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(copied from YES informational pamphlet)
What is Gender?
Gender refers to society’s expectations of men and women. It includes:
- How society thinks men and women should or should not act
- What it means to be feminine or masculine
- The behavioural, cultural or psychological traits typically associated with one sex or the other.
What is Sex?
Sex refers to the biological characteristics of being male or female that is genetically determined. i.e. males are born with a penis and females are born with a vagina.
What are Gender Stereotypes?
Gender stereotypes are ideas, NOT facts about women and men. For example:
- All men are aggressive and rough
- All women are emotional
- All women want to become mothers
- All men are dogs
These stereotypes may limit what men and women can achieve.
Some Facts About Men and Women in Belize
Population – from age 22 women outnumber men
Working Lives – males are twice as likely as females to become managers
Living arrangements – 9 in 10 single parents are women
Crime – 4 in 5 sex offenders are male
Personal Finances – women’s hourly pay is 82% of men's
Health – women live almost 5 years longer than men
Travel – shopping accounts for 1 in 4 of women’s trips
Traditional Sex Stereotypes
These stereotypes are often ascribed to an individual based on whether they are male or female
| He is assertive |
She is pushy |
| He follows through |
She doesn't know when to quit |
| He is confident |
She is conceited |
| He is a man of the world |
She has been around |
| He drinks because of the job |
She is a drunk |
| He says what he thinks |
She is mouthy |
| He is a stern boss |
She is hard to work for |
| He climbed the ladder to success |
She slept her way to the top |
| He is a romeo |
She is a whore |
Consequences of Sexist Traditions
Effects on Occupation & Income
- Women tend to have positions that are lower in pay and status
- The salary for full time women are ¾ of what full time working men are paid
Common Effects on Human Interaction
- Parents place more restrictions on daughters than sons
- Women are pressured to look a certain way
- Men feel they should put their career first and make money
- Men are more likely to commit crimes become alcoholics and commit crimes
3 Categories of Sexual Harassment: Verbal/Non-Verbal/Physical
The following examples may represent sexual harassment if the behaviour is unwanted:
Verbal
- Sexual innuendos – I want a piece of you
- Suggestive comments – I like to see your body in tight clothes
- Sexual insults or jokes
- Sexual promotions, invitations or other pressures for sex
Physical
- Inappropriate touching like patting or pinching
- Bra-snapping
- Attempted or actual sexual assault
Nonverbal
- Unwanted display of pornographic material
- Body language – such as leaning in or standing too close
- Whistling or hissing
- Obscene gestures
Strategies for Achieving Sexual Equality
- Laws preventing sexual violence need to be enforced
- Advertisers who still portray women only as homemakers or sex objects should start t portray the sexes more equally
- School counsellors and teachers should encourage students to work in non-traditional fields
- Girls and boys should be encouraged to take vocational courses they are interested in without regard to gender
- Continued development of such services that provide support for battered women, rape victims, pregnant women, and empowerment groups
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