...Gender equality and socio-economic development Let’s consider this problem in the global scale. According to the United Nation statistics, women and girls continue to suffer discrimination and violence in every part of the world. But if we think, why is society concerning about it? Maybe it would be better to accept the traditional patriarchal system, which exists in many families? Maybe men are more successful in some activities, so it doesn’t make sense to share these activities with women? But it is not a good way of thinking, because modern society proclaims inalienable rights and freedom for everybody – both men and women. And progress in gender equality is necessary, as it fuels economy, stimulating productivity and growth. Let’s consider some facts how it happens. So, gender discrimination affects main spheres of society – both economics, education and politics. A significant progress has already existed in ensuring access to primary education for all. Nevertheless, uneducated mother will likely bring up her children in poverty and without proper medical care. So, the result of lack of education is the increasing of child morbidity, malnutrition and mortality. Further improving access to education for girls and women influences on their desire to provide educational opportunities for their children. Labor market in many countries also remains gender segregated. Women in most countries earn on average only 60 to 75 per cent of men’s So, even educated women are engaged...
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...Education and Gender Equality within Millennium Development Goals: KSA & China Name: Institution: Course: Date: Declaration I hereby declare that this is my work and nothing has been plagiarized. Every aspect of this work has been appropriately referenced using the APA referencing format. Executive Summary Table of Contents Contents of the report with page numbers, list of tables, and list of figures. Introduction to the Research Topic Education and gender equality are critical components of societal progress and development. They reflect basic rights that require no economic justification. This notion is reflected in the inclusion of gender related developmental and propagative objectives in the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Yet it is also a case that education and gender equality has broad and positive implications for economic as well as social development to any nation. A significant decline in child illiteracy and maternal mortality remains somewhat elusive and thus the Millennium Developmental Goals initiative that has been deemed to reduce child illiteracy and promote gender equality coupled with the establishment of women empowerment within all regions of the world is poised with inconsistent progress rates within some certain countries. To deliver such Millennium Development goals and MDG3 and its supporting targets which promotes specifically gender equality and empowers women, it will be critical to elevate...
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...The concept of gender has become a debatable issue in the contemporary society and an important dimension in the design and analysis of social and economic development policies. These development concerns have brought about gender issues at the forefront of national and international agenda. During the 1990's, the gender issue continued to follow the historical trend by being one of the most popular themes of debates. The Human Development Report, (1995) posits that the number of women is greater than or equal to that of men, in today's society, yet females are still considered as a minority segment of the population. As a measure to redress gender inequalities, approaches by feminist movements, such as Women in Development (WID), were crafted but not much was achieved. Later, it was Women and Development (WAD) and lastly Gender and Development (GAD). It seems deep-rooted gender inequality still exists globally, despite substantial national and international measures that have been taken towards gender equality. This essay deliberates on the assertion that, “Gender equality is debatable: what is undebatable is the attempt to make it universally applicable.” The writer agrees to a greater extent that gender equality is a controversial issue basing on the multiplicity of societies that it is applied to. The fact that there is no universal culture, universal religion or universal ideology makes the whole issue arguable, ence, the need to degenderise gender. Definition...
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...PROMOTING GENDER EQUALITY How can we increase the likelihood of women benefiting equally from development activities? What strategies have proven to be effective in the field? This tipsheet summarises strategies which have worked in practice, based on findings from a review of 85 evaluations undertaken by bilateral and multilateral agencies from 1999 to 2002. There was a great deal of consistency in evaluation reports about the most effective strategies for addressing gender equality issues, regardless of the type of assistance, the donor agency, the partner country or sector. Findings from the review also support anecdotal evidence about how to promote gender equality in development programming. Involve stakeholders from civil society in dialogue on objectives and activities. National machineries for women, local women’s organisations, NGOs and other local advocates for women’s rights can play a key role in setting directions for country strategies and in activity design. They can hold institutions accountable for addressing gaps between commitments and practice. Make long-term commitments to partners and activities. This is essential for sustainable progress towards gender equality at both macro and micro levels. Discuss gender equality with partner countries Dialogue to develop partnerships on gender equality is needed when agencies are developing country assistance strategies, and also at the activity level during design and implementation. This means that development workers...
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...Gender equality and equity are useful aspects in the development of communities. The importance of gender equality is underscored by its inclusion and recognised globally as one of the eight Millennium Development Goals. In this writing the writer would first define terms gender equality and equity. The writer is going to dwell much on issues like income generating projects, education, health services, politics, family issues, and religion which are some of the useful aspects that promotes community development. Gender equality is, first and foremost, a human right. According to Momsen (2004), gender equality means equal valuation of men and women and sameness in the enjoyment of rights, power, opportunities, treatment, and control of resources between male and females in the society. P (2007) congruently agrees with Momsen when depict Gender equality, as that men and women should receive equal treatment, unless there is a sound biological reason for different treatment. This concept is a key factor in the development of communities, where the ultimate aim is to provide equality in law and equality in social situations, especially in democratic activities and securing equal pay for equal work. Momsen (2004) went on to define gender equity as a process of achieving fairness and justice among men and women in distribution of opportunities, responsibilities and resources as well as accessing and controlling benefits from these resources. Kaiser (2005) as well defines gender...
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...UNDERLYING GENDER MAINSTREAMING Gender The concept of gender needs to be understood clearly as a cross-cutting socio-cultural variable. It is an overarching variable in the sense that gender can also be applied to all other cross-cutting variables such as race, class, age, ethnic group, etc. Gender systems are established in different socio-cultural contexts which determine what is expected, allowed and valued in a woman/man and girl/boy in these specific contexts. Gender roles are learned through socialization processes; they are not fixed but are changeable. Gender systems are institutionalized through education systems, political and economic systems, legislation, and culture and traditions. In utilizing a gender approach the focus is not on individual women and men but on the system which determines gender roles / responsibilities, access to and control over resources, and decision-making potentials. It is also important to emphasize that the concept of gender is not interchangeable with women. Gender refers to both women and men, and the relations between them. Promotion of gender equality should concern and engage men as well as women. In recent years there has been a much stronger direct focus on men in research on gender perspectives. There are three main approaches taken in the increased focus on men. Firstly, the need to identify men as allies for gender equality and involve them more actively in this work. Secondly, the recognition that gender equality is not possible...
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...Gender and development- historical background ‹ Definitions up Mainstreaming gender throughout the Project Cycle Management (PCM) › Gender and development- historical background The United Nations Charter of 1945 and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 established the first official worldwide recognition of women’s equality and non-discrimination on the basis on sex. However up until the late 1960’s the focus was on women’s reproductive roles, as women were seen as wives and mothers and their main issues were supposed to be obtaining access to food, contraceptives, nutrition and health care. The 70’s and 80’s marked a new phase in which the debate moved beyond women’s equality and the domestic sphere of women’s role as wives and mothers onto the global stage where the role of women was promoted as an aid for economic development. The important events such as the First World Conference for Women held in Mexico 1974, the UN decade for women “76-85” and the promotion of the Women In Development (WID) approach emphasised women’s right to development, recognition of women’s economic role in national economies and, most significantly, gave a voice to women in developing countries. Some of the shortcoming of the approaches such as the WID applied in the 70’s were that they fell short of improving unequal relationships, and a significant number of projects were unsustainable as development projects failed to consider the multiple roles carried out by women,...
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...and references to ALL sources be they printed, electronic or personal Introduction Hong Kong, as one of the most westernized cities in Asia, women’s status has improved in a rapid pace over the past 30 years. The role of women changes with the growth of awareness of gender inequality, in which brought the rise of concern on women’s issues. The Hong Kong government has been implementing the conventions in order to eliminate discrimination against women by both Basic Law and local laws. With the well-established legal system in Hong Kong, right and quality of women are enshrined to a large extent. The formation of Equal Opportunities Commission in 1996 and the Women’s Commission is 2001 helped the development of policy infrastructure for gender equality. Besides, plenty of non-governmental organizations also help promoting gender equality in the society. Gender equality is an indicator of the progress of social development. While both genders appear to be equal in Hong Kong, hidden sex discrimination is still common, restricting the development of women. (Women’s Commission, 2012) Since there is no legal prohibition of sexual orientation-based employment discrimination in the private sector, gender discrimination is being hided to a large extent in private organizations and companies. This paper discusses the current situation of...
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...Topic 3 Introduction 4 Gender Equality in Workplace 5 Conclusion: 11 References List: 12 Topic Gender equality in the workplace is still a major issue of concern in many countries, including Australia. What is it that makes this such an apparently impossible issue to resolve? Critically examine the implications, of this gender inequality, for efficient and effective work and management practices in companies today. Introduction Gender inequality issue originates from Christian ideology, which advocates traditional thought of “male superiority to female”. In the workplace, gender inequality causes unequal treatment between male and female employees, such as women are typically more difficult to get promotions than male; they do the same work as male but get paid less than men, they even suffer from other issues such as sexual harassment. Sexual harassment exists in most countries including Australia. As long as the society couldn’t reach to gender equality, people’s human rights will be threatened whether people in the workplace, or anywhere else. This essay introduces the histories and background of gender equality, and further examines the gender equality improvement in Australia, as well as the effects of this issue in the workplace. Moreover, there also several suggestions for companies on gender equality promotion and related policies making. Gender Equality in Workplace Grown (2003, p.2) claims that the term ‘Gender Equality’ narrates the measureable equal...
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...CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION Transforming gender relations in Ghana agenda will remain so for some time to come. In spite of decades of gender equity activism and public efforts which had been undertaken in the last three decades within the ambit of electoral policies, the transformation process was stalled with many challenges. In the gender equality intervention, especially following the Beijing declaration of 1995, the agenda has been pursued in some societies as if it is only women’s business. Initially, some gender equality activities were undertaken as if it was a battle between women and men. In certain instances some men thought that promotion of gender equality or women’s empowerment was an attempt to take their power from then and give to women such misconceptions have made gender equality measure for empowerment of women face some resistance from both males and some females who believe that governance of society and women must be under the control of men. A critical explanation of gender will, however, reveal that the gender strategy rather recognizes the relationship between males and females and for that matter the need to support each other to attain their maximum best in society, efforts have, therefore, been recently intensified at the international level to promote the involvement of males for attainment of gender equality. The question then is how do we harness the male support for the promotion of gender equality? It is within this context that this term...
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...Women in development (WID)[edit] Theoretical approach The term “women and development” was originally coined by a Washington-based network of female development professionals in the early 1970s[3] who sought to put in question the trickle down theories of development by contesting that modernization had identical impact on men and women.[4] The Women in Development movement (WID) gained momentum in the 1970s, driven by the resurgence of women's movement in northern countries, whereby liberal feminists were striving for equal rights and labour opportunities in the United States.[5] Liberal feminism, postulating that women's disadvantages in society may be eliminated by breaking down stereotyped customary expectations of women by offering better education to women and introducing equal opportunity programmes,[6] had a notable influence on the formulation of the WID approaches, whereby little attention was given to men and to power relations between genders.[5] The translation of the 1970s feminist movements and their repeated calls for employment opportunities in the development agenda meant that particular attention was given to the productive labour of women, leaving aside reproductive concerns and social welfare.[5] Yet this focus was part of the approach pushed forward by advocates of the WID movement, reacting to the general policy environment maintained by early colonial authorities and post-war development authorities, wherein inadequate reference to the work undertook by...
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...According to the World Bank, gender equality enhances economic development, improves prospects for future generations and strengthens political and social systems. Though women now comprise more than 40 percent of the world’s labor force, they still lag behind men in terms of earnings and productivity. Women also face greater obstacles when it comes to participation in social and political institutions. Particularly in developing nations, the gender gap hinders economic and social development and destabilizes the political environment. In it’s 2012 World Development Report: Gender Equality and Development, the World Bank suggests four priority areas for improving gender equality. The first is reducing gender gaps in human capital, specifically female mortality and education. Second, improving female access to education and economic opportunities. Third, addressing women’s under-representation in communities and political systems. Finally, understanding how gender inequality applies across generations. These four priority areas help policymakers understand and address problems associated with the gender gap. Many factors are helping alleviate the gender gap and promote gender equality in developing nations. Globalization and increased access to information are providing women with stronger connections to markets and economic opportunities. These factors also contribute to increasing knowledge about women’s roles in other cultures throughout the world. Perhaps most importantly...
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...Making gender equality a reality The history of the world serves as a testimony that, in the days of yore, men were considered as the bread-winners and women as the nest-builders. As far as women were concerned, they were entrusted the responsibility to transform the brick-made house into a love-made home. The men had only to support the family financially. In fact, the women were stigmatised as homely-made furniture in the eyes of men. Unfortunately, this patriarchal trend still prevails in this so-called revolutionized world, where women are, once again, characterized as inferior. If the world has really undergone a revolution, then why this corrupt attitude towards women has not yet changed? However, the law has as its main motive to preserve and promote human rights, and gender equality is the crux of those rights. Gender equality does not only stand as a process of equal valuing of the roles of women and men, but more precisely, as a practice to overcome the obstacles of prejudices so that both sexes are subject to the economic, social, cultural and political developments of the society. It simply aims at equal perception, equal empowerment and equal responsibility in all spheres of life. One can be surely flabbergasted to acknowledge that achieving gender equality necessitates the presence of men; those men, because of whom, the word gender...
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...Gender equality is a human right,1 but our world faces a persistent gap in access to opportunities and decision-making power for women and men.2 Globally, women have fewer opportunities for economic participation than men, less access to basic and higher education, greater health and safety risks, and less political representation.2 Guaranteeing the rights of women and giving them opportunities to reach their full potential is critical not only for attaining gender equality, but also for meeting a wide range of international development goals. Empowered women and girls contribute to the health and productivity of their families, communities, and countries, creating a ripple effect that benefits everyone. The word gender describes the socially-constructed roles and responsibilities that societies consider appropriate for men and women. Gender equality means that men and women have equal power and equal opportunities for financial independence, education, and personal development 3 . Women's empowerment is a critical aspect of achieving gender equality. It includes increasing a woman's sense of self-worth, her decision-making power, her access to opportunities and resources, her power and control over her own life inside and outside the home, and her ability to effect change.4 Yet gender issues are not focused on women alone, but on the relationship between men and women in society.5 The actions and attitudes of men and boys play an essential role in achieving gender equality...
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...LDP616: GENDER ISSUES IN DEVELOPMENT Gender Mainstreaming The role of the state in mainstreaming gender issues and concerns in development Nyabochwa, Mary Mamo 1st February 2011 Lecture: Dr. Isaac Were. Table of Contents ACRONYMS/ABBREVIATIONS ........................................................................................................... 4 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ........................................................................................................................ 5 1.0 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................................................. 6 1.1 Why gender issues .............................................................................................................................. 6 2.0 GENDER MAINSTREAMING .......................................................................................................... 8 2.1 Clarity on certain aspects of gender mainstreaming ......................................................................... 8 2.2 some key misconceptions................................................................................................................ 10 3.0 IMPLEMENTATION OF GENDER MAINSTREAMING ........................................................... 11 3.1 Definition of “gender mainstreaming” ............................................................................................. 11 3.2 Practical steps...
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