Gender and Culture

Objectives:

1. Interpret and evaluate significant

influences affecting personality
formation;
2. Value acceptance and revise culturally
formed personalities;
3. Compare and contrast different
cultural standpoints on gender and
sexuality
Quick Glance

Describe how you see young men,

women, non-binary, and transgender
individuals treated at school, both by
their peers and by teachers. If you see
a difference, in general, in how
individuals are treated based on
gender or sex, how would you
characterize that difference? What
effect do you think it has? Why do you
think the difference exists?
Culture refers to the shared values,
beliefs, and norms of a specific group
of people.
Influence the manner we learn, live
and behave.
Culture is an important shaper of our
personality.
People who are born and bred in the
same culture share common
personality trait.
Personality
According to Boas and Benedict
- personality is obtained thru culture and
not biology
- Cultural Relativism Theory gives a
comprehensive understanding of the
underlying relationship between culture
and personality.
- preserve shared personalities through
their values, beliefs and rituals
Margaret Mead
- societies have uniform value systems,
thus share common personality trait.
Sex, Differences and Personality
Evolution and genetics are believed to have
brought about differences in personality traits
as determined by the biological sex of a
person. As explained by the Theory of Sexual
Selection, males compete to attract females, so
men are more likely to be aggressive and
competitive than women.
Our culture greatly contributes to the
development of our beliefs and values. In
addition, gender differences also influence the
personality traits a person possesses.
Culture regulates our lives and influences the
development of personality at every turn,
primarily by prescribing and limiting what he
will be required to acquire for the
development of his personality.
Each culture has its own concept, needs, and
specific techniques of child rearing as well as
a set of expectations regarding patterns of
approved behavior.
There are social differences – children from
different socio-economic backgrounds differ
in personality structure, behavior, and
attitudes.
How culture affects personality?
A child develops certain desires and drives as a
result of the situations he passes through
earlier in his life. The child then develops
certain personality traits that enables him to
satisfy these drives.
All of the personality traits that appear later on
usually have one common goal, which is
fulfilling these desires that the child developed
provided that his culture allows him to fulfill
them that way.
Culture affects the personality of a person
indirectly.
Culture forces most people to be bound by
certain rules then the child will develop
different personality traits that would allow
him to appear superior to others and that
are in the same time accepted by his culture.
While genes do affect people’s personalities
still this effect is greatly determined by the
environment. This means that two people
having the same exact genes but raised in
different environments are very likely to
develop totally different personalities.
Culture and Behavior
Evolutionary psychology incorporates
environmental influences. It recognizes that
nature and nurture interact in forming us.

Genes are not fixed blueprints; their

expression depends on the environment.

The cultural perspective highlights human

adaptability.
Cultural Diversity

The diversity of our languages,

customs, and expressive
behaviors confirms that much
of our behavior is socially
programmed, not hardwired.
Understanding Cultural Diversity

As we work, play, and live with people

from diverse cultural backgrounds, it
helps to understand how our cultures
influence us and how or cultures differ.
In conflict-laden world, achieving peace
requires a genuine appreciation for
both genuine differences and our deep
similarities.
All cultures have their accepted ideas
about appropriate behavior.

NORMS – rules or expectations that

are socially enforced.

It may be prescriptive or
proscriptive.

Norms do restrain and control us –

so successfully and so subtly that we
hardly sense their existence.
How is culture in reference to
Norms?

Culture is largely influenced by

the norms that are accepted by
the society. Each culture differs
in its standards and norms.
How is gender and culture
related?
Genders are shaped by culture.

Gender identities and gender relations are

critical aspects of culture because they
shape the way daily life is lived in the
family, but also in the wider community
and workplace.

Gender functions as an organizing

principle for society because of the cultural
meanings given to being male or female.
 Map of different cultures

Different Cultures
 WESTERN: ANGLO AMERICAN

Most often refers to a region in the Americas

in which English is a main language and British
culture and the British Empire have had
significant historical, ethnic, linguistic and
cultural impact.
 Approaches on Gender and Sexuality

• Depictions of gender in Beowulf are important to

the definition of individual community identity. If
individuals did not act according to their roles, then
the community could not be unified and would fail.
• Male gender role was dominant (images of the hero,
kings, rulers)
• Women gender roles (cupbearers, peace-weavers)
• Law of Cnut: women had the right to leave of marriage was
“displeasing”.
• Once married, wife prepared to take the husband’s
place at any moment (look after the home/farm, see if
there needs to be repair, collect ransom in case
husband was a prisoner)
• Men focused on the protection and labor work
• Finances belong to both men and women

Promoting equality of opportunity for all and achieving diversity at all

levels increasing women involvement in the workplace.
 WESTERN: LATIN-AMERICAN

These are generally of Western origin, but

have various degrees of Native American,
African and Asian influence.
 Approaches on Gender and Sexuality
• Latin American gender roles speak of traditionally
accepted gender archetypes, such as machismo ( an
exaggerated masculinity for men) and marianismo (a
passive nurturing role for women).
• One of the difficulties in defining gender roles is that Latin
American countries underwent rapid changes in gender
roles during the latter part of the twentieth century.
• In the three Latin American countries surveyed, strong
majorities say they accept homosexuality in society.
 WESTERN: ENGLISH-SPEAKING WORLD
The United Kingdom, the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland

Approaches on Gender and Sexuality

Survey finds these countries are abandoning traditional
views of gender roles with 72% disputing the conservative
view that women should dedicate themselves to
housework, compared with 58% 10 years ago.

There is a view that feminism is redundant; they have their

rights now so they can take off the dungarees and choose
to do what they like.
 WESTERN: AFRICAN-AMERICAN

African-American culture is rooted in the

blend between the cultures of West and
Central Africa and the Anglo-Celtic that has
influenced and modified its development in
the American South.
 Approaches on Gender and Sexuality
• Gender roles established within African-American
families often contradict the ideologies of the
functionalist perspective.
• In examining sex and gender roles within African-
American families, there is a paradigm shift in the Black
family structure.
• The culture practices and functions of Black families were
all by means shaped by the institution of slavery->
crucial turning point as it marked some of the greatest
changes in the structure of Black families.
• Families were deconstructed in many ways which affected
the roles of Black men and Black women. As a result, they
were forced to conform to the traditional norms of the
Anglo-Saxon community.
• Regardless of gender, persons were expected to fulfill
domestic and outdoor activities on an equal basis. The
roles of African women were not limited.
 Indosphere Culture
(highlights the culture influence in Southeast Asia)
Approaches on Gender and Sexuality
• Gender in Southeast Asia is the deciding factor
concerning independence, ability to work and even
health.
• Despite Southeast Asian countries’ reputation for being
run by men, the Philippines and Singapore have
impressive indicators on gender equality. However, when
considering Southeast Asian as a whole, gender equality
is still nowhere near perfect.
• Cultural shifts over the last 40 years mean that
Southeast Asia currently has a female workforce
participation rate of 42%, which is higher than the
global average of 39%.
• These days women are able to have jobs to support
themselves and not rely on their significant others so
much, hence the term independent women.
 Sinosphere Culture
(the regions of Chinese diaspora outside of greater China,
and some for the entire Chinese-speaking world)
Approaches on Gender and Sexuality
• The concept of gender is foundational to the general
approach of Chinese thinkers. Yin and yang, core
elements of Chinese cosmogony, involve correlative
aspects of “dark and light”, “female and male”. These
notions, with their deeply-rooted gender connotations,
recognize the necessity of interplay between forces in
generating and carrying forward the world.
• The constitution of the People’s Republic of China, which was enacted
is 1954, stated that women and men should have equal rights. To
promote gender equality, the Communist Party promoted the slogan
“Women hold up half the sky” to illustrate the importance of women
to China’s economic success.
• One child policy, official program initiated in the late 1970s and early
1980s by the central government of China, the purpose of which was
to limit the great majority of family units in the country to one child
each. There was a persistent gender imbalance (because of the
traditional preference of having sons) and invoking stronger measures
such as forced abortions and sterilization (the latter primarily of women)
 Islamic Culture

refer to the cultural practices common to historically

Islamic people. Has influenced and assimilated much from
the Persian, Egyptian, Caucasian, Turkic, Mongol, Indian,
Bangladeshi, Pakistani, Malay, Somali Berber, Indonesian,
and Moro Cultures. Islamic culture generally includes all
the practices which have developed around the religion
Islam. There are variations in the application of Islamic
beliefs in different cultures and traditions.
 Approach on Gender and Sexuality
• In Islam, scriptures, cultural traditions, and jurisprudence
affect the relationship between men and women.
• The Quran, indicates that men and women are spiritual
equals.
• The Quran 4:124.5:
“If any do deeds of righteousness be they male or female
and have faith, they will enter Heaven, and not the least
injustice will be done to them.”
 Arab Culture

Arab culture is the culture of the Arabs, from the Atlantic

Ocean in the west to the Arabia Sea in the east, from the
Mediterranean Sea in the North to the Horn of Africa and
the Indian Ocean in the Southeast.
 Approach on Gender and Sexuality
• Women in Arab countries find themselves torn between
opportunity and tradition.
• Arab Muslim women in the Middle East still face
substantial social and legal inequalities. Even as
governments in the region tout female advancement
abroad, women in the Arab Gulf claim they still enforce
traditional gender roles.
• Women in all of the Gulf states must receive the approval
of a male guardian to marry.
• In Qatar, single women under 25 require permission to
travel abroad, and Qatari men can argue in court to stop
their wives from travelling.
• In Saudi Arabia, men can file a disobedience complaint
against female relatives for leaving the house without
permission.
• In Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain, a man can stop his wife
from working if he feels her employment interferes with
domestic responsibilities of religious conducts.
 Tibetan Culture

Tibet developed a distinct culture due to its geographic

and climatic conditions. While influenced by neighboring
cultures from China, India, and Nepal, the Himalayan
region’s remoteness and inaccessibility have preserved
distinct local influences, and stimulated the development
of its distinct culture.
 Approach on Gender and Sexuality

• Though it is a religious society, there are no prescriptions to

control women’s sexuality. A Tibetan man doesn’t expect his
new wife to be a virgin. Tibetan women are free to choose
any career, husband, or stay single.
• Tibetan women do generally play an equal role in society,
just there are fewer in leadership and political positions.
• Tibetans, both men and women, pray not to be reborn as a
woman but as a man in their next life. It’s not clear if this is
cultural trend, or comes from their Buddhist beliefs.
Gender and Culture
Asynchronous Activity
1. Watch the videos:
*Gender identity: ‘How colonialism killed my
culture’s gender fluidity’ - BBC World Service –
YouTube
*How Culture affects your Personality - YouTube

2. Make a visual presentation how your culture has

influenced you. Consider the insights from these
videos and lesson presented on Gender and Culture.
Draw, use any images (collage), digital art, etc.
representing the norms and culture that you grew up
with. Write a short paragraph describing the culture
and what changes/effects it brought to you.