SESSION 2: �INTRODUCTION TO GENDER

1

DEFINITIONS OF SEX AND GENDER

6

ACTIVITY: MATCH THE SENTENCES TO “SEX” OR “GENDER” COLUMN

7

1. A biological category based on chromosomes, hormones, and reproductive organs

4. Usually assigned at birth as “male”, “female” or “intersex”

5. Does not change naturally over time

7 Does not vary between or within cultures

2. Socially constructed roles, responsibilities and behaviours (what is sometimes referred to as ‘masculine’ or ‘feminine’)

3. A personal and social identity based on one’s perception, expression, and experience of oneself and one’s role in society

6. Varies within and between cultures

• ‘Sex’ refers to only our physical �(or biological) characteristics.
• It is a label — male or female — that we are assigned by a doctor at birth based on the genitals we are born with and the chromosomes we have.

Gender is the set of expectations about what men and women should and should not do, how they should behave, and how they should interact with each other.

​

• We are NOT born with these characteristics.
• They are not fixed, and they are not “natural”.
• These expectations are created and communicated to us by the people in the society we live in.
• They vary between communities and cultures.
• They can and do change over time.

Biological Characteristics

NOTE:

• These are average sex characteristics. Variations occur!
• When someone’s sexual and reproductive anatomy doesn’t seem to fit the typical definitions of female or male, they may be described as Intersex

SESSION 2, ACTIVITY 2: GENDER BOXES

11

GIRL GENDER BOXES

• The words inside the box: Gentle, Weak, Polite, Modest, Emotional, Quiet
• The words outside the Box: Sporty, Powerful, violent, assertive, Strong.

12

SESSION 2, ACTIVITY 2, BOY GENDER BOXES

In groups, choose 1 person to lead the activity for your group for choosing the words for the boys boxes.

• 6 words inside the box:
• 5 words outside the box:
• Use the instructions in the book, from point 4 – point 7 if not clear how to run the session.

Then lead a quick discussion on:

• What happens when a boy (or a man) behaves in a way that is not ‘in the box’?
• What happens if a girl (or a woman) behaves in a way that is not ‘in the box’?
• How are they treated at school by other students or by teachers?

​

​

13

OUTSIDE GENDER BOXES

• What happens when a boy (or a man) behaves in a way that is not ‘in the box’?
• What happens if a girl (or a woman) behaves in a way that is not ‘in the box’?
• How are they treated at school by other students or by teachers?

14

ACTIVITY 3: GENDER ROLES AND STEREOTYPES

• “In some states in South Sudan (Northern Bahr el-Ghazal), women are responsible for constructing thatched roofs. In other states, only men construct thatched roofs.” 15

​

• “In Mozambique, it is common to see young women enrolled in vocational courses that used to be mostly ‘male-oriented’, like welding, electrical engineering, and auto mechanics.”

​

​

​

​

​

​

15

• Can you think of any examples in Laos similar to the Thatched Roof example – where in some communities it is the norm for a female to carry out an activity and in others a man ?
• In your community, what are some school-related activities that mostly males do, but females are also capable of doing?
• What are some activities that mostly females do, but males are also capable of doing?
• How have some of these changed over time – or are changing now?

​

Discussion

UNESCO

Y-Peer Regional Academy Session 4

September 4 2021

KEY MESSAGES

‘Sex’

- refers to the biological and genetic differences commonly found between males and females. These differences are universal – they are not different between cultures or communities.

‘Gender’

- is something you learn, and it is based on the way that people in your community see the differences between men and women. It can also change – gender roles changes over time and it can be very different across communities and in different countries and cultures.

Men and women – and boys and girls – are usually restricted in their behaviours, responsibilities, and choices because of what society expects from them as males or females. These are called gender roles and gender stereotypes.

​

​

​

17