Lesson 2: Gender and Sexuality Across Time

Changing Conceptions of Gender and Sexuality

  • Throughout history, societies have favored men over other genders.

  • Women were primarily associated with reproductive roles and homemaking.

Patriarchy

  • Derived from the Greek word "Patriarkhes" meaning "the rule of the father".

    • A social system where men predominantly hold power both politically and privately.

    • In patriarchal societies, men govern women and their children.

  • Social Construct:

    • Considered a social construct by sociologists rather than a biological phenomenon.

    • Prehistoric societies exhibited greater equality among genders.

Historical Views on Gender

  • Greece:

    • Philosophers like Aristotle and Plato viewed women as inferior and submissive, meant to obey men and manage households.

    • Women were generally barred from education in philosophy, politics, and science.

  • Egypt:

    • Historian Herodotus noted that Egyptian women had a higher status than Greek women, with rights to inherit property and engage in trade and politics.

  • China:

    • Confucianism enforced strict behavioral codes for women.

    • Documents known as "Three Obediences and Four Virtues" dictated women must obey their father, husband, and son.

Subtle Forms of Women’s Oppression

  • Common Forms:

    • Sexism: Prejudice and discrimination based on gender.

    • Gender Pay Gap: Men earning more than women for the same work.

    • Underrepresentation: Lack of women's presence in politics, military, etc.

    • Stigmatization of Rape: Cultural shame discouraging women from reporting abuse.

  • Cultural Expectations:

    • Conservative behavior expectations for women.

    • Media portrayal often sexualizes women.

    • Women disproportionately handle housework and child-rearing duties.

    • Gendered training for children: boys as leaders vs. girls in homemaking.

Women Empowerment

  • Concept: Social movements aiming to challenge patriarchal oppression.

  • First-Wave Feminism:

    • Emerged in the 19th and early 20th centuries in Western countries, focusing on suffrage and property rights.

  • Simone de Beauvoir:

    • Authored "The Second Sex" in 1949, highlighting how patriarchy limits women's happiness and productivity.

  • Le Mouvement de Liberation des Femmes:

    • Aimed for women’s rights to education, work, and political participation starting in the 1940s.

  • Intersectionality: Addressed how socio-economic status intersects with patriarchy to shape women's experiences.

Current Issues and Statistics

  • UN Reports:

    • Women perform 66% of the world's work but earn only 10% of the income and own 1% of the property.

  • Women Suffrage:

    • Right to vote and participate equally in politics.

  • Reproductive Rights:

    • Control over their bodies and decisions regarding family planning.

  • Domestic Violence and Harassment:

    • Stigma surrounding domestic abuse in marriages (e.g., Filipino culture perceptions).

  • Other Rights:

    • Rights to divorce, decision-making on pregnancy, equitable wages, and equal employment opportunities.