
according to each other’s role in biological reproduction, is universal in all human culture.
The definition of gender categories, masculine and feminine, is not. However, nearly all
societies use sex as the basis for differentiating masculine and feminine roles, thus creating
a sex-gender system.
References
Eviota E. (1994) ‘Sex and Gender in the Philippine Society’, A Discussion of Issues on the
Relations of Men and Women. Online resource:
https://library.pcw.gov.ph/sites/default/files/Sex%20and%20gender%20in%20the
%20Philippine%20Society%20a%20discussion%20of%20issues%20.pdf
Zevallos, Z. (2014) ‘Sociology of Gender,’ The Other Sociologist, 28 November. Online

resource: https://othersociologist.com/sociology-of-gender/
Reading Assignment
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Republic of the Philippines

UNIVERSITY OF EASTERN PHILIPPINES

GENDER AND SOCIETY: Sex and Gender.

When filling out a document such as a

Behaviors that come to be understood as masculine and feminine vary across

How are you doing so far? Before we proceed to

“Education is the most powerful

Summary and Conclusion

Zevallos, Z. (2014) ‘Sociology of Gender,’ The Other Sociologist, 28 November. Online

For an advance reading and a more comprehensive understanding of the

Legal bases of Gender and Development

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