The relationship between Gender and Development
Gender is a
complex variable that is a part of social, cultural, economic and political
contexts. It is also relevant for the work of civil society movements. Gender
refers to socially constructed differences between men and women, whereas Sex
refers to biological differences between men and women. Being socially
constructed, gender differences vary depending on age, marital status,
religion, ethnicity, culture, race, class/caste and so on. Sexual differences
vary little across these variables.
Development
analysts have recognized now for several decades the need to ensure that gender
is examined and integrated into development projects. In integrating gender into development,
practitioners are responding to the priority needs of women and men, and being
aware of what benefits or adverse effects could impact either.
Why is Gender Relevant for Development?
When we
talk about Gender Equality, we are referring to a combination of legal equality
and equal opportunities including opportunities to speak out. More often, this
is about making better opportunities in all of these areas for women.
An early approach involved targeting women by project design
and interventions which focused on women as a separate group. This was commonly
referred to as WID (Women in Development). Critics of this approach pointed out
that this did not address men, and a later model usually referred to as GAD
(Gender and Development) concentrated
more on project design and interventions that were focused on a development process that
transforms gender relations. This aimed to enable women to participate on an
equal basis with men in determining their common future. The Gender Equality
approach is therefore about men and women and is thus a more comprehensive
approach to analysis and design of development interventions because it takes
into account the situation and needs of both men and women. It aims to involve
both women and men in addressing their development problems, to reform
institutions to establish equal rights and opportunities, and to foster
economic development which strengthens equal participation. Such an approach aims to redress persistent
disparities in access to resources and the ability to speak out.
Another example, Stepping Stones, a small group intervention using participatory learning to help improve sexual health, began in Uganda but was adapted for different countries across sub Saharan Africa including Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia, as well as for the Philippines. Its community training package “aims to encourage communities to question and rectify the gender inequalities that contribute to HIV/AIDS, gender based violence and other issues” and again focussed on behaviour change.
Gender and
social movements
Throughout the globe people are organising both to challenge and end gender injustice in all areas of our social, economic, political, and cultural lives. To be successful, however, these struggles need to include and prioritise gender equality within their own organisational structures as well as being part of the analysis and methodology for change. This is a deeply political issue at a variety of levels. Although social movements are trying to address this, activists still come up against strong resistance to changing gendered politics and practices even within the contexts of movements and allied organisations. Nevertheless, when it comes to making an impact on transforming gender power relations, social movements are crucial.
Integrating gender perspectives into social movements and
activism is not just about 'including' women or 'thinking about' men and gender
minorities. It means considering what a gendered politics provides in terms of
alternative ways of being, seeing and doing that in themselves serve to
transform patriarchal power relations. Women's rights and gender justice issues
have been approached in a variety of
ways by different social movements, but some common parameters can be outlined
which facilitate a supportive environment for gender-just movement
building. For example, affirming the
importance of tackling gender inequality and patriarchal power as an integral
component of justice and naming this as an explicit priority; engaging
positively in internal reflection and action on women's rights and gender
justice, providing support for women’s leadership and participation in all
aspects of social movements, tackling gender based violence and harassment.
Ensuring equal role/rank distribution in organisational structures, making sure
participation is equal, taking account of caring for family members, taking
account of the fact that women may be targeted in retaliation by those in
society who feel threatened by gender justice as a change to traditional roles.
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