Developing Awareness for

Gender and Development

Prepared by:
KIMBERLAE B. FIGURACION RN
At the end of this unit, you should be able
to:

 Discuss basic concepts of sex and gender;

 Explain the different gender issues and their
causes; and
 Exhibit gender awareness and sensitivity in
the workplace and society.
 Introduction
• In some conversations, you might have heard people
use the terms “sex” and “gender” interchangeably. It is
important to note that the two concepts are distinct
from each other and that this distinction has
implications on how we see and what expectations we
have on men and women.
• Sex and gender are two different things. They relate to
various elements of what it means to be a woman or a
man in any society. For this reason, understanding and
analyzing the difference between sex and gender, and
using them correctly are important steps in developing
one’s awareness of gender and development.
Topic 1:
Topic 2:
Topic 3:
Lesson 2: Underlying
Causes of Gender
Issues
 Introduction
• Gender issues are gender-related beliefs (ideas, attitudes, and
behavior), systems, processes, circumstances, and events that
PREVENT an individual (man, woman or people with diverse
sogiesc) from achieving full potential or living a fulfilling life.
• Globally, women are underrepresented in different political and
economic institutions. The persistence of gender biases that
promote gender inequality remains a question at hand.

What are the causes behind women’s oppression?

What factors contribute to the persistence of these gender
issues?

These questions are essential to ask because many people are

still unconscious that these situations are happening in their daily
lives.
 Topic 1: The Social Construction of Gender
The social construction of gender explores how
cultural roots, structures, and underlying
assumptions of gender perception and ideas present
themselves in interpersonal and group social
interactions. A social construct is anything that exists
as a result of human interaction rather than in
objective reality. It exists because people
acknowledge its existence as a social construct
gender varies from each society and can change over
time.
How do Social Institutions Reinforce Gender Issues

The way we see gender and sex is heavily

influenced by the society we live in. For this
reason, social institutions play a big role in the
presence of gender issues, biases, and
stereotypes. These cause men, women, and other
people of diverse SOGIE to be subjected to
discriminatory practices and policies that exclude
them from inclusion in different social
institutions. Let us look at these different social
institutions and how they influence gender
biases.
• Social equality refers to a situation in which all members
of a society have the same rights, liberties, and status,
which may include civil rights, freedom of expression,
property rights, and equal access to certain social goods
and services.
• Understanding inequality in all forms is necessary to
understand that inequality is not uniform and can never
be a single-issue struggle. Different people experience
privileges, diverse issues, forms of oppression, and
inequities that must be addressed according to their
needs. Awareness of the inequalities that are perceived
within social groups. This awareness led to the increased
realization that inequality is systemic and entrenched in
the socioeconomic and political structures.
• Gender bias highlights the gender-based inequality
that women and men experience. For example,
women are underrepresented in societies all
across the world. They experience various barriers
in terms of access and control to resources,
advancement, power, and others. These are the
results of discriminatory behaviors or ideas based
on the gender-based belief that women do not
have the same rights and dignity as men.

• Let's take a look at the different manifestations of

gender biases that cause gender issues and enable
gender inequality in our society.
Topic 4:
 The degree of control over resources
exercised by various parts of society is
referred to as power. Power is complex and
relational, not fixed. It is exercised in social,
economic, and political interactions between
individuals and groups.
 Lesson 3: Gender Sensitivity

Introduction

Gender sensitivity is a practice that has been

introduced to help combat sexism's barriers to
personal and economic development. Respect for the
individual, regardless of sex, is strengthened by gender
sensitivity.
Topic 2: Gender Sensitivity in the Workplace

Our country is providing great efforts in promoting gender

equality in law and practices by implementing Gender
sensitivity training in the offices/institutions.

The workplace is one of the hotspots of gender inequality and

discrimination despite the world’s progressive efforts, there is
still a great deal of inequality in workplaces which push
women into the margins. Raising our gender awareness and
sensitivity in the workplace is an initial step in ensuring that all
employees are safe from all forms of discrimination.

Recognizing diversity in the workplace, including gender

differences, is essential to sustaining the wellbeing and safety
of both men and women.
Topic 3:
A "gender-fair society" is one in which men and
women are given equal opportunities to
participate equally in activities at all levels as
essential members, to achieve political,
economic, social, and cultural opportunities, and
share equal responsibilities.
Lesson 1: The Gender and Development (GAD)
Approach

Introduction
The Gender and Development (GAD) is
described by the Philippine Commission
on Women as a participatory and
empowering development approach and
framework that is inclusive, sustainable,
free of violence, respectful of human
rights, and tolerant of self-determination
and actualization of human potential.
Topic 1:
Topic 2:
Topic 3: WID, WAD, and GAD Approach to Development
Topic 4:
Topic 5: Laws and Policies on Women and Gender

To strengthen our Country’s International

Commitment to Promote Gender Equality and
Empowerment of Women, laws, and policies are
being followed.
Universal Declaration of Human Rights
An international document adopted by the United Nations
General Assembly entails promoting and enshrining every
individual’s rights and freedom as a human.

Conventions on the Elimination of All Forms - 1979 of

Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) (1979)
Often described as an international bill of rights for women
adopted by the UN General Assembly. It defines the forms of
discrimination against women and plans action on how to end
it.

Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA)

“A landmark document for advancing the rights of
women and gender equality worldwide agreed during
the 4th World Conference on women in 1995.”

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

“Also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by all
United Nations Member States in 2015 as a universal call
to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure
that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.”
The 1987 Constitution of the Republic of the
Philippines
Article II, Sec. 14 provides that the State
recognizes the role of women in nation-
building and shall ensure the fundamental
equality before the law of women and men.

Magna Carta of Women

It is the local translation of the provisions of
CEDAW. It is a law that seeks to eliminate
discrimination against women through
recognition, protection, fulfillment, and
promotion of Filipino women, especially those
from marginalized sectors of society.

Republic Act 7192 - Women in Development

and Nation-Building Act
Laid the groundwork for institutionalizing
gender concerns in national development
efforts adopting the GAD approach in policies
and programs
Lesson 2: Promoting a Safe, Violence-Free and
Non-Discriminatory Environment

Introduction
In this lesson, you will get to know more about
discrimination and violence on the basis of gender
and laws addressing Gender-based Violence,
Violence Against Women, and Gender-based Sexual
Harassment in the society.

You will also get to know the ways on how to

promote a VAW-free and Non-Discriminatory
Environment.
 Topic 1: Discrimination and Violence on the
Basis of Gender
Gender and violence have a complicated
relationship. Gender norms throughout
society influence and reinforce the different
roles and behaviors of women and men,
children and adults. These are societal
norms that determine acceptable behavior
for both men and women. Discrimination
happens when individuals and groups are
unfairly treated or unjustly because of their
color, gender, age, or sexual orientation.
Different Forms of Violence

The misconception about forms of Violence Against Women and

their Children is that not all forms of VAWC use physical force. R.A.
9262 covers different forms of Violence, which are:
Topic 2: Laws addressing Gender-based Violence,
Violence Against Women and Gender-based Sexual
Harassment in the Society

Gender-based violence is widespread around the world,

with one of every three women experiencing it at some
point in their lives. The Philippines is gradually seeing
the elimination of such violence as a highest concern in
which any form of violence is prohibited. Laws
preventing violence against women, as well as violence
against people of any gender, provides additional
support to victims, survivors, and families who have
been affected by violence.
Here are the laws that address GBV, VAW, and GBSH:

Anti-Violence Against Women and their Children

Act (RA 9262)
“An act defining violence against women and their
children, providing for protective measures for
victims, prescribing penalties therefore, and for
other purposes.”

Link: https://pcw.gov.ph/republic-act-9262-anti-
violence-against-women-and-their-children-act-of-
2004/
Here are the laws that address GBV, VAW, and GBSH:

Anti-Sexual Harassment Law (RA 7877)

“An act declaring sexual harassment unlawful in
the employment, education, or training
environment, and for other purposes.”

Link: https://pcw.gov.ph/republic-act-7877-anti-
sexual-harassment-act-of-1995/
Here are the laws that address GBV, VAW, and GBSH:

Safe Spaces Act or the “Bawal Bastos Act”

This law is an expanded scope of RA 7877; it
recognizes any forms of sexual and gender-
based harassment between peers, co-
employees, or those that happen in the
streets, public, and online spaces.

Link: https://pcw.gov.ph/republic-act-
11313/
Here are the laws that address GBV, VAW, and GBSH:

Anti-Rape Law (RA 8353)

A law that reclassifies rape as a crime against a
person by defining it as a public crime rather than a
private crime.

Link: https://pcw.gov.ph/republic-act-8353-the-anti-
rape-law-of-1997/
Here are the laws that address GBV, VAW, and GBSH:

Anti-Discrimination Law (RA 6725)

A law that prohibits discrimination against
women in terms and condition of
employment.

Link:
https://www.officialgazette.gov.ph/1989/0
5/12/republic-act-no-6725/
Here are the laws that address GBV, VAW, and GBSH: