Liberal Studies -- Suggestion for a New Module

Suggest a new module for Liberal Studies, and propose the issue questions and sub-questions. Explain how it can meet the needs of students, the aims of the subject and broadening the school curriculum.

Mr. Kevin Y. S. Li

Gender Studies

Introduction

In Hong Kong, it is commonly thought that there are few gender problems, because male and female have gained equal opportunities in education and choosing their job. Some outstanding persons are also female. However, has the problem been solved? Gender studies become increasingly popular within the field of academic research of social sciences discipline. This reflects the people, especially those who are discriminated based on their sex, age, disability and sexual orientation, become aware of their rights, and strive for what they deserve. Within school, gender stereotype is the major hidden curriculum that the characters and minds of students are seriously affected and shaped based on it. In the past, this issue is only placed in the module of "Human Relationships".

However, the problem could extend to the other class and sector of the community, and becomes a political problem. Sex education usually talks about the scientific sex knowledge and the relevant ethical problems, but with less focus on struggling for equal status and opportunities for both sexes. Civic education is not so in-depth in this big topic. It is worthwhile for the students to study the common pattern of gender problems in depth and making an attempt to solve this problem. For both male and female students, they will face different degrees of visible and "invisible" gender stereotype and sex discrimination in their future career and school life. If they can identify such phenomena that happen on them, they can voice their concern and strive for their rights, and go further to solve the problem in a correct way, rather than being helpless and nothing to do.

Aims

To enable students ...

1. to develop the awareness on gender stereotype and sexual discrimination within various classes and sectors.
2. to understand the power relationships between male and female by observing the common pattern of one sex from the other.
3. to appreciate the equal opportunities for both sex and different kinds of sexual orientation / preference.
4. to be sensitive when the events about sexual discrimination happen, and avoid any sense of gender bias.
5. to understand the factors that lead to sex crimes and sexual harassment.
6. to understand that homosexuality is not a crime, not abnormal behavior, but one kind of sexual orientation.

Issue

1. Sexual Discrimination / Gender Stereotype within school The characters of each individual are of great variety, how does the culture of society shape and mould the young people with the gender model? Peer pressure, parental and family influence, mass media, or even their innate behavior.
"Gender education" in school usually based on the opinion of the teachers on this issue. How the teachers' view or even the school climate affects the (hidden) policy of gender education within a school?
Except teachers, the content and illustrations inside textbooks are also greatly affecting the children's mind and concept on their future self-image and self- conception. In what way do the textbooks affect the students?
Observing the behavior of male and female students, what are the forces shaping their characters? Male students usually tend to materialise the female one, by talking about "yellow jokes". What is the image of male students on female ones?

2. Gender stereotype in family "Man work outside, Women do household work inside" (「男主外，女主內」) is a traditional belief of Chinese people. Why such traditional beliefs are so deep inside Chinese families?
Mother's role on taking care the children is usually appreciated. Such appreciation has encouraged women to become a good mother, otherwise women will be blamed. Do you think this is women's natural instinct?
Men's job in a family is usually the most essential, because they have to be responsible for the financial income. However, women today also have opportunities to work outside. Compare the traditional and modern families, what has been changed in relationships of men and women?
Parental expectations on their sons are usually greater than those on daughters. What kind of effect are on both boys and girls, either in examination or their future career, marriage?
Recently, some fathers sexually assault their daughters, and was pleaded guilty. What kind of sex education do the fathers receive for their own sexual preference and behavior? Some people also believe that more fathers have done that, but the cases have not been revealed. Do you agree? If so, what are the factors that affect the sufferers' and their mothers decide not to report police?
Gays and lesbians have no right to make a family, because most people think that family should be consisted of a man and a woman. If the homosexuals can make a family, what do you think the power relationships between two sexes become?
Some advanced countries' governments, like USA, re- advocate the value of a complete family, that, mother, father with the sons and daughters, and claim that only in this way, the people can sustain their life and culture. Some single-parent families think that this will create pressure and discrimination on them. Why are they have such feelings? What do these countries' government worry on the increasing number of such single-parent families?

3. Sexual and age discrimination of women workers / in work places This is a hot issue in the society. Recently, many lower-class workers lose their job because the pattern of industry of Hong Kong has changed. Especially women workers hardly find a new job. What factors that affect the recruitment opportunities for them to find a job? Usually what reasons do the employer give to them?
In work places, we usually heard that the female secretary or clerk encountered the sexual harassment of their boss. What is the public opinion on these events? Which side do you think should be responsible for such matter?
Sex deal is usually to describe female(male) provide sex services for some kind of reward or chances of promotion. This usually happened in office. Do you think such deal is fair? Do you think the power relationships between boss and worker is natural and inevitable? If not, what measures could you take to prevent?

4. Understanding on the homosexuality, gays and lesbian Have you met the gays and lesbians? What images do you get? Do you like them?
Some medical researchers say that the homosexuals are born to be. What do you feel? Imagine that you are gays / lesbians, do you hate yourself, or are you proud of?
Many homosexuals claim that they are usually discriminated. What factors do you think of that will lead to such discrimination? Do homosexual really harm the other people?
Many years ago, Legislative Council passed a law that decriminalise homosexual behavior. Over a half of the councillor agree with it, but this arouse a great controversy from the public over such law. Which side you might stand? Why?

5. Understanding the sex crimes, e.g. rape, indecent assault, and sexual harassment, sexual abuse Traditionally, women's body is viewed as "dirty" and "evil" because it will arouse good men's desire on sex and make the men become bad. Do you think the fault should be placed on female? Is the men "bad" first?
Recently, there are several controversial cases on sexual harassment and indecent assault on female. Do you think the culture educate men to misunderstand the "signal" from women to sexually assault them?
If you encountered such kind of assault, what will be the first thing to do come into your mind? If you see such assault happening, will you do sufferers some favour? What will you do then?

6. Gender stereotype in media, e.g. TV, drama, news, film. In entertainment news, there are full of news about how the male and female artists contravene the ethics, that is, hot gossip. Do you think such gossiping reflect the gender bias hidden in our minds?
The film industry is usually blamed by parents and teachers that they advertise the pornographic film and exaggerate the sexual behavior. However, they argue that they only reflect the reality. Do you think the film-makers should be responsible for sex education? Are the parent's blame correct? What point of view do we have to hold to see those films?
Should the film and TV makers be responsible for gender stereotype and gender bias within the community? If not, what measures do we have to do to solve the problem?
A women's group selects the ten gender bias advertisements every year. Do you think that advertisement will enable people to be gender-biased or gender-stereotyped? In what way, and who will be affected? Some critics said that such move do not have any educational effect. Do you think that the move is useless?
A few figures publicly say that all women are prostitutes. Do you agree with that? What are their perception on women? Is it related to the widespread publication of pornographic pictures in magazines, newspaper or other means of media?

7. Sexual discrimination and gender problem in the Third World Countries In Third World, the women usually come across greater impact than man during war and hunger, since they are easily sexually offended, they are usually distributed with less food but have to work more, and face serious risk during reproduction. What factors that lead to such plight of women in Third World?
During war, women are usually raped by soldiers. Do you think that soldiers should not do so? What mental and philosophical factors within the soldiers that affect their action on those women?
Some people in Third World think that the women in First World impose a "Western style equal status of both sexes" onto the Third World people, which is another kind of colonialism. Do you think that First World people "help" them in wrong ways? What have the First World people, such as IMF, World Bank, done to the Third World? Are the Third World people accustomed to such measures, and suit their own lifestyle? What have they done to develop their economic system without First World exploitation?

8. The influence of the use of science and technology on gender relationships Medical Technology is so advanced that people can change to their opposite sex if they are certified as having such preference. Do you think that this reflects the stereotype of a man and a woman? Otherwise, why people have to change sex to suit the requirement of the community?
The other controversial application is on the determination of sex of babies. Making use of genetic engineering, the parents can decide which sex of their baby should be. Do you think such decision is ethical? Will such technology do harm the health of next generation? What power relationships of both sexes do such decision reflect on the society when having a baby?
For those who cannot afford to employ such technology, they will choose abortion. However, abortion is relatively dangerous to women's health. What side effect will abortion bring to women's health? Some cases of abortion is due to unexpected pregnancy, do you think which right is more important, birth right or mothers' right?

9. Environmental Impact on gender relationships Considering gender stereotype, men and women will have to expose to different degrees of environmental hazards during their work. What environmental hazards will men and women have to face? What about housewives, workers in factories or offices?
Are there any general gender pattern of diseases that related to their working condition and nature? What does the society frame on each sex their career preference and job nature?

10. The impact of Governmental Policy on Reproduction and Gender relationships Hong Kong's "two children only" propaganda has promoted for more than twenty years. Do you think such policy has done a good job in controlling the birth rate? Why do some families still have more than two babies? What factors that affect their decision?
economic condition? preference on the male babies? PRC Government's "one-child" policy has a great impact on the citizen's family structure. Some parents in inland area have killed or thrown away the baby girls. Why do they have such decision? Are the baby girls worthless? What effect will then it be?
For Chinese people, the responsibility of reproduction or not is usually put on the female side. Do you think women is wholly responsible for reproduction? Are the problems all on the female side? Why is the usual way to prevent pregnancy done to the women? Do you think that women have an autonomy to have a baby?
Some years ago, a female artist have a baby with father unknown. She fed the baby by herself, but the public opinion did not agree with her. Do you think that she is right to do so? Do you think that father has an important role in a family?

11. Studies on sexual behavior on gender relationship "Male up, female down" is the usual pattern of human sexual behavior. Do you think that it is natural? Some women activists claim that it signifies a power relationship that male is of higher status than female. Do you agree with that?
"Male active, female passive" is another characteristic of sexual behaviour. Do this reflect some kind of gender stereotype of both sexes in shaping their behavior? What are the daily examples?
Some women activists also point out the male require female to be passive, but luring in sexual behavior, they think such requirement is a kind of character twist, only "mad" women is possible. Do you agree with this? Do you think that men are born to be greater in power in nature?

Reference Teaching Resources

Consultation Paper

Equal Opportunities - A Study on Discrimination on the Ground of Sexual Orientation Hong Kong Government 1996

Books

1. Gender and Society in Hong Kong - A Statistical Profile R. Westwood, T. Mehrain, F. Cheung Hong Kong Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies 1995

2. 另一半天空－戰後香港婦女運動　新婦女協進會 1992

3. 從這一天開始－爭取平等繼承權資料冊　婦女團體爭取平等繼承權聯席 1995

4. 香港小學課本裏的性別角色研究　區潔珍香港亞太研究所 1993

Suggested activity

Collection of information from these sources to investigate the factors of shaping gender stereotype.

Interview with teachers and principals on their own opinion on gender division of labour.

Survey on the textbook about the contents of gender stereotype.

Observing the conversations among males, and among females, see what are the major differences? Why is this so?

literature search on this issue, or interview with various classes, career, or countries of people.

Survey on different classes of women: working women; mother; middle-class; grassroots; single or married.

For a family with men and women both working, their job status, salaries, holiday, working condition, job qualification, requirement, are required to be taken into account to find out the factors that affect their relationships.

Investigate the possible impact of such "new" way of constructing family.

Literature search or newspaper clipping on this topic.

Interview with the gays and lesbians. When they know they are gays and lesbians, what do they feel? What do the pressures come from when they publicise their sexual preference?

Survey on public opinion about various interactions with homosexuals. Literature or newspaper clipping on this news. Investigate the factors that affect the decision made by the councillors, and also the public opinion over this issue at that time.

Newspaper clipping about this news (especially the case about the clergymen). Investigate the verdict of the prosecutor and defender, and then the psychological effect of the sufferers and the offenders. What are the offenders' and sufferers' self-image and their perspectives on the power relationships of their sex?

Newspaper clipping on entertainment news. Identify the news that contain the content of gender discrimination or stereotype. Investigate the factors that enable the people keen to read such news.

What do the artists-in-question gain and lose in the news? Short-term or long-term? What does it reflect on the public opinion about the gender discrimination?

Watch the films of pornography (only permitted when the students are over 18). What are the pressure when watching these films? Do you feel annoying? Why? Investigate and classify the factors that lead to such feeling or way of thinking.

(For the students below 18) Watch the television programmes or films with the content of gender relationships. Record and identify the conversation that contains the gender division of labour or gender stereotype. Which of the pieces of conversation impresses yourself? Why?

Debate or role-play on this issue. See which side is gaining profit and advantage, and which side is not.

Debate on abortion. Should mother have the right to choose abortion, or the "unborn" baby have the right to choose to "born"?

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1. Sexual Discrimination / Gender Stereotype within school	The characters of each individual are of great variety, how does the culture of society shape and mould the young people with the gender model? Peer pressure, parental and family influence, mass media, or even their innate behavior. "Gender education" in school usually based on the opinion of the teachers on this issue. How the teachers' view or even the school climate affects the (hidden) policy of gender education within a school? Except teachers, the content and illustrations inside textbooks are also greatly affecting the children's mind and concept on their future self-image and self- conception. In what way do the textbooks affect the students? Observing the behavior of male and female students, what are the forces shaping their characters? Male students usually tend to materialise the female one, by talking about "yellow jokes". What is the image of male students on female ones?
2. Gender stereotype in family	"Man work outside, Women do household work inside" (「男主外，女主內」) is a traditional belief of Chinese people. Why such traditional beliefs are so deep inside Chinese families? Mother's role on taking care the children is usually appreciated. Such appreciation has encouraged women to become a good mother, otherwise women will be blamed. Do you think this is women's natural instinct? Men's job in a family is usually the most essential, because they have to be responsible for the financial income. However, women today also have opportunities to work outside. Compare the traditional and modern families, what has been changed in relationships of men and women? Parental expectations on their sons are usually greater than those on daughters. What kind of effect are on both boys and girls, either in examination or their future career, marriage? Recently, some fathers sexually assault their daughters, and was pleaded guilty. What kind of sex education do the fathers receive for their own sexual preference and behavior? Some people also believe that more fathers have done that, but the cases have not been revealed. Do you agree? If so, what are the factors that affect the sufferers' and their mothers decide not to report police? Gays and lesbians have no right to make a family, because most people think that family should be consisted of a man and a woman. If the homosexuals can make a family, what do you think the power relationships between two sexes become? Some advanced countries' governments, like USA, re- advocate the value of a complete family, that, mother, father with the sons and daughters, and claim that only in this way, the people can sustain their life and culture. Some single-parent families think that this will create pressure and discrimination on them. Why are they have such feelings? What do these countries' government worry on the increasing number of such single-parent families?
3. Sexual and age discrimination of women workers / in work places	This is a hot issue in the society. Recently, many lower-class workers lose their job because the pattern of industry of Hong Kong has changed. Especially women workers hardly find a new job. What factors that affect the recruitment opportunities for them to find a job? Usually what reasons do the employer give to them? In work places, we usually heard that the female secretary or clerk encountered the sexual harassment of their boss. What is the public opinion on these events? Which side do you think should be responsible for such matter? Sex deal is usually to describe female(male) provide sex services for some kind of reward or chances of promotion. This usually happened in office. Do you think such deal is fair? Do you think the power relationships between boss and worker is natural and inevitable? If not, what measures could you take to prevent?
4. Understanding on the homosexuality, gays and lesbian	Have you met the gays and lesbians? What images do you get? Do you like them? Some medical researchers say that the homosexuals are born to be. What do you feel? Imagine that you are gays / lesbians, do you hate yourself, or are you proud of? Many homosexuals claim that they are usually discriminated. What factors do you think of that will lead to such discrimination? Do homosexual really harm the other people? Many years ago, Legislative Council passed a law that decriminalise homosexual behavior. Over a half of the councillor agree with it, but this arouse a great controversy from the public over such law. Which side you might stand? Why?
5. Understanding the sex crimes, e.g. rape, indecent assault, and sexual harassment, sexual abuse	Traditionally, women's body is viewed as "dirty" and "evil" because it will arouse good men's desire on sex and make the men become bad. Do you think the fault should be placed on female? Is the men "bad" first? Recently, there are several controversial cases on sexual harassment and indecent assault on female. Do you think the culture educate men to misunderstand the "signal" from women to sexually assault them? If you encountered such kind of assault, what will be the first thing to do come into your mind? If you see such assault happening, will you do sufferers some favour? What will you do then?
6. Gender stereotype in media, e.g. TV, drama, news, film.	In entertainment news, there are full of news about how the male and female artists contravene the ethics, that is, hot gossip. Do you think such gossiping reflect the gender bias hidden in our minds? The film industry is usually blamed by parents and teachers that they advertise the pornographic film and exaggerate the sexual behavior. However, they argue that they only reflect the reality. Do you think the film-makers should be responsible for sex education? Are the parent's blame correct? What point of view do we have to hold to see those films? Should the film and TV makers be responsible for gender stereotype and gender bias within the community? If not, what measures do we have to do to solve the problem? A women's group selects the ten gender bias advertisements every year. Do you think that advertisement will enable people to be gender-biased or gender-stereotyped? In what way, and who will be affected? Some critics said that such move do not have any educational effect. Do you think that the move is useless? A few figures publicly say that all women are prostitutes. Do you agree with that? What are their perception on women? Is it related to the widespread publication of pornographic pictures in magazines, newspaper or other means of media?
7. Sexual discrimination and gender problem in the Third World Countries	In Third World, the women usually come across greater impact than man during war and hunger, since they are easily sexually offended, they are usually distributed with less food but have to work more, and face serious risk during reproduction. What factors that lead to such plight of women in Third World? During war, women are usually raped by soldiers. Do you think that soldiers should not do so? What mental and philosophical factors within the soldiers that affect their action on those women? Some people in Third World think that the women in First World impose a "Western style equal status of both sexes" onto the Third World people, which is another kind of colonialism. Do you think that First World people "help" them in wrong ways? What have the First World people, such as IMF, World Bank, done to the Third World? Are the Third World people accustomed to such measures, and suit their own lifestyle? What have they done to develop their economic system without First World exploitation?
8. The influence of the use of science and technology on gender relationships	Medical Technology is so advanced that people can change to their opposite sex if they are certified as having such preference. Do you think that this reflects the stereotype of a man and a woman? Otherwise, why people have to change sex to suit the requirement of the community? The other controversial application is on the determination of sex of babies. Making use of genetic engineering, the parents can decide which sex of their baby should be. Do you think such decision is ethical? Will such technology do harm the health of next generation? What power relationships of both sexes do such decision reflect on the society when having a baby? For those who cannot afford to employ such technology, they will choose abortion. However, abortion is relatively dangerous to women's health. What side effect will abortion bring to women's health? Some cases of abortion is due to unexpected pregnancy, do you think which right is more important, birth right or mothers' right?
9. Environmental Impact on gender relationships	Considering gender stereotype, men and women will have to expose to different degrees of environmental hazards during their work. What environmental hazards will men and women have to face? What about housewives, workers in factories or offices? Are there any general gender pattern of diseases that related to their working condition and nature? What does the society frame on each sex their career preference and job nature?
10. The impact of Governmental Policy on Reproduction and Gender relationships	Hong Kong's "two children only" propaganda has promoted for more than twenty years. Do you think such policy has done a good job in controlling the birth rate? Why do some families still have more than two babies? What factors that affect their decision? economic condition? preference on the male babies? PRC Government's "one-child" policy has a great impact on the citizen's family structure. Some parents in inland area have killed or thrown away the baby girls. Why do they have such decision? Are the baby girls worthless? What effect will then it be? For Chinese people, the responsibility of reproduction or not is usually put on the female side. Do you think women is wholly responsible for reproduction? Are the problems all on the female side? Why is the usual way to prevent pregnancy done to the women? Do you think that women have an autonomy to have a baby? Some years ago, a female artist have a baby with father unknown. She fed the baby by herself, but the public opinion did not agree with her. Do you think that she is right to do so? Do you think that father has an important role in a family?
11. Studies on sexual behavior on gender relationship	"Male up, female down" is the usual pattern of human sexual behavior. Do you think that it is natural? Some women activists claim that it signifies a power relationship that male is of higher status than female. Do you agree with that? "Male active, female passive" is another characteristic of sexual behaviour. Do this reflect some kind of gender stereotype of both sexes in shaping their behavior? What are the daily examples? Some women activists also point out the male require female to be passive, but luring in sexual behavior, they think such requirement is a kind of character twist, only "mad" women is possible. Do you agree with this? Do you think that men are born to be greater in power in nature?