Sex Roles, Gender Equality and Equity, Gender Mainsteaming

Sex Roles

Refers to the rules and standards of behavior and practices often related to a person’s reproductive capacity.

Sex Roles

It is a function or role that a male or a female assumes for the simple fact that it is the basic physiological difference between sexes.

Sex Roles

It is a biologically determined role and can onlt be performed by that specific sex.

Sex Roles

Notion of this rely heavily on biological factors, especially on a person’s reproductive capacity, and these ideas are expressed differently betwen cultures and historical periods.

Sex Roles

Same in all societies: They are universal

Sex Roles

Never change with history

Sex Roles

Can be performed by only one of the sexes

Sex Roles

They are biologically determined

Gender Roles

Are culturally produced behaviors.

Gender Roles

May differ from society to society

Gender Roles

Can change history

Gender Roles

Can be performed by both sexes

Gender Roles

They are socially, culturally determined

Feminine

-- Role

Child bearing

Feminine

-- Role

Lactation

Feminine

-- Role

Gestation

Masculine

-- Role

Ovum Fertilization

Masculine

-- Role

Produces spermatozia which determines chil’d sex

Gender equality

Entails the concept that all human beings, both men and women are free to develop their personal abilities and make choices without the limitations set by steroetypes, rigid gender roles, and prejudices.

Gender Equality

The different behaviors, aspirations, and need of women and men are considered, valued, and favoured equally.

Gender Equality

It does not mean that women and men have to become the same, but their rights, responsibilities, and oppoutunitist will not depend on wether they are born male or female.

Gender Equity

Fairness of treatment for women and men, according to their respective needs.

Gender Equity

This may include equal treatment or treatment that is different but which is considered equivalent in terms of rights, benefits, obligations, and opportunities.

Gender Mainstreaming

As a concept was first proposed in 1985 at the Third World Conference on Women but was only formally featured a decad later.

Gender Mainstreaming

The process of asessing the implications for women and men of any planned action, including legislations, policies or programmes, in all areas and at all levels.

Gender Mainstreaming

It is a strategy for making women’s as well as men’s concerns and experiences an integral dimesion of the design implementation, monitoring and evaluation of policies and programmes in all political, economic and societal spheres so that women and men benefit equally and inequality is not perpetuated.

Gender Equality

The ultimate goal of gender mainstreaming is to achieve --

Empowerment, Accountability, Integration of Effort

The 3 principles of gender mainstreaming as outlined in the Gneder Management System Handbook (1999)

Empowerment

Means having control over issues and decisions that affect your life

Empowerment

To be given a voice in decision-making bodies and control over the distribution of resources.

Empowerment

A deliberate corrective action must be taken in areas where people are underrepresented.

Accountability

Could wither be a postice means of motivaion such as reward systems for specific goals achieved or a less positive motivation such as boundary systems

Accountability

Define acceptable/unacceptable behaviors with corresponding sanctions for those who cross the boundaries.

Integration of effort

A high degree of coordination to ensure that gender mainstreaming is a holistic approach to transforing structures that create or perpetuate gender inequality, rather than just making a “band-aid” solution.

Integration of effort

Men and women are not just biological categories, but also includes elements like race/ethnicity, age, social class, etc.

Gender sensitive language

The word used in addressing both men and women must make both visible. It applies to all kinds of written material as well as in verbal communication.

Gender specific data collection and analysis

Collecting, analysis, and presenation of data should be gender specific and takes social dimensions such as age, ethnicity, income, and education among others in consideration whenever possible.

Equal access and equal use of services

The different effects of products and services to men and women must be equally assessed.

Decisions must equally involve all people

Measures and strategies must be geared towards balance and equal representation of gender

Equal treatment is integrated into management

Paying attention to the different needs of men and women in the workforce