EXISTING CULTURE OF THE THIRD-GENDER AS INFLUENCED

BY THE SOCIAL MEDIA

Dr. Paul Gence l. Ocampo

San Roque National High School

Cherry D. Sumabat
Gilbert G. Joyosa
Maximo L. Gatlabayan Memorial National High School
Division of Antipolo City

Abstract
Newly invented technologies and social media have become increasingly popular
components of our everyday lives in today’s modern society. The vast effects of social media
are widely seen even in the school setting. Filipinos were known to be conservative in nature
and value native culture though some of it was influenced by different invaders of our
country that manifested in different aspects of life of a Filipino. There were factors affecting
the heritage of Filipinos apparently seen in our traditions, practices, and beliefs, perceptions
in life, languages and preservation of indigenous culture. The research is designed to find
the existing culture of the third-gender as influenced by the social media and how it was
affecting their academic performance in school. It was conducted at San Roque National
High School and Maximo L. Gatlabayan Memorial National High School, S.Y. 2015-2016.
The research instrument employed a descriptive study design and utilized survey-
questionnaire and interview to respondents’ parents and teachers. The study revealed that
social media today were the most influential in terms of the third gender culture expansion
specifically on their language, beliefs and their perception in life. However, despite of these
influences, they still manage to perform well in school.

Introduction
Newly invented technologies and media have become increasingly popular
components of our everyday lives in today’s modern society. The generation of learners
today are widely exposed to different media which influence not only the behavior but also
the interactions among other members of society forming a unique culture which may
enhance or endanger the learning habits and Filipino culture and traditions which was
transmitted from generation to generation. The importance of preserving the Filipino culture
was express by the government through the creation of R.A. 10066 or the "National Cultural
Heritage Act of 2009". The following objectives as stated on Article I Section 2 of this act are
pursue: (a)Protect, preserve, conserve and promote the nation's cultural heritage, its
property and histories, and the ethnicity of local communities; (b)Establish and strengthen
cultural institutions; and (c)Protect cultural workers and ensure their professional
development and well-being.
Among the emerging popular media today are televisions, cell phones and social
networking sites such as facebook and twitter which greatly affects culture. The vast effects
of media are widely seen even in the school local set up in Antipolo City. Due to gestures
and words adopted from the popular media popularized by gay characters in popular media,
the culture of acceptance of the Third Gender Society in local setup is fast diffusing.
This study will focus on the multidimensional cause and effect of rising numbers of third
gender students and its implications to different aspects of their personality. It will scrutinize
whether homosexuality may negate or improve the learning process that in turn produced a
program of activities that will be beneficial to the school policy and student development.

Definition of Terms

Dimensional Radiation of New Media – refers to the effects of new media on the
personality and other life aspects of third gender students.
Popular Media – pertains to present technology such as televisions, facebook and cell
phone that can affect the personality of an individual.
Third Gender - refers to gay students which are the respondents of the study.

Brief Review of Literature

Technology has made the media the most important immediate influence on opinions and
understanding in the industrialized world and has significantly heightened media impact in
the developing countries as well. Media has a powerful capacity to encourage global
awareness thereby promoting cross-cultural understanding, tolerance and acceptance of
ethnic, cultural, religious and gender differences in communities across the globe.
Unfortunately, the media’s potential to be a force for good can easily backfire. By
disseminating messages that create and reinforce negative stereotypes and perpetuate
misconceptions, the media frustrates dialogue and works against mutual understanding.
Howard, Idriss, Amanat. (2006)
In today’s society, there is an increasing number of Internet users so new social media has
become more popular in daily patterns and routines. The communication that occurs in these
online contexts promotes interactive dialogues that build understanding of different points of
view. “New social media means that everyone is a publisher and everyone is a critic”.
Georgetown University (2010).
Empirical attention on the relationship between the media and gay, lesbians and bisexual
(GLB) identity can be justified by the role of contextual factors in GLB identity development.
Indeed, the GLB identity development process, including the realization of one’s same-sex
sexual desires and coming out, has been conceptualized as a dynamic process that is
mediated by the cultural and historical context in which GLB individuals live. As Hammack’s
framework of GLB identity development suggests, cultural factors such as the media may
influence important psychological domains, including individuals’ self-perceptions. Hammack
(2005).
Indeed, the notion that a role model’s similarity to an individual is an important predictor of
the role model’s influence has been confirmed by a variety of studies demonstrating that
people are more influenced by role models of the same gender or race. Giuliano, Turner,
Lundquist, & Knight, (2007); Lockwood, (2006). Taken together, these findings suggest that
GLB individuals may be more influenced by GLB media role models than by heterosexual
media figures due to the GLB role models’ similar identities.
Theoretical Framework
This study is based on Hofstede’s five dimensions and the Diffusion of Innovation Theory.
Hofstede's cultural dimensions theory is a framework for cross-cultural communication,
developed by Geert Hofstede. It describes the effects of a society's culture on the values of
its members, and how these values relate to behavior, using a structure derived from factor
analysis. Wikipedia (2015)

Conceptual Framework
 The conceptual framework of this study used IV-DV-Output model. The first box consists of
independent Variables. Independent variables are Popular Media such as televisions, cell
phones, social networking sites and other media.
The second box contained the dependent variable. Identity and the Coming-out Process
among Grade 9 and 10 third gender students is considered as dependent variable since it
relies to popular media in the first frame.
The third box consist Teachers Training and Workshop on the Culture Sensitivity among
Third Gender Students and Symposium and Awareness Campaign on the Right Use of
Popular Media for Students and Parents which is the output of this research. The output is
intended for the benefits of students, parents and school.
The lines connecting each box is pointed by an arrow indicates the connection of variables
while another line is intended for feedback mechanism was added to indicate that there is a
continuous improvement process based on the gathered feedback.
IV DV OUTPUT
Popular Media - Teachers Training and
Workshop on the
-Televisions Identity and the Culture Sensitivity
Coming-out Process among Third Gender
- Cell phones Among Grade 10 Students
Third Gender - Symposium and
- Social
Figure 1 Networking Students Awareness Campaign
Sites Model of the Study Showing the Direction and Interplay
Conceptual of the Variables in
on the Right Use of
the Conducted Study
Popular Media for
- other media
Statement of the Problem Students and Parents.
The study aimed to assess the dimensional radiation of new media on students.
Specifically, this sought to answer the following questions:
1. What are the patterns of use of popular media by the third gender students?
2. What popular media are influential to their realization that they were third gender?
3. Who are the media figures participants named as influential to their realization that
they were third gender?
4. What are the major sources of popular phrase among the third gender students?
5. What are the samples of popular phrases which affects the socialization and behavior of
the respondents?
6. What are the implications of popular media to the third gender grade 9 and 10 students in
terms of:
6.1. study habit and academic achievement
6.2. culture of socialization
6.3. dignity

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Research Design
Descriptive research is a study designed to depict the participants in an accurate
way. More simply put, descriptive research is all about describing people who take part in the
study. There are three ways a researcher can go about doing a descriptive research project,
and they are: Observational, defined as a method of viewing and recording the participants.
Case study, defined as an in-depth study of an individual or group of individuals. Survey,
defined as a brief interview or discussion with an individual about a specific topic. Study.com
(2015)

Subject of the Study

San Roque National High School has a total student population of 3562 for School Year
2015-16. The subjects of the study were 22 students, 14 parents and 28 teachers from the
grade 9 and 10 level while in Maximo L. Gatlabayan Memorial National High School has a
total population of 1562. The subjects of the study were 26 students, parents 12 and 14
teachers with a total of 48 students, 26 parents and 42 teachers.

Sources of Data and Instrument

The data for the analysis of Dimensional Radiation of Popular Media on the Culture
of Third Gender Grade 9 and 10 Students was taken using a validated researcher made
questionnaire checklists. The questionnaire checklist established the relationship between
the media about how the media relates to different aspects of third gender students life,
including identity and the coming-out process. Specifically, the current study examined which
media figures and sources participants named as influential to their realization that they were
third gender. The current study also examined how participants described the influence of
these media figures and sources on participants’ realization that they were third gender and
on their decision to come out. This was administered confidentially to the teachers, students
and parents to secure the real names of the respondents. After the gathering of data, focus
group discussions were conducted to the respondents to secure the reliability of the data
provided and secure other information which are relevant to the study. After those
procedures above, data were analyzed and treated statistically.

Results and Discussion

PATTERNS OF USE OF POPULAR MEDIA BY THE THIRD GENDER STUDENTS

POPULAR MEDIA ARE INFLUENTIAL TO THE REALIZATION THAT THEY WERE THIRD
GENDER

Table 1
Top 5 Popular Media of Today Based on the Weekly Average Usage of the Respondents
POPULAR MEDIA AVERAGE USAGE WITHIN A WEEK (Hrs.) RANK
Cell phone 30.75 1
Television 17.5 2
Facebook 9.1 3
Youtube 3.33 4
Radio 2 5

It can be gleaned in the table that the top 5 most popular media today as revealed by
the student respondents are Cell phone, Television, Facebook, Youtube and Radio with an
average weekly usage of 30.75, 17.7, 9.1, 3.33 and 2hrs respectively. It can be gleaned on
the table that media is a really part of daily life of third gender students to the extent that they
are using it regularly with different weekly average usage in hours.

POPULAR MEDIA INFLUENTIAL TO REALIZATION OF BEING THIRD GENDER

Table 2
Top 3 Popular Media on the Perception of Respondent Which are Influential to the
Realization of Students as Third Gender

Popular Students Rank Teachers Rank Parents Rank

Media (Frequency) (Frequency) (Frequency)
Television 36 1 34 1 14 2
Facebook 31 2 25 2 7 3
Cell phone 27 3 19 3 18 1
 It is shown in table number 2 that all the respondents perceived television, facebook
and cell phone as the top 3 most influential media affecting the realization of students as
third gender. Students and teacher respondents has the same sequence of ranking
television, facebook and cellphone as 1,2, and 3 respectively while parents perceived cell
phone as the most influential followed by television and facebook.
MEDIA FIGURES AND SOURCES PARTICIPANTS NAMED AS INFLUENTIAL TO THEIR
REALIZATION THAT THEY WERE THIRD GENDER

Table 3
Media Figures Participants Named as Influential to their Realization that they Were Third Gender
Media Figure Frequency Rank
Vice Ganda 35 1
Marian Rivera 11 2
Paolo Balesteros 9 3
Carla Avellana 8 4
Enrique Gill 5 5

It can be noticed on the table that the most influential personality to the third gender
students is Vice Ganda with an overwhelming frequency of 35 followed by Marian Rivera
with a frequency of 11 . Paolo Balesteros, Carla Avellana with 8 and Enrique Gill with 5. It
can be gleaned that the two personality (Vice Ganda and Paolo Balesteros) idolized by the
third gender students projected a gay personality while among the 2 are female Marian
Rivera and Carla Avellana). On the interview conducted they Idolized Vice Ganda because
of his jokes and humorous personality while Paolo Ballesteros because of his skills in make-
up transformation. Both Marian and Carla are the figures and faces they dreamed of to
become what they have while Enrique Gill is their crush.

MAJOR SOURCES OF POPULAR PHRASE AMONG THE THIRD GENDER STUDENTS

AS PERCEIVED BY THE DIFFERENT GROUPS OF RESPONDENTS

Table 4
Top 5 Major Sources of Popular Phrase Among the Third Gender Students

Popular Students Rank Teachers Rank Parents Rank

Media (Frequency) (Frequency) (Frequency)
Television 26 2 25 1 37 1
Facebook 36 1 23 2 11 2
Cell phone 22 3 14 4 9 3
Youtube 9 5 17 3 6 4
Radio 11 4 9 5 4 5

It can be gleaned in the table that the top 3 major source of the popular language
/phrase use by the third gender students for the student and parent respondents are
television, facebook and cell phone. On the other hand, teacher respondents identified
television, facebook and you tube as the top 3 major source of popular phrase among third
gender students. The disparity may be attributed to the fact that parents knows best their
son because of the time spent is longer in home as compare to school.

SAMPLES OF POPULAR PHRASE WHICH AFFECTS THE SOCIALIZATION AND

BEHAVIOR OF THE RESPONDENTS
Table 5
Samples of Popular Phrase Which Affects the Socialization and Behavior of the
Respondents
POPULAR Students Rank Teachers Rank Parents Rank
PHRASE (Frequency) (Frequency) (Frequency)
E di wow 34 1 37 1 24 1
Walang
forever 17 4 32 2 11 4
Kami ang
Pabebe Girls 21 3 21 4.5 18 3
Maliit na
bagay 28 2 21 4.5 7 5
Kilig pa
more 11 5 29 3 19 2

It can be gleaned from the table that all the respondents agreed with the phrase” e di
wow” as the most popular followed by other phrases which are rank diversely by the three
group of respondents. This is interconnected with table number 2 because the phrase was
popularized by Vice Ganda. The result implies that TV and media personality really has an
influence on the oral culture of third gender students.

IMPLICATIONS OF POPULAR MEDIA TO THE THIRD GENDER GRADE 9 AND 10

STUDENTS WITH RESPECT TO DIFFERENT ASPECTS

Table 6
Implications of Popular Media to the Third Gender Grade 9 and 10 Students with Respect to
Study Habit and Academic Achievement

Study Habit and Academic Achievement Frequency Rank

Always watch T.V. and used gadgets like cell phone 112 1
Always get high score on quizzes and examinations. 97 2
Always does assignment 25 3
Always used computer for facebook purpose. 23 4

As revealed on the interview done on the three groups of respondents, popular media has
effect on the technology usage like cellphone. It has also influence the used of time on
social networking sites like facebook and media like TV. Third gender students spent a lot of
time on watching television, using social networking sites like facebook and watching
television but they still manage to do their assignment and score high on quizzes and
examination.

Table 7
Implications of Popular Media to the Third Gender Grade 9 and 10 Students with Respect to Culture
of Socialization
Social Activities Frequency Rank

Not ashamed of being third gender / Revealed personality. 46 1

Tend to have more female friends than male friends. 39 2
Tend to be lousy on class. 33 3
Experience being bullied in school 27 4

As revealed on the table, third gender students are now expressive of what they are,
they are not ashamed to reveal their personality. One more implication of new media is the
imbalance number of friends which are mostly female. Another influences which may be
treated negatively is the lousiness of the third gender students which might unwanted events
in class. Lastly, and the most dangerous is the experience of being bullied in the class due to
the personality influence by popular media.
Table 8
Implications of Popular Media to the Third Gender Grade 9 and 10 Students with Respect to
Dignity and Personality

Dignity and Personality Frequency Rank

The usage of popular phrase which becomes a culture expressed
through behavior brings down dignity of third gender students. 44 1
The usage of popular phrase by third gender students which they get
from media that becomes a culture does not bring any good effect on
my/their image on school. 39 2
The usage of popular phrase by third gender students which comes
from media that becomes a culture expressed through behavior causes
negative effect on their personality. 28 3

It can be gleaned on table 8 that the popular phrase as influence by media does not
bring any good effect on image, dignity and personality as revealed by the frequency made
by the three groups of respondents. Another findings from the interview conducted is that the
phrases obtained from media which becomes a culture frequently causes disruption of
classes.

Conclusion
Based on the findings presented, the following conclusions are drawn:
The top 5 most popular media today as revealed by the student respondents are Cell phone,
Television, Facebook, Youtube and Radio with an average weekly usage of 30.75, 17.7, 9.1,
3.33 and 2hrs respectively.
Television, facebook and cell phone as the top 3 most influential media affecting the
realization of students as third gender.
Media figures participants named as influential to their realization that they were third gender
are Vice Ganda, Marian Rivera, Paolo Balesteros, Carla Avellana and Enrique Gill.
The major source of the popular language /phrase use by the third gender students for the
student and parent respondents are television, facebook and cell phone.
“E di wow”, “walang forever”, “kami ang pabebe girls” “maliit na bagay”, and “kilig pa more”
are samples of popular phrases which affects the socialization and behavior of the
respondents.
Third gender students spent a lot of time on watching television, using social networking
sites like facebook and watching television but they still manage to do their assignment and
score high on quizzes and examination. Third gender students are not ashamed to reveal
their personality, lousy in school, experienced being bullied and most of their friends are
female. Media does not bring any good effects on image, dignity and personality of third
gender students.

Recommendations
The usage of popular media today like cell phone, television, facebook, youtube and radio
should be balanced based on its need.
The use of television, facebook and cell phone should be guided accordingly to avoid its
negative effect on students, to avoid the transformation of student to become a third gender
or to control the third gender student of becoming worst.
Media personality has influence to personality of students, therefore parents and teachers
should steer the students to right choice of whom to idolize.
Parents and teachers should explain to the students that phrases taken from television,
facebook and cell phone should be filtered before taken into adoption.
Popular phrases from media should be used accordingly. The usage or prohibition of those
phrases should be explained well by the teachers and parents to the students.
The crucial role of parents and teachers to avoid the negative influence of popular media on
the personality of students or third gender students should be viable.
A parallel study may be conducted to compare the effects of media on the culture of male
and female students as compare to the third gender students.

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