Gender and
Sexuality
Across Time
Introduction
❑ Archeological artifacts reveal that society has a high regard for women.
❑Divine feminine – the sacredness of the woman due to her ability to conceive
children.
❑ Agricultural era discovers the concept of paternity. Society has privileged men
due to the preferential given to them in the productive sphere. Women were
viewed as capable only of reproductive affairs – child rearing and home
management.
❑ Industrial era, men are preferred because of their perceived physical
strengths
Patriarchy
❖ It is a social system where men primarily hold power in the
political and private spheres.
❖ A system that controls and oppresses women because they are
perceived as the weaker sex.
❖Greek word – Patriarkhes means the rule of the father. It is a
social system where society is organized and maintained in a way
that men rule over women and their children.
Patriarchy
❖ Patrilineal society often follows a patriarchal society means only men can inherit
property and the family name. Women were left with no inheritance and are expected
to marry a man who can support her economically.
❖ Patriarchy is viewed as a social construct and not as a biological phenomenon. male
dominance was asserted over women so only the male heir can inherit family wealth.
❖ Friedrich Engels, a German philosopher and sociologist, argues that patriarchy came
about when people started having private property instead of a communal living.
❖History suggests an egalitarian system rather than a patriarchal system. Men and
women contribute to society, and they enjoy the same social status.
Historical Views on Gender
Greek Aristotle, Plato, and other Greek philosophers
• Women as the inferior sex and are properties of men.
• Women need to obey their husbands, bear children, and take care of the household. They
were forbidden to learn philosophy, politics, and science.
Egypt
• Egyptian women can inherit property and engage in trade and politics
• Greek influence quickly spread in Egypt through the conquests of Alexander the Great
across Asia and Africa.
China Confucianism
• “Three obedience's and four virtues” and “Precepts of women”
• Women should obey their father, when married she is to obey her husband, and when
widowed she is to obey her son.
"Three obedience's and four virtues" is a concept in traditional Chinese culture that
outlines the ideal behavior and virtues expected of women. The "three obediences"
refer to a woman's obedience to her father before marriage, her husband after
marriage, and her son if she becomes a widow. The "four virtues" refer to a woman's
moral qualities, which are considered essential for a harmonious family and society.
The four virtues are:
1.德 (dé) - Virtue/morality: A woman should cultivate a high moral character,
behave ethically, and be trustworthy.
2.婦 (fù) - Domesticity: A woman should be skillful in managing the household,
nurturing children, and maintaining harmony in the family.
3.智 (zhì) - Wisdom: A woman should be educated, knowledgeable, and have the
good judgment to make wise decisions.
4.容 (róng) - Beauty: A woman should cultivate inner beauty, such as kindness
and compassion, as well as outer beauty, such as grooming and dressing
appropriately.
Subtle Form of Oppression in Patriarchy
sexism - prejudice, unrealistic
gender pay gap -
stereotypes, and depictions of women
men earn more than
discrimination based in fiction, often very
women
on sex sexualized
very conservative underrepresentation rape on women and
expectations on in politics, military, the stigma making
women on how they executive positions, women ashamed to
behave etc report the crime
boys were trained to
women do more
be leaders while
housework and
women were trained
childcare
to do home
Women Empowerment
Feminism
•aim to challenge the patriarchal society that creates these oppressive political
structures, beliefs, and practices against women
First-wave feminism (19th and early 20th century)
•Women demanded for their right to vote or participate in elections and to be
able to legally own property.
In 1940’s
•Le Mouvement de Liberation des Femmes or the women's liberation
movement was formed in Europe and they sought the right to education, right
to work, and right to vote
•Later, women won the right to decide on their own bodies and their sexualities
Women Empowerment
Second-wave feminism in 1960
•women drew attention to various social and cultural inequalities such as
domestic violence especially marital rape, reproductive rights, wage
inequality, and etc.
90's gave birth to the 3rd wave and 2012 started the fourth wave
The United Nations Reports on Women
➢ Women do more work than men because even who they work at the
office, they are still expected to do household tasks.
➢ Women perform 66 percent of the worlds work, produce 50 percent of
the food, but earn 10 of the income and own 1 percent of the property.
➢ In agricultural countries, women participate in making the product,
but only the father or the male head of the family controls the income.
Relevant points of Feminism Demand
Women suffrage
•women were not allowed to vote before because they were viewed as
irrational and temperamental and therefore, not able to make rational
decisions
•After World War I (1914 to 1918), women took on jobs and made significant
contributions to their country that let women vote
Equality in politics and society
•Representation so that their genuine concerns are heard in politics and in
society
Reproductive rights
•woman is in control of her body, and she can decide for herself on what she
sees is best for her.
Relevant points of Feminism Demand
Domestic violence
•Marital rape and physical abuse are often dismissed by society as part of a
“marriage”.
•RA 9262 or Anti Violence Against Women and their Children
Sexual harassment and sexual violence
•one woman or child is raped every hour mostly by someone they know
Reproductive rights
•woman is in control of her body, and she can decide for herself on what she
sees is best for her.
Right to divorce their husbands, the right to make decisions on her pregnancy,
equitable wages, and equal employment opportunity.
