GENDER SENSITIVITY WORKSHOP FOR THE FACULTY AND STAFF OF CANOSSA ACADEMY, LIPA CITY

OBJECTIVES:1. To clarify words, terms and concepts

2. To increase awareness and reduce the gender bias that informs the actions of individuals

3. To gain an understanding of gender relations, the division of labour between men and women (who does what work), and who has access and control over resources

4. To draw out the advantages of being gender-sensitive in the family, work place and local society.

5. To gain knowledge on the Biblical and charismatic foundations of gender sensitivity.

INTRODUCTORY ACTIVITY

HAND CLASPING.  Make them clasp their hands together, where the fingers intertwine and ask them which thumb is above the other, is it the right or the left thumb. Then ask them to deliberately change the way they clasp and make sure that the other thumb is on top. 

[The purpose of this simple exercise is for them to feel uneasy when they were made to change the way they clasp their hand. This is good at the beginning of a topic which is not easy to accept or something that they are not accustomed to.  So they reflect how it felt like when they switched thumbs. Then, ask them to switch back to their original hand clasping position.

[Introduce the next topic or activity using this simple exercise..."Sometimes, there are concepts, method or attitudes that we are not used to.  In the beginning it would be unfamiliar and uncomfortable to us. We can also feel hesitant or resistant in understanding or accepting them. But today, let us open our minds and hearts so we can learn new things that can change our lives for the better."]

OPENING PRAYER

[The following activities refer to the accompanying module on gender Sensitivity]

ACTIVITY 1.1:The Biology of Sex ( done in assembly for 10 minutes)

ACTIVITY 1.2 Gender and/or ACTIVITY 1.5 The Gender Game as follows (done in assembly for 20 – 30 minutes)

Preparation:

• Provide each participant in the training session with two cards: one marked with an “S” for sex, and one with a “G” for gender. It is best to use different coloured card for sex and gender, for easy identification.

• Instruct everyone that they are to hold up the relevant card that fits the statement, then read out the following statements and ask the participants to respond to whether the statement reflects sex or gender. Ask participants to explain their answer and encourage discussion between those who may disagree.

• It is important to note that a clear translation of the terms sex and gender should be done in the local language to ensure that people are clear on what the terms mean.

• At the end of the exercise, summarise and make a statement about the differences between sex and gender.

Statements about men and women

1. Women give birth to babies, men do not. “Ang mga babae ay nanganganak ang mga lalaki ay hindi.”

2. Little girls are gentle, boys are tough. “Ang mga batang babae ay banayad, ang mga batang lalaki ay matibay.”

3. Women can breast feed babies while men can bottle-feed them. “Ang mga babae ay maaring magpasuso ng sanggol samantalang ang mga lalaki ay maaring magpainom ng gatas sa bote.”

4. Most drivers in the Philippines are men. “Karamihan ng mga drayber sa Pilipinas ay lalaki.”

5. Men's voices break at puberty, women's do not. “Ang boses ng lalaki ay nag-iiba sa pagbibinata ang sa babae ay hindi nagbabago sa pagdadalaga.”

6. According to UN statistics, women do 67 % of the world's work, yet their earnings for it only amount to 10 % of world's income. “Ayon sa UN, 67% ng trabaho sa mundo ay ginagawa ng babae ngunit ang kita nila ay 10% lang ng kinikita sa buong mundo.”

7. Women have long hair men have short hair. “Ang mga babe ay mahaba ang buhok at ang mga lalaki ay maiksi ang buhok.”

8. Men do not need tenderness and are less sensitive than women. “Hindi kailangan ng lalaki ang lambing at sila’y manhid kumpara sa babae.”

9. Women should have no experience in relationships when they marry and men need to be experienced when they get married. “Ang mga babae ay dapat walang karanasan sa pakikirelasyon bago mag-asawa. Ang mga lalaki naman ay dapat may karanasan sa pakikipagrelasyon bago mag-asawa.”

10. Women have weaker sexual needs than men. “Mas mahina o kakaunti ang pangangailangang sekswal ng babae kaysa lalaki.”

11. To have healthy babies women should breast feed. “Para magkaroon ng malulusog na sanggol, ang mga babae ay dapat nagpapasuso.”

12. Women should breast feed therefore they should stay home with children. “Ang mga babae ay dapat nagpapasuso kung kaya’t dapat sila manatili sa bahay kasama ng mga anak.”

13. It is alright for single men to become fat but not for single women because they cannot get a

spouse. “Okay lang na tumaba ang mga binata ngunit hindi ang mga dalaga dahil hindi sila makakakuha ng asawa.”

14. In the Philippines, there exists since 1990, the Day care Law (RA 6972) and since 1996,

the Paternity Leave Act. Both of which acknowledge that children is both a parental and state responsibility. “Sa Pilipinas, mula pa nang 1990 ay mayrron ng Day Care Law at mula 1996 ng Paternity Leave Act. Mga batas na kinikilalang ang mga anak ay reponsibilidad ng mga magulang at maging ng pamahalaan.”

15. It is the man’s “seed” that determines the child’s sex at conception. “Ang semilya ng lalaki ang nagtatakda ng kasarian ng sanggol sa sandali ng pagdadalantao.”

ACTIVITY 1.3 Gender in contrast to Sex (optional activity for further clarification if necessary; done in assembly for 15-20 minutes)

ACTIVITY 1.4 Building Gender Awareness, Choosing the Sex of Your Child +

ACTIVITY 1.6 Preparing for a Baby

(divide the assembly into four groups, two each to work on the aforementioned activities for 20 minutes then for reporting/sharing in the assembly)

MINI-LECTURE ON STEREOTYPES

ACTIVITY 2.3 Finding the Balance (females one group and males another; for 15 minutes)

LECTURE ON GENDER GAPS, FOUNDATIONS, SCHOOL ROLES