How to retrieve values from value table?

hi all,

i had post several thread on this but there are no answer to my question. i need to do a select statement which help me to check whether this particular field for etc (gender) the value inside this gender may consist of male and female but this value is located inside a value table. So i was wondering how do i do my select statement and find out whether does that particular field has a value table that link with it? is there a step by step guide to teach me? as i m a newbie. thx a million. point will be rewarded.