International Labour Organization
SEAPAT
South-East Asia and the Pacific Multidisciplinary Advisory Team

What is gender?

Exercise 2: "Because I am... I can.... If I were... I could...."

Objective:

This exercise shows you the differences between sex and gender. It also illustrates how the two may often overlap. You may do the exercise individually or in a group.

Method as a group exercise:

Round 1:

1. Within the group, each participant reflects and writes (individually).

Men write:

"Because I am a man, I can...." and list;

"If I were a woman, I could...." and list.

Women write:

"Because I am a woman, I can...." and list;

"If I were a man, I could...." and list.

2. Afterwards, compare each other’s notes and consider:

• which items on your list are immutable? These items are the ones related to the biological difference of sex.
• which items could be interchanged with someone from the opposite sex? Are they exchanged between members of each sex in practice? These items are related to gender differences. In practice, it may be uncommon for them to be interchanged with a member of the opposite sex. This is because of gender stereotyping, which often restricts men and women to attitudes, roles and activities that are socially or culturally prescribed as "appropriate" for each gender.
• is the conceptual differentiation between "sex" and "gender" a useful one in analyzing men’s and women’s activities, constraints and needs in the world of work?

1. Repeat the exercise adding "Within the ILO/my organization..."

Men write:

"Within the ILO/my organization: because I am a man, I can...." and list;

"If I were a woman, I could...." and list.

Women write:

"Within the ILO/my organization: because I am a woman, I can...." and list;

"If I were a man, I could...." and list.

2. Afterwards, compare each other’s notes and consider:

• which items on your list are immutable? These items are the ones related to the biological difference of sex.
• which items could be interchanged with someone from the opposite sex? Are they exchanged between members of each sex in practice within your organization? These items are related to gender differences. In practice, it may be uncommon for them to be interchanged with a member of the opposite sex. This is because of gender stereotyping, which often restricts men and women to attitudes, roles and activities that are socially or culturally prescribed as "appropriate" for each gender. Such gender stereotyping may operate in the workplace as much as in other arenas of life.
• is the conceptual differentiation between "sex" and "gender" a useful one in analyzing men’s and women’s activities, constraints and needs in the world of work?

Method as an individual exercise:

Round 1:

1. If you are a man, reflect and fill in the table below:

2. Now, consider:

• which items on your list are immutable? These items are the ones related to the biological difference of sex.
• which items could be interchanged with someone from the opposite sex? Are they exchanged between members of each sex in practice? These items are related to gender differences. In practice, it may be uncommon for them to be interchanged with a member of the opposite sex. This is because of gender stereotyping, which often restricts men and women to attitudes, roles and activities that are socially or culturally prescribed as "appropriate" for each gender.
• is the conceptual differentiation between "sex" and "gender" a useful one in analyzing men’s and women’s activities, constraints and needs in the world of work?

1. Repeat the exercise adding "Within the ILO/my organization..."

2. Now, consider:

• which items on your list are immutable? These items are the ones related to the biological difference of sex.
• which items could be interchanged with someone from the opposite sex? Are they exchanged between members of each sex in practice within your organization? These items are related to gender differences. In practice, it may be uncommon for them to be interchanged with a member of the opposite sex. This is because of gender stereotyping, which often restricts men and women to attitudes, roles and activities that are socially or culturally prescribed as "appropriate" for each gender. Such gender stereotyping may operate in the workplace as much as in other arenas of life.
• is the conceptual differentiation between "sex" and "gender" a useful one in analyzing men’s and women’s activities, constraints and needs in the world of work?

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