Harmony with Hormones (2025-2026)

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Harmony with Hormones (2025-2026)

Are gender, puberty, and sex viewed the same way across different cultures?

What about you?

How do you see gender, puberty, and sex?

Is this truly how you feel about them?

Who decides what is normal for men and women?

Write in your notebook!

For which country is this true: During menstruation, women are not allowed to eat meat, rice, sour food, drink cold water, sit on wet ground, or wash.

A

Switzerland

B

Afghanistan

C

Columbia

D

Australia

Afghanistan

Menstruation is seen as taboo, shameful, and dirty in Afghanistan.

In some communities "even women in the family don't talk with the ones who have their period [...] they're not allowed to cook and they are ignored until the period is over" (Mahnaz, 18 years old).

What do countries such as Iran, Oman, Maldives, Qatar and Saudi Arabia have in common?

A

Age of consent is 21

B

Age of consent is 14-18

C

There is no age of consent

D

Age of consent is 11

Consent

Many western countries 14-18

Nigeria 11

Several Middle Eastern and African countries don't have an 'age' of consent, consent is tied to marital status

fact re: marital rape laws

How is child marriage linked to poverty?

A

Child marriage lowers the educational prospects of the children of child brides, contributing to the cycle of poverty

B

Girls married as children have more children in their lifetimes, meaning larger families with less money to care for each member

C

Child marriage in poorer families is more likely, as girls are seen as an economic burden

D

It's not, child marriage only traps girls into marriages they can't consent to

https://www.girlsnotbrides.org/documents/880/Economic-Impact-of-CM-Final-LR.pdf

https://genderdata.worldbank.org/en/data-stories/child-marriage

Many women don't have access to sanitary products. What might some women use instead?

Why are some boys/men circumcised?

A

Religion

B

To conform with other men

C

To show that they've become men

D

Cleanliness

Circumcision

• Religion: In Judaism, infant boys are usually circumcised on their 8th day of life. In Islam, circumcision confirms a boy/man's relationship with God.

• Manhood: In Sub-Saharan Africa, the Philippines, some Pacific Islands etc. circumcision is seen as a rite-of-passage into manhood.

• To conform: Social pressure to conform is a big motivational factor in many countries as well as in higher economic groups.

• Cleanliness: Circumcision is incorrectly framed as being more hygienic than being uncircumcised .

How many countries in the world still criminalise homosexuality?

A

12

B

37

C

65

D

88

What expectations exist for men and women across different cultures?

What is the patriarchy?

The patriarchy

• Patriarchy refers to a social system where men are generally positioned as holding more power and privilege in society

• It shapes gender norms - socially constructed expectations about how men and women should behave 

• Restrictive gender norms are harmful for all genders by limiting potential, affecting mental health, and discouraging authentic self-expression

  • Patriarchal systems can also reduce girls’ access to education and opportunities, reinforcing inequality

  • Pressure to conform to traditional masculinity can negatively affect men's emotional and social development

What does it mean to be masculine?

What does it mean to be feminine?

How are we limited by gender expectations?

Expectations of men

• Avoid anything deemed 'feminine'

• Don't show 'weak' / 'feminine' emotions

• Be strong, tough, self-reliant, and dominant

• Men's value comes from their financial power, strength, and authority

Expectations of women

• Be caring / passive

• Have children

• Behave modestly, otherwise risk aggression from men

• Women's value comes from their appearance and how they can serve men

Go back to your answer in your notebook from the beginning of the session: Was your answer a result of any expectations/behaviours you've been taught as a result of your gender?

What expectations/behaviours do you have that are gendered?

What would you like to be more aware of/change moving?forward?

Ultimately: You have value for who you are, not your gender expression and whether you meet society's expectations!